News
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Last updated December 2010 |
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| 2011 Short course dates
are now available on the short
course page |
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On
September 19th and 20th we drove to Essex for the first
European Woodworking Show, which was organised by Mike
Hancock of Classic hand tools. The journey there on the
Friday took us ten and a half hours, thanks to at least
eight sections of roadworks and 50mph speed restrictions
on the motorways, culminating in a complete closure of
the M25 between J23 and J25. We needed to leave at J28.
In the morning though, when we saw the two splendid C13
barns and the beautiful setting, we cheered up. We were
inside the Wheat barn, which has a long 5 bay interior
and high purlined roof. |
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Outside
it was just as interesting, with brick infilled walls
and an irregular roof. It was a perfect setting for the
hand tool section and there was an excellent atmosphere
created. |
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| We
set up our workshop bench between Konrad Sauer of Sauer
and Steiner toolworks and Phil Edwards of Philly planes,
so there were covetable planes to both sides. Saturday
was very busy, with keen woodworkers eager to try the
planes on the bench. Some just wanted to hold the Holtey
for a few minutes, they said it was the nearest they would
get to one! There was a large contingent from UK Workshop's
forum, who tried the three different planes on offer and
were impressed by the performance of the tuned up Stanley
5 1/2. This can be achieved on the Tool tuning course
in our workshop. Book now for next summer! |
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The
highlight of the Sunday was a visit from Mia Dunnett and
her father. Mia had written to David earlier in the year
explaining that she was interested in woodworking and
was reading David's book (as was her Daddy) She was very
pleased that David's books were developing her Daddy's
mind. We never expected to meet her, so were very pleased
when she came up to our stand to say hello. I took her
photo and asked her permission to put it on the site.
So here are David, Mia and her daddy George. |
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We
are looking forward to Mia doing a course in the workshop,
one day in the future perhaps. David thought that the
show was a great success and hopes that it will become
an annual event. Thanks to Mike Hancock and all his
staff for organising the event and hopefully it will
become a must in the calendar for all woodworkers.
Other
news
In the summer, we had a visit from Rodney Lomas, who
had visited us previously, trying to decide whether
to train here in the UK. He decided to go travelling
and ended up in NZ where he attended the Centre for
Fine Woodworking in Nelson. He is now working in Mapua
NZ at a workshop and gallery. While he was training,
he decided to make a table based on David's curly table
and brought some photos of the finished article to show
David. David was impressed with his execution of the
complex lamination and we thought it was a beautiful
piece of work.
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He
is now thinking of a design for the chairs to go with
it! |
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I
forgot to tell you of another surprise visit we
had on April 2nd. Greta Berge came through the gate
with her friend Corine. They were visiting the West
Country in a splendidly compact camper van and called
in to see us. It was very good to see Greta, who
was a student here in 1998 with Katrine. Greta now
runs a Bed and Breakfast in Sandefjord in the south
of Norway; if anyone is visiting Norway, ring here
for the address! Greta plays the accordion very
well and was also calling in on Bideford folk club,
where she used to play when she was a student here.
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DLC,Greta,
Corine, and Mawgan of course. |
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David
has just finished two consecutive weeks of courses and
we had a student from Victoria, Texas for both weeks.
Nevin came with his wife Pam who also enjoyed an excellent
two weeks visiting gardens and antique shops and Hartland
Abbey and Appledore and many more places. She even drove
the huge 4 x 4 Mercedes they hired, which was as wide
as some of the lanes here. North Devon is very different
from Texas!
The other three students were old lags or returnees to
the workshop , Eric from Amsterdam who brought his wife
Hinta with him (she added swimming and walking to the
list of things that Pam did), David who came for his first
week earlier in the year and Paul, who was joined by his
wife Lucy plus Annabel their daughter and his mother in
law. They did beaches and the Milky Way among other attractions.
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David,
Nevin, Pam, Hinta, Eric, Paul, DLC, and Mawgan. |
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