The Club History

Once upon a time the Forest of Bere covered an area of South East Hampshire, today, only a few small-scattered patches of copses and small woods remain, but the general area is still called the Forest of Bere.

Round about 1987/88, the Hampshire Woodturning Association (HWA) was formed and based its activities in Winchester. Within five years it had become a sizeable organisation and several members who travelled some distance initiated enquires as to whether other groups could be formed, mainly to ease the travelling problems. This resulted in two other groups being created for the benefit of the longer distance traveller, and so became the Test Valley Woodturners and the Forest of Bere Woodturners. The popularity of woodturning and the HWA also meant that a number of woodturners now belong to two clubs.

The Forest of Bere Woodturners Association (to give it its full title) was founded in 1992, very much with the help of CRM saws of Waterlooville and friendly advice from HWA. The club grew in four months from eleven to about sixty members and today there are over a hundred.

The aim of the club was to foster and encourage woodturning and to educate the public into understanding and appreciation of the woodturner's skill. To this end, the club holds monthly meetings with speakers and demonstrators, as well as masterclasses, DIY turn-ins and the occasional purely social activity.

The club decided at an early stage in its life not to join the Association of Great Britain, Primarily on the grounds of cost, but there are one or two club members who belong as individuals.

We have a few lady members and the young sons of some members are occasional visitors, we would like to see more ladies and youngsters take part.

Eric Warnecke