The West Riding Woodturners Group

This group of turners meet at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of each month at Eldwick Memorial Hall. They are as nice a bunch as you could meet anywhere, and I’m pleased to be a member.

Eldwick is a small village just above Bingley in West Yorkshire.

 




Eldwick Memorial Hall

The club has about 80 or so members at the present time, ranging from beginners who only turn an occasional piece, to very experienced and accomplished turners. Meetings are very friendly, social occasions. Drinks can be bought at the club attached to the hall and, all in all, club meetings are very well attended and enjoyable events. The spring 2004 issue of Woodturning had an article on the WRWG.

Visitors are welcome to attend a meeting or two free of charge to see if it suits them. After that you would be expected to join the club. The current membership fee is £20 per annum.

The club newsletter editor produces a monthly newsletter which generally arrives a few days before each meeting. This gives news of club members, shows, competitions, club activities and details of demonstrators and other information of use to members. The club has a library of books and videos about turning, and also a tool library where, for a nominal sum, members can borrow unusual or expensive tools to try them out. Abrasives are purchased in bulk and the savings are passed on to club members.

About half the meetings each year are given over to demonstrations from visiting turners. The programme for 2008 isn’t finalised yet, but what has been is shown below.

7 January 2008

Simon Whitehead demo (nb. a Monday meeting)

5 February

Mike Briggs & Darrell Rushworth demos

4 March

Tony Wilson demo

1 April

AGM

5 April

'Hands-on' at Lawnswood

6 May

Margaret Garrard demo

3 June

In-house club event - to be announced

1 July

David Muckle demo

5 August

In-house club event - to be announced

16 August

'Hands-on' at Lawnswood

2 September

Bob Chapman demo

7 October

In-house club event - to be announced

4 November

Ian Clarkson demo

2 December

Christmas Jollies - not to be missed

Twice a year the club has 'hands-on' days held at the YMCA sports centre at Lawnswood, north Leeds. These are full day events and tea and coffee are provided together with lunch for members who pre-book it. Members take lathes (usually about eight) and show each other tips and tricks, experiment with new ideas or techniques and generally learn from each other. It is an opportunity for beginners to get advice, and everyone learns something on the day.

If you are interested in the club and would like to know more, then you can contact the club secretary, David Ossitt on 01937 584195 or by email at david@nexusdsl.co.uk

 

  Updated  April  2008

www.bobchapman.co.uk