Club History

February 2024

We had an open lathe evening where three lathes were in operation with members being able to “have a go”. We also had a visiting “pop-up-shop” selling woodturning blanks and various other woodturning items.

January 2024

January is always our AGM and the club elected the following to serve on the committee:

  • Chair: Peter Davis (unchanged)
  • Vice Chair and Treasurer: Tim Frost (unchanged)
  • Secretary: Bryan Milham (unchanged)
  • AWGB and Membership Secretary: Martin Gard (new!)
  • Website and IT: Kevin Edwards (unchanged)
  • Committee Member: Nick Gore-Booth (unchanged)
  • Committee Member: Chris Jones (new!)

John Smith our previous AWGB and Membership Secretary and long standing club member was thanked for his service on the committee. Afterwards John demonstrated how to make a three-sided candlestick.

December 2023

December is traditionally our Christmas meeting and once again Club Member Rachael provided a selection of seasonal nibbles to put members in the Xmas spirit. The table was based on the challenge set by November’s demonstrator Bryan to produce a candlestick. There was a good display and some creative ideas. Bryan also put on a quiz, which was very well received. The remaining tools from the ‘John Hepworth Collection’ were on sale, with the proceeds going to this year’s Club Charity.

November 2023

Club member and AWGB Secretary, Bryan Milham showed members how to make a tealight holder and a classic candlestick design based on a story card.  As with everything Bryan does he made it look easy, especially his skew technique.

October 2023

Professional demonstrator Keith Fenton demonstrated the art of making a bottle candlelight in addition to making fruit. The candlelight holder had air vents to allow air to circulate and Keith showed members how to cut the bottle using a bottle cutter and boiling water.

September 2023

Professional demonstrator John Blake demonstrated how to use a router on a lathe to make a patterned platter

August 2023

We held another of our “open lathe” evenings where all three lathes were setup allowing members to have a go at turning. Previously we had encouraged members to bring along any problem pieces so that a more experienced member would be able to help with solving any issues. Bryan also had his sharpening system setup which was well used by members bringing along their chisels for sharpening.

July 2023

Club Member Paul Sweet gave a very interesting demonstration of combining wood and resin. Using a pre prepared blank, Paul turned a bowl to display the the beauty of joining both materials. His skills and techniques, together with his easygoing presentation, made for a very instructive and enjoyable evening.

June 2023

Professional demonstrator Mary Ashton visited our club and showed everyone how to make her “Saturn Bowl” and share lots of tips with the members. Unfortunately this demonstration failed to make it to our recorded demonstrations as the laptop power supply died half way through the demonstration! We now have another power supply so better luck next meeting!

May 2023

Our Chairman, Peter Davis gave a demonstration to the members on how to make a Ladies Jewellery Tree. This demonstration was accompanied by a non stop flow of tips to help members improve their turning.

April 2023

The evening was titled ‘The Great Turn Up’: Three lathes in operation, led by Peter Davis, Bryan Milham and John Smith who encouraged members to ‘have a go’ and produce items to be sold for our charity on 1st May in Bleadon Village Hall.

March 2023

Club member Les Cumming demonstrated ‘ring turning’ to make multiple horse heads.

February 2023

Bryan Milham demonstrated turning a ‘Hollow Form’.

January 2023

The AGM was held where the existing committee members were all standing except for John Hepworth (membership secretary) he was thanked for his long service to the club. The new 2023 committee was voted in as follows:

  • Chair: Peter Davis
  • Vice Chair & Treasurer: Tim Frost
  • Secretary: Bryan Milham
  • AWGB & Membership Secretary: John Smith
  • Website and IT: Kevin Edwards
  • Committee Member: Norman Poole, Nick Gore-Booth

Kevin Edwards demonstrated the club’s website and Bryan Milham demonstrated the making of a personalised 3 piece personalised Christmas ornament.

December 2022

This was the clubs annual 50:50 auction where various woodturning and non-woodturning items were auctioned to members to raise money for our nominated charity for 2022 – the Weston FoodBank. A total of over £500 was raised on the night

November 2022

The evening was dedicated to muti-skills which included sharpening, pyrography and woodturning. Club members Bryan Milham and Paul Sweet operated two club lathes demonstrating to members.

October 2022

Visiting guest Jason Breach demonstrated showing us great skills and techniques making various items from fruits (apples and pears) to balls.

September 2022

Visiting guest Keith Fenton demonstrated how to make laced vases.

August 2022

Club member Paul Sweet demonstrated making a 3 part cake stand.

July 2022

Open evening to celebrate our 20th anniversary

Three lathes operated by club members who provided guidance and were open to questions.

Woodturned items were be offered for sale by club members additionally we had a display table exhibiting woodturned items from club members and some being from international professional woodturners.

As our dedicated charity is the Weston Food Bank we encouraged any visitors to bring along items for donation to this worthy cause.

June 2022

Stephen Stocks was our guest demonstrator and got members letter carving in small groups so everyone could have a go.

May 2022

Nigel Maddocks was our guest demonstrator who showed us a range of finishes.

April 2022

Past Chairman John Dilley demonstrated making a teardrop box.

Also tuition for beginners and advanced woodturners was available on the night.

March 2022

Chairman Peter Davis demonstrated how to make decorative cupcakes. A group photograph of members was taken along with our well supported display table to promote the club during our 20th year.

February 2022

Club member Bryan Milham showed how tools should be used and why things go wrong. Held Via Zoom.

January 2022

Annual AGM held to appoint new committee members via Zoom in excess of 20 members attended and videos were shown. In 2021 we had a total membership of 48 members comprising of 5 life members active and 2 life members inactive.

December 2021

The meeting was held via Zoom due to covid restrictions videos by Mark Saban Smith and the Tiny Turner were shown.  A quiz proved popular on the night.

November 2021

Club member John Smith demonstrated Xmas themed items.

October 2021

Colwin Way our guest demonstrated.

September 2021

Club member John Dilley demonstrated.

August 2021

Club member Paul Sweet demonstrated.
A sale of wood blanks took place with all proceeds being donated to a food bank charity.

July 2021

Club member Bryan Milham  demonstrated the making of craft tools.
The display table was named “Rays table” in memory of passed member Ray Thomas

June 2021

Meeting held via Zoom and club member Bryan Milham provided  a 1 hour 20 minute video on turning an oak barrel and a decorated box.

May 2021

Meeting held via Zoom and club member Paul Sweet, who demonstrated the finishing of a natural edge burr bowl.

April 2021

Members were saddened to hear that founder/life member Ray Thomas had passed away and tributes were sent to his family.

March 2021

Ryan the proprietor of Weston Timber presented an insight into his company live on Zoom and he  welcomed any members questions about the type of timbers and prices they supply etc.

Club members Bryan Milham and John Dilley have provided videos for this meeting.

February 2021

The meeting was held via Zoom with Bryan Milham demonstrating the use of tools, with a Q & A session afterwards.

January 2021 AGM

John Dilley having stood down as Chairman was replaced by Peter Davis following nomination and being seconded the new committee was appointed.

In 2020 we closed the year with 49 members which includes 8 life member 3 being inactive.

This compares to 2019 closing membership of 56 members having welcomed approx 20 visitors during the year.

December 2020

Treasurer TF reported that we would be donating a sum of £200.00 to the food bank charity and that we would continue to support this charity through 2021.

Bryan Milham gave a comprehensive and detailed demonstration of how to make a Wardrobe Pot Pourri Hanger.

November 2020

Our first Zoom meeting when brief reports from committee members followed by a couple of workshop visits on video and a demonstration of woodturning by Les Cumming from his workshop.

July-October 2020

No meetings held due to covid restrictions.

June 2020

It was agreed at the last committee meeting that we would contact all club members to ensure their well being and/or if they have any specific points for committee to discuss at our July meeting.

March – May 2020

Meetings cancelled due to covid restrictions.

February 2020

Club member James Perrin  demonstrated airbrushing skills associated with woodturned items.

January 2020

Lathe maintenance instruction along with a Questions & Answers.
Scroll saw demo and have a go .
Bring a tool to get sharpened and a demo on how to use the Tormek grinding system.
Pyrography machines we had a couple available to encourage participation.

December 2019

The turner of the year was Greg Keenan who was presented with the John Owen memorial trophy the intermediate prize was won by Rachael Collard and the novice prize by Rebecca Durbin.

Members then enjoyed Christmas festivities with good food provided by club member Rachael.

November 2019

Member Les Cumming demonstrated themed items for Christmas

The display table was for wood turned boxes.

October 2019

Guest demonstrator Jason Breach turned a signature box

September 2019

Club member Martin Gard demonstrated themed items for Christmas

The display table was for wood turned fruit items.

August 2019

Club member Peter Davis devoted the evening to making fruit items he taught us how if we made a few mistakes that it didn’t really matter and to remember that above all our interest must above all be fun and be a source of enjoyment.

Chairman John Dilley again reported a poor response for the Bleadon Show and asked  members to please fill in their name on a spreadsheet if they could help out on the day with set up and strip down sadly none of the thirty attending members made any commitment to attend.

July 2019

Ex Chairman John Smith gave a detailed demonstration of how to make barley twists using powerpoint to enhance his talk this made for a most interesting meeting.

The display table was well supported with various platters.

Two more people took up membership at this meeting giving us a total membership of 54 members.

It was with great sadness that  we were informed by Sylvia wife of Denis Cox life member of our club that he had passed away this morning 2/7/19.

Those who knew him will remember Denis as a kind talented woodturner and a skilled wood carver who was always keen to share his extensive knowledge of our craft.

As a long serving club member and friend to many Denis will be sadly missed.

Further bad news  former member Ron Waterfield passed away suddenly a skilled woodcarver who specialised in stick making and a talented woodturner who crafted quality pens Ron will be sadly missed.

June 2019

Member Paul Sweet demonstrated how to make a  platter.

The display table was for themed items following Mark Sangar’s presentation at our May meeting.

May 2019

Mark Sangar was our visiting guest demonstrator who travelled from Gillingham in Dorset. Wood, mixed media, texture, form and colour feature in his work which is influenced by Far Eastern philosophies, cultures as well as the natural forms and textures found in nature.

The display table was dedicated to egg cups made by members.

April 2019

Club members demonstrated various multi skills as well as woodturning, sharpening tools, pyrography and scroll saw work featured.
The display table was dedicated to themed items following the demonstration in March by Dave Appleby it included whistles, bowls and spoons.

March 2019

Dave Appleby was our guest demonstrator who in addition to exhibiting in galleries in the South West of England takes commissions for special items, he demonstrates and teaches in local woodturning clubs and offers 1 to 1 tuition at his workshop.
On the night Dave turned a spoon a whistle and a bowl.
The display table contained items coloured and textured as learned from the previous months demo other items also featured.

February 2019

Club member Bryan Milham demonstrated how to include colouring on woodturned items a really instructive demo gave us all an insight of lots of techniques including using a hot glue gun to provide stunning textures.
The display table was dedicated to platters.

January 2019

Retiring Chairman John Smith will welcome new Chairman John Dilley along with new committee members this being our Annual General Meeting.
John Smith has held the position of Chairman position for four years and during this period he has overseen club membership increasing
significantly.

During John’s Chairmans period the club continued to be active not only in raising the awareness of our craft but also we in raising money for various local charities.

The club members will be forever grateful to John for his long term commitment to club affairs
The display table is dedicated to items made over the Christmas period.

December 2018

Chairman John Smith presented prizes for the annual woodturning competition and an auction for our annual charity raised in excess of £400.00.
Members then enjoyed Christmas festivities with good food provided by club member Rachael.The display table is dedicated to club member cock ups.

November 2018

Club member Bryan Milham demonstrated how to make Christmas decorations with a difference.
The display table was dedicated to themed items associated with last months demonstration by Peter Moncrieff-Jury.

A reminder to members who had not booked for the Xmas meal at the Beachlands Hotel and wished to do so should inform John Smith asap payment for this event was due along with menu choices.

October 2018

Our guest demonstrator was Peter Moncrieff-Jury who travelled from Chippenham and kept members interested in his tips and tricks.
The display table was be devoted to off centre turned items.

September 2018

Club member Greg Keenan demonstrated off centre turning.
The display table was devoted to green woodturned items.

August 2018

Club member Bryan Milham will demonstrate how to make a long stem goblet.
The display table will be devoted to woodturned items made from 2 or more types of wood.
Retired member Ron Waterfield has listed a number of items for sale. Full details are on our website with photos and prices their are some real bargains to be had.

July 2018

Various members demonstrated tool sharpening and work holding without using a chuck.
The display table was devoted to Paul Hannaby themed items being last months demonstrator.

June 2018

Guest Paul Hannaby demonstrated creative woodturning
The display table was of of distinctive pens inspired by Paul Middleton who was the club demonstrator at our May meeting

May 2018

The evening was devoted to a demonstration of making pens with a difference by club member Paul Middleton

The display table was of coloured items inspired by Peter Davis who was the guest demonstrator at our April meeting

April 2018

The evening was devoted to a number of multi skilled demonstrations from club members including scroll work, pyrography, woodpiercing and two woodturning lathes will be operable.
The display table was of items inspired by Richard Jefferies who was the guest demonstrator at our February meeting.

March 2018

Visiting Richard Jefferies demonstrated how to correctly sharpen tools he also was selling some woodturning tools and equipment.
All members of the club were encouraged to provide any woodturned item for the display table which was devoted to items with a romantic theme to reflect Saint Valentines day.

February 2018

No details recorded

January 2018

The club AGM will encourage members to participate within the club committee to steer the club through the forthcoming year.
Chairman John Smith will continue to serve as Club Chairman along with a newly appointed committee
All members of the club are encouraged to provide any woodturned item for the display table.

Bryan’s Facebook Page

January 2017 – December 2017

No details recorded

December 2016

Yet again there was a lot of competition at this years turning competition with the winner of the John Owen Shield (formerly ‘Turner of the Year’) going to Ray Thomas.  Ray was awarded this for also winning the Advanced category with a beautiful trinket box.  The intermediate competition was won by Norman Poole and the beginners by Jim Lloyd.  Well done to all entrants.

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It was with great sadness that we all heard about Life Member John Owen who passed away after a short illness John will be much missed.

In John’s memory, the committee have elected to name the annually awarded shield “The John Owen Memorial Shield”.

Ray Thomas was awarded the “The John Owen Memorial Shield” as turner of the year for his jewellery box along with a prize of £50.00.

Norman Poole received a prize of £50.00 as intermediate turner of the year and novice turner Jim Lloyd also received a prize of £50.00.

The annual auction raised an amount of £472.00 with items sold previous to auction and monies from the flower show this gave us a total in excess of £1400 to present to the Young Carers charity in January.

Rachel was again thanked by Chairman John for providing refreshments throughout the year.

Approx 30 people members and partners enjoyed an enjoyable Christmas meal at the Brent Knoll Inn.

We finish the year 2016 with a membership of 52 including 3 active life and 2 non-active life members this number sadly included 2 deceased members i.e. John Owen and Ken Corp and another member who resigned.

November 2016

Paul Middleton demonstrated pen making and encouraged members to make a pen to take away on the night following tuition.

Following Secretary Greg’s persistence, we have been awarded a grant of £300 from the AWGB to help our club run a 30th birthday party event during 2017.

The display table was dedicated to Christmas items.

October 2016

A club member demonstrated making Christmas decorations and Neil Burrow demonstrated pyrography.

The display table was dedicated to Fruit items.

Club clothing Items were on display at the meeting and Paul will be happy to take orders with a 20% deposit with order.

Polo Shirts £17 Sweatshirts £18 Fleeces £22

September 2016

Tuition for beginners, intermediate and skilled continues to be provided to all members by a number of our more talented club member turners.

The display table was for Halloween themed items.

August 2016

Mark Hancock was our guest demonstrator.

The display table was dedicated to Offset turning.

Chairman John thanked members that donated items to sell on behalf of the Young Carers Charity and to those members who gave their support to man the club stall at Weston Flower Show the event raised £340.00 on behalf of this charity.

Four club member workshops were approved for suitability for additional tuition these were Peter Davis, Paul Middleton and John Smith and Les Cummings.

July 2016

Neil Harris demonstrated scroll saw work.

The display table was for Barley twist items.

June 2016

John Owen demonstrated turning fruit and tuition continued from tutors Les Cumming and Colin Stroud.

The display table was devoted to Budvase’s

May 2016

Dave Appleby demonstrated at this meeting.

The display table was dedicated to Pyrography items

April 2016

Club member Paul who was named Crafter of the Year 2015 by the Southern Voice Publication for expertise in pen making demonstrated bullet case etching as part of the pen making process.

The display table this month was dedicated to Coloured items.

March 2016

Greg Keenan demonstrated pyrography and Tony Galliers showed us how to sharpen tools.

The display table was related to Easter themed items.

February 2016

John Aitken known as the Bowler Hatted Turner demonstrated at our meeting.

Three new members joined our club this month and we had eight visitors

The display table was dedicated to Pierced items.

January 2016

Club AGM Followed by a question and answer session.

The display table theme was Turned bottles.

December 2015

This saw the first club competition happening with 3 categories of prizes and a turner of the year.  Prizes were £50 for the winner of each category.

WSM.2016-01-28.MAIN.ALL.049.COL.pdf

During the meeting, the first of an annual competition was held.  The competition was open to all members and split into three categories to ensure everyone had the chance of winning one of the £50 prizes up grabs.

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Novices – for new turners having been turning for less than a year (Turn a candlestick)

Intermediate – Been turning more than a year but less than 3 Years (Turn a box)

Advanced – Been turning more than 3 years (Turn anything)

Every single entry was deserved of the a prize but there could only be one winner in each category that was achieved by members dropping tokens next to their choice and the winner of the Advanced category also becoming ‘Turner of the Year’.

April 2015

The club commenced its first monthly newsletter which is emailed to each member.

March 2015

Our club is now affiliated with the AWGB giving members all the benefits of membership of this organisation for more detailed information refer to the AWGB website at http://www.awgb.co.uk/

February 2014

After registering our web site with search engines, a counter was added a week ago and in that week we have had 1348 hits.

Doing a google search for ‘woodturning weston’ now brings ‘www.weston-woodturning-circle.co.uk’ up first and ‘www.westonwoodturningcircle.co.uk’, our previous web site up third although only because it now points to the current site.

February 2013

Scouts from Banwell put their skills to the test when they paid a visit to the club the local press attended.

May 2011

An open night was held at Weston AFC premises members brought a significant amount of items for display along with items for sale it was a well attended event with the local press attending.

November 2011

In an effort to raise awareness of our club and so hopefully attract younger members it was decided to approach all local schools, youth clubs, scouts and guides organisations letters were sent and followed up by phone calls with a very poor response.

August 2005

Secretary John Warren attended the local craft fair at St Georges Community Centre promoting the spinning wheel on behalf of Weston Hospice.

November The Arkwright spinning wheel is completed and was test driven by a local lady who spun wool on the finished item.

October 2004

Nigel Maddocks returns to advise and demonstrate how to sharpen tools

The following are parts of the history of the club extracted from the first club magazine dated May 2003

May 2003

Nigel Maddocks from Somerset Woodturners will demonstrate various finishing techniques

A special time for the club as it has just purchased its first lathe and chuck from Axminster Tools it was an M600

Member Bob Baldock brought along a half scale model of an Arkwright spinning wheel and suggested that as a club project we should make a full size item.

This suggestion was met with great enthusiasm and the club formed into working groups and over the following months completed a full sized version which was later raffled and all proceeds which exceeded £1200.00 were donated to Weston Hospice.

Club member Alex Baxter one of the newer members was congratulated on his hour glass which was exhibited at the Axminster Power Tool Show for which he gained a bronze award.

The club membership stands at 30 members

April 2003

David Bradley will address the meeting on First Aid in the workshop

March 2003

Members are encouraged to bring along items of their work for discussion.

November 2002

Chairman Bryan Jackson reported that since the first meeting in November 2001 the club had taken off beyond all expectations.

Dave Chinn Treasurer reported a paid up membership of 23 members.

Ray Thomas Committee Member has managed to get a small collection of books and videos for the library

November 2001

First club meeting