News Archive
Wiltshire Times Community News………
Kennet & Avon Woodturning Club started the New year with a Masterclass from The “Tiny
Turner”.
The Kennet & Avon Woodturning Club got off to a great start for 2021 with an excellent virtual
demonstration given by Emma Cook from her West Yorkshire workshop.
36 year old Emma is one of the few female Registered Professional Wood turners in the UK; she is
internationally known as “The Tiny Turner” since she is petite in stature but that did not prevent her
capturing the attention of our club members on the evening of Thursday 14 with an inspiring live virtual
demonstration.
Emma first began turning as a teenager in her uncle’s workshop, she is now a registered professional
turner but is also a very skilled wood carver. She describes herself as a wood artist since she combines
woodturning, carving and painting to produce stunning singular artistic pieces.
Wiltshire Times readers that wish to take up turning are always welcome to join what is a friendly and
helpful club atmosphere. There are no age or gender barriers, our current membership ranges in age
from teenagers to those that have been long retired.
The club currently meets monthly using Zoom on the second Thursday evening of each month starting at
7:00pm. Please contact George (our Club Secretary) on 01380 727426 should you wish to find out about
membership.
Philip Lobb MBE - Club PR Officer
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Wiltshire Times Community News……
Kennet & Avon Woodturning Club Enjoys Virtual Demonstration Given by Professional Turner Sue Harker
The Kennet & Avon Woodturning Club enjoyed an excellent virtual demonstration given by Sue Harker on the
evening of Thursday 8 April. Sue who lives on the East Yorkshire Coast took up woodturning as a hobby in 2000,
after buying her husband a lathe! Whilst supporting Graham in his new hobby, she attended the local club with
him and was encouraged to 'have a go’ herself. She quickly became captivated by the wonderful qualities to be
found in our native timbers and the endless possibilities available to the holder of the tools. Sue retired from the
civil service in 2006 and decided to become a self-employed professional woodturner having developed her
turning skills through the club. In January 2007 she was accepted onto the Register of Professional Turners and
in the same year was awarded a Bursary by the Worshipful Company of Turners. Sue now teaches woodturning
and demonstrates all over the country she also enjoys the freedom to explore the creative side of woodturning
and takes great pleasure from seeing her work evolve with the additional use of colour, texture and piercing into
what can best be described as an art form. 28 of our club members watched her turn an “off centre candle stick”
which we all found most interesting and informative to watch.
Photograph – Sue Harker working on her lathe.
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Gary Lowe will host a Zoom Demonstration for our club members on Thursday 10th June 2021 at 7pm.
A quote taken from Gary’s Website garylowewoodturner.co.uk :
“I have been fortunate to demonstrate at both local, National and International events, the later of which I would
like to do more. Whilst demonstrating I always wear my kilt and this has earned me the nickname of
"The Tartan Turner".”
PRESS RELEASE 10TH DECEMBER 2021
ANNUAL GALLERY NIGHT 2021
The Kennet and Avon Woodturning Club held their Annual Gallery Night at St Johns Church Hall, Upper
Studley, Trowbridge on the night of Thursday 9th December 2021.
The members displayed turned pieces that they had produced throughout the year. The committee
decided this year to hold a competition to make wig stands, once the judging was completed and
prizes awarded the stands would be donated to "The Little Princesses Trust" which was formed in 2006
by Wendy and Simon Tarplee following the tragic loss of their five-year-old daughter Hannah to Wilm’s
Tumour in 2005. Whilst Hannah was extremely ill, her hair loss was an over-riding concern and so her
parents desperately searched to try and source a wig for her. The Trust now provides real hair wigs for
little girls and young ladies who have lost their own hair as the direct result of cancer treatment. The
trust which was formed at Hereford has grown to a point where it is not only providing many wigs each
year but has also contributed over £15 million pounds to 80 research projects related to childhood
cancers. In 2019 the trust became the holder of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in recognition
of its invaluable work and contribution to cancer research.
Over 40 wig stands were displayed and judged on the night. Mr Martyn Perry who is an Ambassador
for The Little Princesses Trust attended along with the Mayor of Trowbridge Denise Bates and
Councillor Jo Trigg of the County Council; all three guests willingly helped with the judging of the wig
stands.
As you would expect from our club title the membership of some 46 people are drawn from all over
Wiltshire, East Somerset and Bath. The club Chairman – Mr John Boyne-Aitken thanked our three
guests for their help and support throughout the evening, he added that he was amazed by the number
of stands that had been turned and offered up for judging, it was clear that such a worthy cause had
positively impacted on the membership.
Our First Prize Winner, Dennis Albutt
Our Second Prize Winner, John Lawrence
PRESS RELEASE 10TH DECEMBER 2021
ANNUAL GALLERY NIGHT 2021
The Kennet and Avon Woodturning Club held their Annual Gallery Night at St Johns Church Hall, Upper
Studley, Trowbridge on the night of Thursday 9th December 2021.
The members displayed turned pieces that they had produced throughout the year. The committee
decided this year to hold a competition to make wig stands, once the judging was completed and
prizes awarded the stands would be donated to "The Little Princesses Trust" which was formed in 2006
by Wendy and Simon Tarplee following the tragic loss of their five-year-old daughter Hannah to Wilm’s
Tumour in 2005. Whilst Hannah was extremely ill, her hair loss was an over-riding concern and so her
parents desperately searched to try and source a wig for her. The Trust now provides real hair wigs for
little girls and young ladies who have lost their own hair as the direct result of cancer treatment. The
trust which was formed at Hereford has grown to a point where it is not only providing many wigs each
year but has also contributed over £15 million pounds to 80 research projects related to childhood
cancers. In 2019 the trust became the holder of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in recognition
of its invaluable work and contribution to cancer research.
Over 40 wig stands were displayed and judged on the night. Mr Martyn Perry who is an Ambassador
for The Little Princesses Trust attended along with the Mayor of Trowbridge Denise Bates and
Councillor Jo Trigg of the County Council; all three guests willingly helped with the judging of the wig
stands.
As you would expect from our club title the membership of some 46 people are drawn from all over
Wiltshire, East Somerset and Bath. The club Chairman – Mr John Boyne-Aitken thanked our three
guests for their help and support throughout the evening, he added that he was amazed by the number
of stands that had been turned and offered up for judging, it was clear that such a worthy cause had
positively impacted on the membership.
Our First Prize Winner, Dennis Albutt
Our Second Prize Winner, John Lawrence
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