Generally the club night will be based around a turning demonstration. BWA will invite a professional turner to visit the club and show the members how to turn a particular item, demonstrate the use of a particular tool or turning technique.
Interspersed in the demonstrations are special events; an Open Evening ; an Auction; the Annual General Meeting; the Christmas Special.
In 2018, BWA will be running three additional Club Evenings at Priestwood Community Centre. These will be Drop-In Workshops. The club lathes will be on hand. The intent is to allow BWA Club members to bring along problem pieces to get some guidance from more experienced turners, to try out new equipment and potentially have some beginners Training Sessions and Taster Sessions.
This evening is a general social evening to give members a chance to chat and get to know each other. Each of the four club lathes will be in use for brief demonstrations by club members of a particular technique or tool, or finishing method. Some members will bring along their sharpening systems to provide guidance on sharpening tools.
On this evening the BWA management Committe will report the previous years activities, provide a set of accounts for the year and outline a plan for the following year. Officers will be elected to the committee and the members attending will be given an opportunity to comment on the previous years perfromance and make recommendations for the upcoming year.
John Plater showing one of his more complex items.
BWA members at a club open evening - there is no truth to the rumour you need a beard to be a member
BWA members collect local wood and process it to be sold at the BWA Auction in June
On this evening clubs funds will be boosted by selling timber blanks, tools, video and books. The timber blanks, generally from native British trees, are collected by club volunteers during the year and auctioned at very reasonable prices. This is a good opportunity to obtain some interesting timber at prices far cheaper than will be seen at any commercial outlet. Association members are also invited to sell any unwanted tools; a small percentage of the money received will go towards club funds. The videos and books sold are generally from the clubs loan stock.
Another social evening with a glass of wine and some nibbles. The evening will include a raffle, a hands-on turning competition to turn a Christmas Bauble, a Secret-Santa bran-tub and the Association prize giving. The monthly competition will be a special competition for the Sherwood Trophy (see the competions page for details)
These are held roughly every two months through-out the year. They are full day events, generally at the weekend, held either held at a members workshop or at Priestwood Community Centre.
They are generally based on a particular turning technique, eg bowl turning, box turning or spindle turning. The club provides the lathes, mentoring from some of the more experienced turners and lots of coffee. The attendees provide the wood, the tools and the enthusiasm. A small charge is levied to cover any costs
The sun always shines for the BWA Workshops
Ready for the off at the Hurst Show
BWA is becoming more involved in providing demonstrations with the intent of both promoting woodturning and attracting new members.
We have been providing demonstrations to local groups including the Women's Institute, The Scouts. We have also attended local Craft Fairs, Garden Centres and Vilage Fetes.
The events are supported by club members who will provide the demonstration using the club lathes.
BWA often get offers to harvest timber which can be used for woodturning. This might vary from small lengths of timber cut down in a local garden, to large trees.
BWA has a number of members experienced in using chain saws and associated equipment. Where necessary, a small work party will be organised to collect and process the timber. The timber will then be sold to club members, generally through the BWA Auction in June.
An Ash tree cut down in Eversley