A few years ago I found some Teddy Bear Deck Chairs in a shop on the way from Portland to Weymouth. I bought the 5 they had in stock and promised to come back for more next time I passed. I have been back many times but with no success. The chairs have caused a lot of comment and numerous people have asked me to get them some. Not liking to be beaten or let any one down there seemed to be only one solution left to me; so here you have the non-electric Arthur Deck Chair.

The design has been taken from many sources which have been combined and modified to produce an easy to construct version from readily available materials. All the wood can be obtained from any of the main DIY. Stores or if you are like me and have spent so much money on replacement 6mm spars that certain traders can now afford to retire, you will be glad of this way to use up the broken short lengths.

This is what you do Sew a 5mm hem all round the cotton material. Fold over 10mm along each of the short edges and sew down thus forming a tube at each end. Tape together each of the pairs of strips and sand the ends round. Using a 6mm bit drill the holes centrally as shown in the drawings. The strips should still be taped together at this point as any small inaccuracies will not mater if both halves are the same. Make a small mark on the bottom of each piece so that they can be matched later. Cut the notches as shown in pieces B) Glue the 4 pieces G) into 2 pieces A) Glue the 2 dowels E) into each end of 1 piece A) Thread the upper of these through one of the tubesin H) Glue the remaining A) onto the 2 dowel ends E) Glue 2 dowels D) into 1 piece B) Thread the dowel furthest from the notches throughthe second tube formed in H) Glue the remaining piece B) onto the 2 dowel ends D) Glue the two pieces C) onto the ends of dowel F) Make sure that every thing is square and flat and leave over night until the glue is dry. (this comment comes from experience of trying to get things to pivot with excess glue getting everywhere. It is the only a matter of assembling the parts to make the chair and if you have ever watched the performances on any British beach you will know exactly how this is done. The materials used do leave enough flexibility to bend the sides over the hinge pins. All sounds dead easy but if you can get it right first time you are a better man than me.(or the 2nd or 3rdtime)