WSWT Newsletter – January 2009

Meeting Report, 4th January

The chairman’s opening statement that he did not have a joke with which to start proceedings drew a rather more enthusiastic response than many of his jokes. A New Years Resolution? Will it last more than a month?

Ted then went on to welcome and introduce our new members and reminded us all that we should be displaying our identities! Our agreed policy is to wear our membership cards (or named ‘tops’*). This not only helps conversation, but is also increasingly valuable in reminding us who our best friends are?!

Treasurer David Parfoot, having been cleaned out on the day, has promised to have plenty of the required card clips at the Feb meeting.
*These can be ordered through Keith Greenfield, at the shop

Tom Bradbury gave new members a brief on the support he and his volunteers (more always welcome!) provide to the Amberley Museum and then Don Pollard invited Charlie Martyn to take the stage.
Charlie introduced us to split turning – the subject of the March competition – and a means of creating elegant alternative symmetries. He started with a ‘flat’ clam or oyster shaped vase, (or vessel?), using Peter Brown and Jim Young for non lathe activities – and wood courtesy of Ron Inglis. After the coffee break he showed us how to make boat shaped bowls, an interesting split goblet and identical wall brackets. And his range of intermediate props and some beautiful finished articles demonstrated the ‘how to’ – and the target!. Double sided tape is his favourite means of mounting to ‘spacers’ and, as usual, there were plenty of useful tips. Bill Whittacker did a fine job as usual with the camera while Don Pollard stepped up to become a flexible microphone holder to good effect. An enjoyable morning, and in view of the lack of heating available, character building, too! Many thanks to all involved and especially Charlie for not just the work on the day, but also the extensive preparation, too.

Miscellany

Because of restrictions on the (max) number of bodies that can use Sullington Hall, members are reminded that while guests are welcome to meetings, numbers do need to be controlled! Anyone wishing to bring a guest must first clear this with the Chairman (or another committee member if Ted is AWOL). Only one visit per year by the same guest is normally allowed.
The Club’s committee is
Chair: Ted Hickford
Vice Chair: Jim Young
Sec: Jim Reed
Treasurer: David Parfoot
Events: Don Pollard
Amberley: Tom Bradbury
Competitions: Caroline Dorling
Equipment: Terry Rowell
Resident Engineer: Dave Dean
Other Committee Members: Keith Greenfield, Peter Brown and John Woolgar

For Sale…

A member, who may be contacted by emailing the webmaster, has the following for sale:-
Record lathe CLO 24 x 12, swivel head, 4" face plate, various centres, tools etc – £95
Large bowl attachment for above – £20
Record 4 jaw selfcentering chuck ¾ x 16 TPI & shark jaw set £30
Draper combo chuck, ¾ x 16 TPI & spare jaws £30

…and Wanted

Bodies – to help with our contribution to West’s Wood Show 8-9th May. Keith Greenfield is looking for volunteers to help man the AWGB stand and/or demonstrate, exhibit items for sale (or not!), answer queries hand out leaflets. Time slots over the weekend can be booked to suit! If you can help in any way, nobble Keith at the next meeting.

Future Programme

Next meeting will be on Sunday, February 1st and we will have Jenny Starbuck whose speciality is thin, decorated plates.

March meeting will be the split turning competition. For all groups entries can be split turning of any design. For beginners Charlie has suggested an elongated goblet design for simplicity (he stresses only a suggestion!); for the intermediate group the work must reflect the skill required at that level, while for advanced competitors a pair of items is suggested (but not a requirement). Have fun!