Woodbury Woodturners Club

November AGM, Craft Fair and Annual Dinner

Wednesday 17th December 2025

By Richard Stupples

Hi All

Firstly my apologies to Thomas Smith, who I wrongly said was Thomas Swift and had won second place in the Intermediate Class - I stand corrected 

So the AGM saw a review of the year with consensual agreement that we would keep affiliated membership to AWGB. That we would keep holding a couple of all day meetings with visiting woodturners demonstrating, and that Shelia joined the committee whilst Michael Merritt was given Honorary lifetime membership. 

I hope i have that correct and is a very simple synopsis of the well attended club meeting

Congratulations on Richard Stupples for winning the wood identification quiz, and he has promised to replace the piece of wood with something different for next year

For those that are wanting a head start on next year

The programme is currently

15/01/2026 = Club night where Richard Stupples will be demonstrating making a picture                                                                                                                                                                                          frame

19/02/2026 = Club night with open competition

19/03/2026 = Club night

16/04/2026 = Club night

May 2nd 2026 =  All day demonstration

21/05/2026 = Club night with competition "Relative to Nature with a partially natural edge"

18/06/2026 = Club night - evening demonstration

27th June 2026 = The Summer Barbecue

16/07/2026 = Club night

July 25th 2026 = All day demonstration

August 21st 2026 = Set up for annul show

22nd August 2026 = Annual Show, with competitions for Open class, Bowl or platter, money                                                                   box and goblet or chalice

17/09/2026 = Club Night with Presentation Awards

15/10/2026 = Club night with competition "Matching Pair"

19/11/2025 = Club night  = AGM

November 28th 2026 = Woodbury Christmas Fair

17/12/2026 = Club night with competition "Hanging Christmas Ornament"

Moving on to the Christmas Craft Fair, I'm just going to put some photos in this next section just to illustrate a little of what was on offer and hopefully spark some imagination

Lastly a big thank you to Richard Pegler who not only organised the craft fair but also organised the Christmas dinner that 18 people attended. 

Hopefully that will be done again next year and more encouraged to attend as its nice to have time to socialise.

Please don't forget Thursday 18th December for the last club night of the year and the competition of a "toy with wheels" as well as mince pies, non alcoholic mulled wine and carols from the local coral societies.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

October Club Night

Friday 14th November 2025

By Richard Stupples

John Rockey came and delivered a third session on decorating turned pieces

Starting with a tea light holder, 

John then proceeded to add a texture using the "Sorby Spiraling Tool" (other makes are likely available)

applying a gentle flame to remove the loose fibres following texturing ( this can be done with a stiff brush) John then added a colour using Chestnut iridescent paint which unlike J Songa doesnt require a dark back ground to be added prior to use.. There are other types available and for those using general acrylic paints there is a medium which can be added to produce a similar effect

Having cleaned up the edges and then using a flexi shaft engraving tool proceeded to apply a random pattern of holes which then were coloured. 

John kindly sent round one of his previously made pieces rather than passing round the current piece of work to allow everyone to see how the work would be finished

John then proceeded to demonstrate obtaining patterns and effects just by punching holes (leather punches) in masking tape and 

painting through to provide patterns on the sanded surface

Again John was kind enough to circulate a finished piece to show the effects

John then proceeded to pattern a teal light holder with a burr in the rotary flexishaft

this was more to illustrate that it was not a laid out formal design but just a random weave of holes however the key to the success is to ensure that a light pencil line guides the artisan around the piece to ensure that the two ends meet rather than drifting away. if you look closely you can see the sheen of the pencil line above John's thumb

John then proceeded with demonstrating the spiral tool to produce a "lemon peel effect" on a tea light holder

by holding the tool absolutely square to the work the spiraling tool then added 

a stippled texture

The one comment John was clear about, the session was about encouraging you as a member to explore the possibilities and ways to produce an alternative finish to the more traditional finishes such as wax and varnish

The last part of the evening was the club competition with a theme on a turned animal

Beginners Class

1st to Kevin Sessions

2nd to Mike Evershed

3rd Joint to Jamie Salvador-Swords and Roy Stevenson

Intermediate Class

1st to Rosemary Walsh

2nd to Thomas Swift

3rd to John Lacey

Advanced class

1st to Trevor Druett

2nd to Richard Pegler

3rd to Roger Upchurch