Club Night Report

Wednesday 9th December 2015

Club Night Report for 9th December 2015 - observations by Vernon Hughes

This was the customary style of Christmas gathering complete with plentiful eats, mulled wine, Secret Santa, annual Best Item of the Year competition and seasonal project all mounted on the ample shoulders of an excellent Club Members' display and demonstrations down the full length of one side of the hall. Much of the event followed the same pattern as that described in the report on the 2014 Christmas evening (See: Here ) and I will 'avoid vain repetition' (that's a quotation). However, let us record our thanks to the organisers and providers of a most enjoyable and interesting evening and thank our lucky stars that we have them, including those who victualled us - Heather Crawshaw assisted by Derek Walton!
Now, what was different this time? In the main there were two such features and we can concentrate on them after acknowledging the contributions from Arthur Kingdon (Rose Engine turning), Ken Crittle (hand thread chasing) and Bob Sawyer (general turning and novelties) plus Arthur again, repeating his auctioneering talent in disposing of surplus mulled wine. The two outstanding features were an eye-watering display of output by the Tools and Jigs Group, perfectly complimented by displays of DIY items from Richard Branscombe and Ian Full - and the winning entry in the Best Item of the Year competition - Roger Hoare's Carriage. There were other fine entries in the competition too, but I think all would agree that the winning one was truly exceptional.

As was fitting, our Chairman Mike Crawshaw manned the Jigs and Tools table displaying the wonderful array of products made by the sub-group formed to meet members' specialist requirements. There have been rumblings from time to time that a display of this work would be forthcoming but the quality and level of skill achieved left the simple wood turner spellbound with admiration. The accompanying photographs attempt to depict the range of items and the glory of design and workmanship in items ranging from magnificent steadies and 'Cole' jaws to smaller, but superbly made, jigs (including one for sphere-turning), chucks (various), faceplates, holding devices, tools/ tooling, etc., etc. Wood and metal had been worked and often combined to perfection, and even the shaping and finish of some smaller tools including wooden handles exuded a sense of fine quality in design, execution and presentation. The whole body of work was superb, inspirational and thrilling. If like me when starting to turn wood you never expected to do more than wield a gouge or two at whirling timber t'was a wonder to behold!

The winner of the Show and Tell - A Christmas Decoration theme was Chairman, Mike Crawshaw with some finely turned Christmas Trees in Yew.
The trophy was presented to Mike by Arthur Kingdon (Secretary)

The other towering achievement was that carriage of Roger Hoare's which secured him the Best Item of the Year Trophy. It had been two years in the making and the end result of this challenging project was a standard of quality in concept and workmanship beyond the reach of many of us. In talking to him later it turned out that the late Ian Hooker and he plus one other had got together and found the design in an American publication and decided they would each make one (most members who followed Ian's expert/ masterful progress will recall that American work was a great source of inspiration and information for him).

Roger visited Ian regularly and told us that he had been able to show his carriage to Ian at an appropriate moment. Photographs show the small but admirable range of entries in the competition and Dave Newman's intriguing table lamp - inspired by 'steam punk' fashion, created a stir.

The Best Item of the Year trophy presented to Roger Hoare by Chairman Mike Crawshaw. The timbers used are Bubinga and Blackwood..