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About
Us
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The
Cornwall Association of Woodturners has been awarded a grant
from the National Lottery in the Awards For All section.
We
have been awarded the sum of £4950.00 to fund 4 individual
projects, which are:-
1.
An audio-visual setup consisting of 2 (two) x 40" digital
flat screen TV sets, a DVD recorder, a video/camcorder and a
video player plus all the supporting cables, brackets etc.
2.
A complete PA system which includes all accessories, including
2 radio microphones and all the cabling, brackets etc.
3.
A digital hearing loop which will cover our main meeting room
and committee room.
4.
An upgrade of our dust filtration equipment as a health and
safety project.
The
committee would like to thank everyone who was involved in this
project.
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To celebrate our lottery grant the club held it's first open
day on July 12th 2008 hopefully in order to raise the club's
profile and encourage turners and would be turners who may
not know of our existence to come and see for themselves.
The day was a great success unquestionably succeeding in
it's objective. Visitors, including visiting professional
woodturners, members of the public, civic dignitaries and
our local member of parliament were traeted to demonstrations
of woodturning, wood carving and pyrography. Throughout the
day the club's resident profesional, Mike Hosking and other
senior club members demonstarted both their skills and the
effectiveness of the new digital camera, large screen televisions
and public address system. Also demonstrating from his wheelchair
was paraplegic club secretary Gary Cullimore along with one
of our blind turners Chas Rhodes.
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Gary Cullimore
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Chas Rhodes
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There was a display of various members work on tables sited
around the room where people were encouraged to both look at
and handle. There was a huga amount of interest, some sales
and much comment about both the quality and variety of work.
The higher than expected turnout meant that not everyone could
join in and have a go safely. The club policy is to positively
include everyone - including the disabled. Councillor Susan
Callen, Mayor of Truro City Council said "I didn't know
what to expect. To see everyone integrating with the blind and
disabled was quite amazing. It was really and enjoyable event."
Later in the day, during a very brief lull in the proceedings,
Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat MP for Falmouth and Camborne,
presented a cheque for £400.00 to the local Gateway club.
Gateway is a leisure club for people with learning difficulties
and the money wa raised by club members during the year. A further
£100.00 has already been added to this through the donation
of some of the proceeds of the sale of tea and cakes.
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Councillor Susan Callen
Mayor of Truro City Council
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Julia Goldsworthy
Liberal Democrat MP
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The club is renowned for it's food and, yet again, Pam Hosking
and Elyse Parish did a fantastic job serving tea and home-made
cake all day - no wonder most of the members' waist lines
seem to be expanding.
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Some of the cakes that were sold or auctioned.
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Elyse and Pam
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Speaking after the event, Mike Adams, the outgoing
chairman and the person largely resposible for spearheading
the National Lottery Grant application process said "As
a club we have always operated for the benefit of our members.
Now as a result of the National Lottery process we have opened
our doors to the public and opened a whole new world for a lot
of people. I am terribly proud of what we do and what we have
achieved".
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Roger Slater
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Mike Hosking
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Mike's woodturning on wheels
A converted tricycle with a lathe on it.
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April
2008 clubnight.
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Mike
Adams welcomed everyone to the meeting and after making all
his announcements it was time for the AGM to begin.
With
the current committee standing down nominations were made for
new officers. Some of the current members were re-elected in
their present office.
The
new committee for the next twelve months is to be:-
Chairman
- Dennis Williams
Vice
Chairman -Jim
Davies
Secretary
- Elyse Parish
Treasurer
- Gary Cullimore
Mike Hosking
Mike
Adams
Dave
Ellisdon
Kevin
Hanley
Paul
Johns
Tony
Rice
Roger
Slater
Martin
Pearce
Dave
Hart
Pam
Hosking
Magazine
edited and produced by Paul Johns
Membership
Secretary - John Parish
Publicity
Officer - Ron Gries
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Mike Adams welcomed all to the meeting and
announced that it was going to be his last as the Chairman
as due to ill health he would have to stand down from this
position at next months AGM although he would still like to
play an active role on the committee. After making the usual
announcements and updating everyone present on the news articles
the evening was taken up largely by discussion, questions
and answers and an open forum with the members, with regard
to our success with the lottery grant that we had been awarded.
He told everyone about the improvements that were going to
be possible to the club including the loop hearing system,
the two large screens and camera/DVD system as well as the
dust extraction systems that had been ordered and were going
to be delivered soon.
One thing that was decided upon was that in
accordance with our lottery grant there was to be an open
day held at the club. This will be on Saturday 12th. July.
There will be various turning demonstrations by members, young
and old, a pyrography and a woodcarving demonstration as well
as various other things going on during the day. Plenty of
food and drinks available throughout the day. It is hoped
that the local press, radio and tv will be able to attend
as well as our local MP's.
After this there was a critique / show and
tell on the pieces that were entered into this months TOTY
competition.
The evening had been quite a busy one although
not a lot had gone on in the way of turning.
The meeting closed at about 10.15.
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After welcoming everyone to the meeting and
reading all of the news items and announcements Mike Adams
handed the rest of the evening to Roger Slater and Martin
Pearce who were going to give a demonstration making a winged
bowl from a log. Sporting what must be the latest fashion
in bandanas these two members started by telling us all what
they hoped to achieve by the end of the night helped by some
drawing and sketches on the blackboard so that we could get
some idea of what they were attempting.
So all in all another fun filled evening was
enjoyed by all.
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Mike Adams welcomed everyone attending to
the first meeting of the new year and said that it was hopefully
going to be a very exciting one for the club. There is several
demonstrations already lined up from some excellent turners
and more hopefully to be confirmed shortly. After making his
normal announcements and news items to the members, the rest
of the evening was dedicated to a demonstration by the Robert
Sorby Sales Manager, Chris Pouncy in conjuction with our local
suppliers which are Mid Cornwall Saw Services.
Chris gave an excellent demo as he always
does and we were privileged to see first hand some techniques
to get the very best from our tools. There was no pressure
to buy - but if you did then they were grateful - more of
an insight into what could be achieved. There was a comprehensive
range of Sorby tools and Chestnut finishes on offer with a
worthwhile discount on all items.
This was once again a first rate evening and
a great start to the new year with something for everyone.
Information, discount sales, one to one advice and as usual
splendid refreshments - fit for a king. A big thank you to
the ladies team for all their hard work.
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Introducing
a new member of the club - and friend.
Meet
Chas Rhodes, a registered blind novice turner and his companion
guide dog "Pickles".
Chas
is 70 years young and recently, while undergoing rehabilitation
training at the St. Dunstans School for blind ex-sevice personnel,
he was introduced to the world of woodturning. He has now had
two short courses at the Ovingdean Training Centre, near Brighton.
Chas recently made contact with the club with a view to becoming
a member and continuing to be taught at our teaching evenings.
From a teaching point of view, as a normally sighted person,
I find it difficult to know the best way of going forwards.
When the person that you are trying to teach can only make out
the difference between light and dark when indoors and when
in bright sunlight, can just make out a few colours, but not
what the colours consist of. To this end, Chas has arranged
for one of St. Dunstan's professional trainers, Sarah Jarres,
to visit the club to give us some advice on the best way forwards
to help Chas and anyone else who is sight impared, to safely
learn to turn and enjoy themselves.
Sarah is due to come down to Cornwall soon to help Chas to set
up his workshop, and while she is here she will meet with Mike
Hosking, Dave Ellisdon and myself at our clubhouse to give us
some help and advice. Also on her agenda, she proposes to introduce
us to another blind turner who lives in St. Agnes, and is interested
in joining the club.
Feature by Mike Adams.
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Club
Visit to John Bradfords - May 9th 2007.
A group from the club travelled to John's
wood yard near Ottery St. Mary. We all met up at a cafe on
the A30 for breakfast so that we could then all travel together.
On arrival, we were delighted to find that
John was giving a 25% discount on all purchases. All members
that took part in this organised trip came away very happy.
John always looks after us very well. Mike Hosking and Mike
Adams selected and purchased a load of board including Ash,
Sycamore, Beech and Chestnut to cut up and prepare for sale
at the clubhouse.
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Visit
to Axminster Power Tools
June
11th. 2007
An Invitation
from Treknow turners at very short notice allowed five members
to join their group for a special day which they had organised.
In the morning,
the store manager Colwyn Way gave a turning demonstration
generally following the program used in their teaching courses.
In the afternoon Jason Breach turned one of his trademark
lidded boxes with emphasis on tool techniques and the use
of a polishing mop to obtain gallery finish to the piece.
Included
in the day was a 10% discount on all purchases made by members
of the visiting group.
Mike Hosking
and Mike Adams took the opportunity to purchase some more
turning tools and finishing materials for use on teaching
evenings.
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Visit to Treknow Turners.
On
Saturday 24th. March, Mike Hosking, Mike Adams and Dave Ellisdon
visited Treknow Turners at their meeting hall for a turning
demonstration by Bristol based profesional Julie Heryet R.P.T.
Julie's
demonstration covered many topics including design cosiderations,
tool selection and correct usage, finishing etc. The afternoon
session continued with further areas of turning including
a brilliant section on thread turning.
The
whole demonstration was a chance for CAW members to see the
specialist audio/visual equipment that Treknow Turners have
purchased through a successful grant application from the
National Lottery. The close-up shots taken during various
parts of the demonstration using the video camera's zoom feature
greatly enhanced the viewers understanding af exactly what
the turner was doing.
This
visit was the first between the two clubs, which we are hoping
will become a regular event.
Mike
Adams
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Some
of our club members were fortunate enough to visit John
Bradford's wood yard at Ottery St. Mary on Saturday 17th.
June 2006.
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John
preparing and cutting a slice of Monkey Puzzle
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John
explaining the working of his board cutting machine and
then loading it.
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Setting
up the cutting machine before demonstrating it for the visiting
group.
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CORNWALL
ASSOCIATION OF WOODTURNERS
AT THE ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW 2006
ON THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL
FORESTRY DEMONSTRATION AREA
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Some
of our members who gave turning demonstrations in the
arena
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JIM
DAVIES
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MARTIN
PEARCE
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OTHER
MEMBERS WHO GAVE TURNING DEMONSTRATIONS INCLUDED:
TONY
RICE
IAN
HIGNETT
BARRY
ROBINSON
DAVE
WISE
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MIKE
HOSKING
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