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News ::

Last updated December 2010

 
2011 Short course dates are now available on the short course page
 
 
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.

 

 
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.
 
 
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!
 
 
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.
 
 

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.

 
 

He is now thinking of a design for the chairs to go with it!

 

 
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.
 
DLC,Greta, Corine, and Mawgan of course.
 
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.

 
David, Nevin, Pam, Hinta, Eric, Paul, DLC, and Mawgan.
 

 
 
 
 



 

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