WSWT Newsletter – November, 2007
Meeting Report Sunday November 11th
The chairman opened the meeting by welcoming Keith West, up from Devon and Trevor Layland, a visitor from somewhat further away – New South Wales! Ted then reported that we had come second in the Surrey Association of Woodturners Open Competition (as last year) but this time a Maidstone club had pipped us at the post. By strange coincidence the judge of that competition was a Les Thorne…
Ken Payne has been procuring WSWT polo and sweat shirts on our behalf for more years than anyone can remember but will be taking no further orders. Would anyone like to pick up the baton? You do not need to be a bespoke tailor! If you can help, please have a word with Ken at the next meeting.
Changes at Wakehurst Place mean that we will be no longer be able to use facilities in the house for our sales shows. The house is to become a ‘Wedding Centre’!
Professional turner Les Thorne (and professional cameraman Bill Whittaker) then took the stage and gave us a real treat. While it was seriously well organised presentation covering log working and drying through some very delicate turning (with some very tense moments!) to adventurous finishing, it also included plenty of humour and a touch of Morecombe and Wise panto! Highlights included a fine demonstration of how to use a skew and the turning of a very thin end grain bowl in (green) beech and a highly decorated bowl in seasoned ash (scragged with a beading tool, burnt, limed and waxed!). Throughout Les was offering advice, especially on tool use, and challenging us to think ‘outside the box – and bowl’. Thank you, Les, for a great day, and thank you Bill for showing such stamina and joining in the fun (suggest you bill the club if you needed a physiotherapist to straighten your right arm).
Turner of the Year Competition
More than sixty members and partners enjoyed a very pleasant social evening in the presence of a fine and varied display of members work. Horsham artist Derek Golledge’s selections resulted in the Richard Pay Cup being awarded to Charlie Martyn and the Bill Hughes Cup going to Jim Reed. Members were then invited to select their ‘top ten’ items from the impressive array to guide the committee in their selection of entries for the Surrey Association of Woodturners Open Competition. This obviously worked pretty well! The awards for Turner of the Year and the annual competitions will be made at the December meeting.
Miscellany
WSWT were well represented at the recent RSPB Autumn fair (Pulborough Brooks Reserve). Regulars Dave Unsted, Keith Greenfield and Tony Twine were joined by sorcerer Dave Dean to help with the turning demonstration. Rumour has it that he quickly had an apprentice in the form of Don Pollard producing spinning tops! Bob Fielding, who in his other life carves the most beautifully accurate birds, was also showing off his talents.
A John Bishop, friend of a member, is wondering whether to purchase a Fox 46-719 lathe (on offer from Poolewood at £265). Does anyone have any experience of this model and advice to offer? Contact John on johnbishop@yahoo.co.uk or phone Mark H (see below) and I will transmit.
Don Pollard has published the coming years programme; it can be found on the Program page of this website.
Next Meeting
Is on Sunday 2nd December. It is an Open Competition which allows any type of turned item to be entered and while the judges are comparing – well apples and pears amongst other things – there is to be a ‘mystery’ presentation by one of our members. The subject is not related to woodturning…a pantomime perhaps??
Congratulations are due to Stan Coombes, Bob Eastabrook, Judy Reed, Peter Appleyard, Tom Streeter, Dave Harris and Jim Reed who as a result of their competition performances in 06/07 are promoted to the Intermediate group with immediate effect. Also to Mike Spence who moves to the Advanced section! Well done all.
Items for the newsletter? Mark Hughes on 01903 872840 or via email