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Waveney & District |
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Activities for 2008
Workshop Diary 2007
Club News2008 UPDATESApril 2008
The April meeting was well attended, as it usually is when Bill Care demonstrates. Bill began with a demonstration of consumate skew skils, and indicated where, and why, they might be needed in the turner's arsenal of skills. This short section was followed by a two part footed bowl. The rationale being that well-figured blanks are often sold In slim board sections, which tend to end up as platters. Using his methodology, a further, smaller, bowl is turned and fitted as a foot for the larger bowl, raising it up off the table. The demonstration went down very well, and a few footed bowls will no doubt make it onto the competition table next month! This months competition tables were judged by Bill...after an arm twisting!... The novice table was poorly represented in terms of numbers this month, with only two stalwarts bringing pieces in. Bill judged a sycamore clock by Steve Dewbury as first place, and a sculptural spherical-based form by Darren Breeze as second. He commented in the imaginative ideas expressed in both, and on the high quality of finish displayed. The Intermediate table was slightly better filled, though judging was no more straightforward. In first place Bill judged Mike O'Conner's unusual and highly skilled platter. In second place Roger Lowry's superbly achieved birch-ply hollowform (discus style), and in third place, Roger Groom's African Blackwood box with gold leaf interior. Well done to all those who managed to bring pieces in, and especially well done to all those placed.
Bill turns for a full house
Novice Table
Intermediate Table March 2008 The March meeting began with some sad news: the Chairman annonced that our old friend, Reg Ball, had suffered a serious health blip, and whilst recovering well, was not yet able to demonstrate. We wish him well, and hope to see him soon. At short notice an alternate was not likely to be found, so i was asked to me to step in. I hope it wasn't too much of a disapointment for those expecting Reg. In case you've already read the last few updates, please note that the two Rogers were confused, and this has now been ammended. Sorry Rogers! The competition tables were better attended this month, though only by a little! Come on...more please. Novice: 1st Steve Dewberry, 2nd Chris Fleuty, 3rd Darren Breeze Intermediate: 1st Roger Groom, 2nd Nick Short, 3rd Roger Lowry Well done all. We have Bill Care down next month, so let's have a real puch to fill those tables...you know how he loves to judge the tables! And you won't much better a critique anywhere. So take advantage while you can. February 2008February's meeting was well attended, once again, with a full house to see Roger Foden work his magic. Despite a problem with our club chuck, Roger was able to give us another well-received demonstration of fine woodturning. The new style competition tables were not as well stocked as one might have expected after the heateed discussion at the AGM, but maybe things will improve next month? Come on folks, you wanted a chance at gold...now's your chance! Novice Table: 1st Darren Breeze, 2nd Young Leo!, 3rd Steve Dewberry Intermediate: 1st Roger Groom, Derek Howe, 3rd Nigel Organ Well done to all. January 2008The January meeting was taken up with our Annual General Meeting. Committee positions remain as for the previous year, there being no new nominations from the membership, and the existing committee agreeing to continue serving in their respective positions for a further year. Final photographs of the 2007 trophy winners were taken for publication in the Lowestoft Journal. Pictured are: (left to right) Mike O'Conner, who won the table competion at the Christmas dinner, which this year was held at the Wherry Hotel, Lowestoft. Ken Rogers, who won the Advanced Table points cup for 2007 Roy Edmonds, who won the Derby cup for spindle turning John Robinson, who won the Novice Table points cup for 2007
It was proposed that the way the monthly competitions are run is changed for 2008 onwards. From February's meeting there will be an additional competition table - the Intermediate Table. It was agreed that any member currently placed on the Advanced table, who felt that their work would be better placed on the new, Intermediate, table, could chose to do so. It will be interesting to see who puts themselves down in February! 12th July 2007If you've read the Blog page on cobwebcrafts, then you'll know why updates are missing. I didn't apologise for the Blog, but will for the lack of updates here.The problem has been simply one of time and energy. Not enough of the first, and precious little of the latter. However...email and personal complaints have urged me to post something at least. In general terms the club is going from strength to strength. Numbers fluctuate as usual, but with an increasingly upward trend which is encouraging. We have quite a few very new turners in our ranks, and have recently (aquired?) gained, a couple of very experienced turners who will no doubt bring a great deal to the club. Welcome all. April, May, and June's Club Nights were each succesful, with Chris Norton (and Rita, of course!), and Reg Ball giving interesting and fun demonstrations. Have you seen Reg's Caterpiller? You should! (contact Diss woodturning club for details). And Roger Foden made another, quick, return to demonstrate for us, and as usual gave us all a lot to take in. The competition tables have seemed a little depleted of late, but we'll put that down to holidays and hope entries pick up shorlty. The tables are less about the "competition" aspect, and more about showing the members what we each are doing. So come on! Bring a piece in next month. The Novice table, however, has been well supported by some of our new members, notably, John, Darren, Derek and Steve. Each have shown a noticable progression over the past three months and a few frowns can be noticed on the faces of the more experienced members when they see the work being produced by these upstarts! (I'm kidding!) Our young turners, Matt and Daniel, have been occupied with exams and work experience, so they have the best excuse of all for their work being absent. Good luck with the exams and the new jobs, lads. Next it'll be girls and that'll be the last we see of them until the day after they receive their buss passes! (we hope not) I should also thank Malcolm Cherry again, for overseeing our grant application and reviewing it kindly. Thanks to Malcolm we will shortly take delivery of a MONSTER dust extraction system, which should only keep the atmosphere clean at meetings, but will ensure a good breeze for kite flying should a given demo prove uninteresting!! I had word tonight that Mike O'conner's article on sharpening tools has gone international, with a fan emailing him from across the pond. I can't say I'm surprised at all; the article is one of the most thourough I've seen anywhere, and well deserves a wider audience. And anybody who has seen Mike's tools will know that you really need chainmail gloves to handle them. Surgeons have been known to work with duller instruments. So all's well at the W&DWT's. I'll post competition results, and photographs where available, over the next few days. Happy and safe turning all...
8th March 2007Tom Kittle returned for another demonstration this month, and as usual he didn't disappoint. Tom has chosen to demonstrate the techniques he uses to turn an hour glass stand. And all with only two measurements! As we have a number of new members again, this was a great introduction for them. Tom is a skilled practitioner, and explains each process in detail, so that even new members understand what is being done and why. Some of the new members even availed themselves of Tom traveling shop and stocked up on new tools and fittings. As usual the evening was a great success. The tables were well represented, although I don't have the placings to hand to report at present. A few pictures will have to suffice.
8th February 2007I missed the demonstration by Roger Foden due to illness, but reports were of another great demonstration by the Norfolk turner. Pictures were supplied by Richard Pye.
AGM 11TH January 2007The Club's AGM brought a few changes to the committee this year; Colin Barber was once again proposed, and accepted as Club Chairman, Ronnie Summons similarly returns in his post of Club Secretary, Gerald Short resigned as Vice Chairman and was proposed and accepted as Club Treasurer, taking up the position from retiring Treasurer, Richard Pye. Andy Coates was proposed and accepted as Club Vice Chair (there being no other nominations or volunteers!) In recognition of twenty years service to the club (part of which was served under the old club name) Richard Pye was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Waveney & District Woodturners. Richard held a monthly workshop evening at his home workshop for over eleven years, which has been a great service to the club and it's members. Richard has also served on several positions on the committee, and has always been prepared to help where help was required. And nearly always with a smile! The clubs offers it's sincere thanks to Richard for all his time and efforts over the years, and hopes that he will take advantage of his Life Membership and remain an active club member for many more years to come. Despite having to give up woodturning as a result of becoming optically disenfranchised (blind as a bat!) Richard still has much to offer the club and especially it's new members. So, no gold watch, but our warmest thanks to a Fine Old Craftsman. The Monthly table results will be late this month...I forgot to take the camera, which can't be resolved, and forgot to note the table results, which can be. Ah, the power of the Internet! Okay, the competition table results are as follows: Advanced Table: 1st Andy Coates with a green-turned sycamore and purple heart hollowform, 2nd Colin Barber with a Laburnum natural-edged and multi-winged bowl, and third was Paul Maulden with a olive ash platter. Novice table: 1st Mick with a skeleton clock, 2nd John with a lidded goblet, and 3rd Chris with a goose-egg cup Another omission was Dave Ritchie's promotion to the Advanced table for 2007. Well done Dave.
Chairman's Notes 2006Chairman's Statement: Since becoming Chairman of the club in 2000, one of the first things we decided to do was to change the venue for club meetings, which were, at the time, held in a local pub. This was alright for grabbing a pint of beer but not much use for anything connected to woodturning. With this in mind we chose to relocate to the Village Hall in Mutford. Our membership at the time was about twenty members. The new venue enabled us to set up a lathe on club nights, so we purchased one from club funds and were all set to get down to some practical woodturning. We were also able to invite Professional turners to demonstrate at the club which made a great deal of difference to the members. The membership has grown steadily in the past five years and we now have fifty members. With membership increasing, and club revenue enjoying healthy growth, and with the help of a small grant, we were able to purchase a digital video camera, digital projection system and a sound system in 2005. These additions to our standard equipment have meant that demonstrations are clearer and more detailed. Now everyone can see and hear what is happening at the lathe! In the next month or so we hope to upgrade our club lathe and if we can achieve this I believe we will have built a club to be proud of...even if we are sometimes looked upon as the country yokels from the East coast! Colin Barber. Suffolk, January 2006 Chairman's Update: I thought it was time to update my thoughts and hopes for our club for the future. As most of you are aware, Andy has set up a great website, which he regularly updates with our club news. Everyone I've spoken to is full of praise for it, saying how much they enjoy reading through all that is happening in the club, and looking at the photos Andy takes to back up his reports. It would however be much easier if Andy had some input from you members. Maybe a piece on one of the workshops, or something that happened to you in your own workshop? It doesn't have to be an 800 word piece, and don't worry about grammar etc., as Andy can sort that out. (webmaster's note: Oh, I can, can I ?!!!) The site is getting us, as a club, some very encouraging comments from lots of other clubs, as well as individuals. The club has grown steadily this year, and I hope this is because we are building something that new members as well as old are finding very helpful as well as interesting enough to continue to support every month. We have had a turner down nearly every month this year, and I hope to continue this throughout the next few months. I think we have a club to be proud of, and with your support I can only see us going from strength to strength. Give some thought to what I have said, because the club is only as good as the members that support it. Colin Barber. Suffolk, September 2006
(Please note: queries about an individual member's work should be addressed directly to them via the email address provided) Back to... All
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Coates 2005-2007 |
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