Sandy Dixon.

Mention the name Sandy Dixon to almost anyone and they’ll most likely respond with a shrug or tell you that he’s the ‘big daddy’ of the kettle customising culture.

It was in 1974 that Sandy, a boilermaker by trade, created what many consider to be the world’s first customised stove top kettle – the Little Whistler. Here Sandy recalls the events that led to his most crowning achievement.

“It all started during a big night on the noodles. I was into my second slab of Fantastic Chicken and Corn when all of a sudden I hear this voice inside my head. And not the usual voice that I was getting therapy for but another one. It told me among other things to stop listening to voices in my head and start doing something with my life like gardening, lead lighting, anything. So I thought, that’s it, I’ll clean my kettle. It was a job that had been hanging over me for months. I’d been knocking back so much Fantastic Noodle Cups that the thing was hammered. It was dented and had bits hanging off it as if someone had attacked it with a baseball bat - which it had been – but that’s another story. So I got cleaning and then one thing led to another. After an exhausting two hours I’d knocked the dents out, fully overhauled the handle, painted it up and retuned the whistle. When my mates saw it, they were gob-smacked like you would be if you were seeing the pyramids for the first time. Soon enough they also got into it, the word got out and strangers were knocking on my door wanting autographs. It was a magic time. So I took the plunge, sold the car, borrowed money off mum and starting pimping kettles full time.”

Next week in part 2, Sandy talks about his kettle pimping obsession and the breakdown of his marriage.