Journal

A weekend sales and demonstration event organized by Robert Shepherd which was located in the old kitchen block. It was a good weekend as there was no entry charge to the castle so we had many visitors to view the items on sale by 7 members who had tables.

The work on the gallery table of not for sale items attracted a lot of attention and many visitors congratulated our members on the quality and variety of the work being displayed.

Alan E manned the demonstration lathe having some lengthy discussions about our craft & the club which hopefully might bring us new members.

In all a great weekend enjoyed by the members present & members who visited, good sales & request by the castle to come back again. SO A GOOD RESULT.

This was the first opportunity to hold a delayed A.G.M.

Held in the school dining hall which allowed for the full membership to attend safely under current covid restrictions.

A total of 22 members attended with 6 apologies recorded. these then became the members allowed to Phil’s demo.

after much discussion about public liability and its insurance a vote was taken and passed to keep the insurance as is which requires the members to follow new duty of care procedures.

The chairman thanked the current committee members who where willing to carry on, However a few had decided or needed to step down from their roles.So some new blood is required.

Alan Pattison volunteered to be the new treasurer along with his role of booking outside demonstrators.

Organising inside demonstrators NOT FILLED

CHAIRMAN currently required to be filled. unless a club member volunteers it becomes a constitutional problem requiring action at the next committee meeting.

Tony Jones was the external demonstrator from the local Bescot wood turning club he also teaches wood turning.

He demonstrated one of his signature pieces a thin walled Vortex Bowl

Tony demonstrated the safe use of the lathe, correct presentation of the turning tools and a way to restrict sanding dust using a paste wax whilst applying abrasives.

The reasons for choosing the holding mechanism & his method of producing a 1.5 mm thick walled vessel.

In all an enjoyable evening for all present, some new knowledge gained by most members

who showed their appreciation to Tony at the end.

A catch up meeting held in the schools dinning hall to allow the full membership to attend as due to covid restrictions still being required by the school our normal meeting room is limited to an attendance of only 24.

Barry the chairman went through a number of concerns and problems the committee & club still have to face whilst trying to get the club back to a normal meeting format & programme.

Some of the content will have to be repeated at the A.G.M. as only 23 members managed to attend.

It is important that members attend to fully appreciate what restrictions & concerns the committee has been having to deal with.

A lighter note However was the response to the chairmans two challenges.

The car build & race a £10 prize was won for best design chosen by a club member Winner the domino .

and £10 for the furthest travel launched down a ramp the winner shown below.

2nd challenge a pagoda house roof build supplied by 3 members.

Barry & other attendees.

On the 2nd March 38 members welcomed Richard Findley the accomplished demonstrator and professional jobbing wood turner.
Richard’s chosen project for the night was his take on a “picture-Frame insert box” by Chris Stott. Richards box was walnut with a pewter insert.

Richard started by melting and pouring a pewter insert into a dry wooden mould. The insert incorporated a 18 mm diameter sprue which he used to hold the insert whilst turning and finishing after sufficient cooling had taken place. The highly polished finish was achieved by working thru the various sanding grits and a final polish with brasso (but “T” cut would do the same job).

Whilst turning the box Richard demonstrated hollowing end grain using a spindle gouge, and how to achieve a closefitting lid by making the male spigot very slightly domed,
and using a lot of patience. A Ray Key inspired lip defined the join between lid and base. The audience was also shown how to make, use and sharpen a negative rake scraper which was used to refine the finish inside the box.

Richard kindly donated the box to our charity.

An extremely entertaining, informative and well-presented demonstration warmly applauded by the club members.

Find more about Richard at https://turnersworkshop.co.uk