Rippon Woodturning Symposium

By Margery Cooper

This two day symposium was started by Alan Batty about 6 years ago. Alan still fronts it, although somebody else does the secretarial work, etc. The demonstrations, four each year, are by world renowned turners. I have been to all of them except one, and I have found them to be most stimulating.

This year the demonstrations were by : Yonnannes Mickelson from the USA - he demonstrated wooden hat making, including how to shape them; Peltei Herrod from Norway who demonstrated boxes of various sorts and sizes; Dick Sing, USA, who specializes in decorative boxes, some screw threaded, cutting the threads into an epoxy resin; Nigel Voisey, UK, who specializes in spindle turning and demonstrated copy turning.

The venue is Rippon Leisure Centre which is absolutely ideal for the purpose as it has tiered seating and video assistance so that everyone has a good view. Lunches are provided in the cost, as is tea and coffee. Members can stay for the evening if they wish - an egg turning race or a slide show.

It was great to meet all the other turners and of course the demonstrators. For those interested it is held the second week in May.