IT IS the only one of its kind left in the country and can boast of Queen and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates as members. But few know of its existence. The 77-year-old British Jigsaw Puzzle Library is run by David Cooper, 60, from his home in Parsonage Road, Herne Bay. It is a treasure trove of 4,000 rare and unusual wooden jigsaws. Bay's jigsaw man talks to Julia Collins about how he became the library's seventh owner and why he has such a passion for puzzles...

Does the library have any famous members?

The Queen is a member and several Lords and Ladies. Bill Gates used to be a member because his wife gave him a year's subscription as a gift. If it wasn't for the postage we would have more American members. It costs £100 to send a puzzle to the USA - and it is the members who pay.

How did you find out about it?

I saw an advert for it in a collectors' magazine and joined. I used to make puzzles for Pearl Crompton when she ran the library. When she retired in 2000 I bought it. Most people don't even realise the library exists.

Have you always liked puzzles?

Yes. At seven I bought three jigsaw puzzles at a church jumble sale for a couple of bob (10p) and one was made of wood. It was The Music Room by English firm Raphael Tuck and Sons. I was stunned by its quality. It was a world away from the cardboard and laser-cut versions of today. It was made in 1920 and is now worth £200. I started collecting them from that day on.

Why do you enjoy them?

They are great stress-busters. I needed something to unwind after a week's work. Some of our members are getting a bit frail and are in their 80s and 90s but their brains are razor sharp. I put it down to puzzles. With a puzzle you forget everything else for two or three hours. We have people who come home from work and the first thing they do is get themselves a drink and sit down for an hour to unwind with a puzzle.

How long has the club been going?

It was started in 1933 by Lord Craigavon who wanted to lend his puzzles to friends for a fee. We still have hundreds of members. As far as I am aware it is the only club of its kind left.

You make your own jigsaws for the library?

Yes. I mount a print on plywood and cut it by hand using a jigsaw. That is where the skill comes in. I started doing it because sometimes there were pieces missing. My wife Val is also interested in puzzles so it is something we can share. She became what I consider to be the world's greatest jigsaw puzzle restorer. It is relatively easy to restore works of art but to mix acrylic paint to match printing ink is a real skill.

How many puzzles do you have?

I have absolutely no idea! Probably too many. It has been estimated at 4,000. I don't have a particular favourite, I like a challenge and I'm always looking to see what tricks the cutter has used, the artistic interpretation and the quality of the print. We also have special puzzles for stroke victims, which have larger pieces. We have a number of rare vintage puzzles but just because they are old doesn't mean they are valuable. After being featured in the Mail on Sunday and on television I've had lots of calls from people wanting valuations. They don't like to hear that they are usually only worth a couple of quid.

What was your first job?

I went to work for a firm of stockbrokers straight from school and spent most of my life in the City. There was a recession in 1987 and in 1988 a lot of people were made redundant.

Why did you move to Herne Bay?

I had enough of the city so we moved here with no jobs, no money, no nothing. We bought our house and I searched for work. I tried to set up a couple of companies but they didn't work out and I couldn't get any work. Val found a job which helped us survive.

What do you like about the town?

It's clean. I would come home from London and go straight in the bath. The air is fresh and it's not a bad place to live. I like the sea, which is just down the road.

Would you change anything?

No but there are things I'd improve. It's a town that wants to attract tourists and the things you need for that are car parking, eating places and public toilets. We've parking and there are places to eat but there are hardly any public toilets. I'd also like to see the pier reopened.

What's your favourite book?

Shogun by James Clavell because it was deep. There's a lot about the Japanese way of life I can admire, especially the honour. If I make a deal I stick with it. I wish more people were like that.

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party?

I don't think any dinner party would have me as a guest and, in the spirit of Groucho Marx, I wouldn't want to go to one that did!

* Annual membership of the British Jigsaw Puzzle Library costs £115. Call 01227 742222 or visit www.britishjigsawpuzzlelibrary.co.uk for details.

JIGSAW puzzles were first created in the mid-18th century as an educational tool for children using "dissected" maps for learning geography.

A map of England cut out by John Spilsbury in 1760 is worth up to £2,000.

Interlocking sets were introduced around 1900 following the invention of the jigsaw in 1890 - hence the name.

Wooden jigsaws became increasingly popular and complex during the Edwardian era for wealthy families. They vanished after the Second World War when cheaper manufacturing processes involving cardboard took over.

Jigsaw puzzle collectors are known as dissectologists.