2008 Open Weekend

The final preparations started on the Friday morning before the weekend at the stables in Clanfield, Dave and I were here to collect the big horse box. That's got your attention, what's a horse box got to do with woodturning you ask? Well as you remember, Warblington School had painted a backdrop for us and as it was a wet day it had to be transported from the school to the hall dry so hence the horse box. We arrived and once we sorted air brakes, engine stops, gears and checked the lights we were away, it was unusual to drive in many aspects, many associated with the fact that it was a 1960's vehicle, and was wider, longer and heavier than my van.

With the first part of the manoeuvres done it was back to my place to load the gallery backdrop and all the other bits that helps make a good presentation into my van. Dave went home and we all met at the hall later in the afternoon, we had a brilliant turn out of members, Dave managed the backdrop, Angy put the tombola, gallery and small items for sale together and I with the help of many put the Gallery area together, last to go in were the lathes next to Kens display of half bowls.

Aline and helpers set the kitchen up ready and all in all it was a very productive 3hrs and as I said, supported by an encouraging group of members, some of which brought tools to help put things together. The fine detail like, recording of the gallery items had begun and I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the members, adding their own ideas here and there, Ray put pictures of Stuart King and Nick Agar items on the large Nobo board at their end of the hall, both turners pointed to these pictures throughout the day. I think we should all be very proud of what we as a club achieved for the event this year.

So now onto the weekend it's self, half an hour before the doors were opened the members were gathered together, a few congratulatory words were said and Kayleigh (10Years old) officially opened the event with a few well chosen words and the ringing of the Saturday club bell. Stuart King was here on the Saturday to go back in time and give us some history of woodturning, and two of our club lathes were set up and with a good number of eager members dotted around the place we were away.

The day was busy, a good response to the Gallery and Tombola, some of our junior section helped out on both stalls, Stuart King had a good audience of both young and old people, his movie's of old crafts ran all day and created good conversation, and on the lathe he caught the attention of the young people in the hall, I think its fair to say they all turned a flower and some had a pot made to put it in. I took along a very old Marples treadle lathe and as expected Stuart was familiar with the style and again more conversation. All in all Stuart created a brilliant atmosphere and entertained both young and old whilst giving us some history of woodturning.

Aline and her helpers kept everybody feed and watered all day and the two club lathes were busy, a continual group of people either watching or turning enjoyed the tuition and chat, chippings of wood walked all over the hall carpet but everybody enjoyed themselves. For a while a couple of us managed the car park as it got a bit crowded for a short time. So that was the first day over, very successful Id say, some tired Forest members but a very enjoyable day. Nick Agar popped in with Bill to set up Nicks lathe and chatted to Stuart King.

Early on the Sunday morning we were back at the hall preparing for our second day, our professional turner was Nick Agar and modern turning was the theme. It wasn't long before Nick had a crowd of interested people who where very impressed with his style of turning, as with Stuart King yesterday there were lots of questions and answers. A number of our young turners sat patiently taking it all in; Nick responded by turning each of them a decorated spinning top which I thought was just brilliant. The hall was full and at lunch time we had to change the seated audience area into a café for people to sit and have their lunch.

Again a good response to the Gallery and tombola, the two club lathes were as busy as yesterday with lots of chat and hands on turning. Dave and Derek appeared and set up a table for pyrography and that had a good show of interest to. A number of Forest members attended and helped out where it was needed. This years Open Weekend took a bit more arranging than our last two did but it was worth it, this year we had a backdrop with a woodland scene painted on it by Warblington School, it was 8m wide and 2.7m high, it was a fine example of what can be achieved if you put your mind to it. J F Goodwillie donated the timber, my good friend gave us the keys to his workshop to make the frames, everybody gave us paint and Warblington School did the rest, the finally thanks go to Katie at the stables for the loan of the horse box.

Colin our new treasurer managed our in house Woodturners raffle so many thanks to him, and he passed me a note at our last meeting showing that we made a profit at this years event, so well done to all concerned, good effort by everybody at Forest.

And there goes another brilliant Open Weekend.

Boots April 2008