The Photograph on the heading of yesterday`s blog, showed Weir cottage, ( sorry about the quality of the picture. ) It was taken a couple of day`s after we moved in, the roof had been completley stripped and in the picture it shows we had felted and batterns ready to re-slate. But more about the cottage later on. Back now to "From the Wood". Audrey and I had combine our work, more and more visitors came, More good turners were showing their work with us, I can remember, Mark Hancock calling in, he had only just got started with his interest in turning, He asked if I would take him on has an Apprentice. I was sorry I could not. but not to far from us was another woodturner, Alan Cunningham, He had not long opened up a workshop, tearoom and Gallery out at Erwood`s old railway station. The line had long gone, closed by the Beacham policy. The old station buildings and it`s platforms were an ideal space, with plenty of parking , plus he had the Old stationmaster`s cottage. Mark got in there, a good start for him, He would often call in on his way home, call in for a chat, we soon become friends, later often Exhibiting at the same venues, plus we had Mark`s work in our Gallery, Jason Breach, Martin Pidgen, Rod Dunworth, Don White, Phil Irons, to name a few, I could go on and on, Only the best work out there, got into "From the wood". Tony Boase, sent me a letter, stating he was writing a book for The Guild of Mastercraftsmens Publications. It would tell the story of Twelve of Britains top woodturners, I`m sure there were many more that could have been included, and he went onto write a second one a years or so later. Hid first book, would show each of the selected turners, in Photographs working with in there own workshops and the sourroundings where each one lived. I felt honoured to have been ask to partisipate. The day came and Tony arrived with all his equipment, Light stand for flash lights reflectors and Camera`s. He had spent a good bit of his life Photographing fashion models throughout the sixties. Well known for his stunning pictures. On our first meeting he was saying how he had caught the turning bug, and how he was known by family and friends as turning mad. We worked on this for a full day, finishing quite late. The following day he was off to Anglesey, to see three other turners, Jules Tattersal , Mike Scott and Hayley Smith. Haley ha actually spent a day with me in the first studio i had, Studio 5, I showed her some nice sycamore, we turned a small bowl together, I believe that was her first time, she was living in Cardiff at that time. Now was up with Mike Scott, When the book came out it was a good seller, "WOODTURNING MASTERCLASS, " is still in print I believe. Then came a second book, Bowl Turning, TECHNIQUES, Masterclass, that covered ten more turners, Tony was to visit several times after, but on his last visit to us, he told me was not a well man. Soon after he sadly passed away, A big loss to his family and friends, But missed also by the woodturning community. Mike Scott and Tony`s Widow, Jacky organised getting the bowls that Tony had left rough turned to dry out to be sent out around the world to other renound Woodturners that knew Tony, so They could work on them to a finish and all the work would come together for a Tribute Exhibition, for Tony Boase. We were honored to be asked to stage this first Exhibition in "From The Wood. " A beautiful Catologue was printed, with coloured photoes of all the items coming on show, a date was set, Jacky and her daughter Petra, came and arranged all the Exhibits, it was a Tribute to a man who had given so much to Woodturning and Woodturners. The opening night was a success, so many people came, Very much was sold on that private view evening, Turners from all over visited. Richard Raffan, from Australia, the first time we met. Other turners would visit, The gallery was getting a good reputation. When I first got into woodturning, long before the AWGB and lots of Woodturning Clubs started, Most of the Turners around then, sold their work through a few craft galleries that were becoming more popular, the gift shops, Kitchen shops for the domestic ware, some concentrated on spindle work, doing spindles for stairs and furniture legs. I only tried that once. Another turner getting started that lived in Brecon had taken on a job of turning 150 stair spindles and 8 newel post. He had the timber supplied by the customer, a farmer, I was nice brown oak, this had been cut on the farm a good many years earlier, and was well seasoned. All cut to size. It was to rebuild a stair case in this large farm house, A flight of stairs running up to a open landing the spread across a big hall below. Quite a job. I had never ever tackled anything like this before. But this other turner could not get to grips with this. so asked if I would take it on. I did, and I wished I never had. The first spindle was a practice one, took me three hours to complete, in some sort of fashion, I had some squares of ash the same size has the oak I was given for the job so I used this to practise with, I thought if I spent a couple of hours I might work out a method and get faster. It did take me a while, I persevered and got into the job. Repetition work was not for me. Well at leased not doing multiples of spindles. From then on I concentrated on Bowls and plates, small work like bud vases and the odd table lamp, clock surrounds and round mirror frames, fruit and light pulls, That was a enough variety for me. I continued like this for a good while, Then when the AWGB was formed, I went along to the first seminar, I enjoyed it meeting many other turners. When the next seminar was arranged, Ray Key asked if I would do a class to teach, Chainsaw maintenance and how to use one in a safe manner. Also I was to cut wood ready for the other demonstrators also. I did this for three seminars. I have never really enjoyed being in front of people talking and demonstrating, so I steered clear, turning down further offers. When the clubs got going and they were growing fast at that period, I was asked many times, I kept on saying no, I don`t do demoes. But one club, Pontardawe near Swansea, some of it`s members used to come up and visit our gallery, They were a nice bunch of lads, They always asked if I would come down to their club, so in the end I agreed, I went on a few occasions, It was very tiring for me, Because it was always an evening, 7till9pm Plus an hour and a half travelling each way, getting down there and back home after. No, the Demonstration way was not for me. Working in my shop and selling direct, plus wholesales to the good Galleries and shops. That was my way. Exhibition was a big part too. I had lots, combining my work with Potters. Studio pottery was well accepted as an Art form, so woodturning was sort of the new kid on the block. In Chepstow my own town, I was invited to exhibit with Jim Robson an American potter who lived and worked up in Holmfirth. Jim had his own Studio gallery there, "The Booth house gallery," In Chepstow, Ned Hayward run the Church street Gallery. Just how some thing happen, things fall into place, just at the right time. I had not long got hold of some nice beech, another timber man, Tony Hemmings, had felled a huge beech tree in the grounds adjoining Chepstow Castle, he phone me, knowing I was now concentrating more on my turned work. So it was in my truck and a trip off to Chepstow to get a good load of blocks. I got there just when he had the tree on the down on the ground, so got the pick of all the best wood. Much of which I turned green with natural edge rims . From here Jim Robson invited me to have an Exhibition alongside Phil Rogers a well established potter, in the Booth house gallery, so a trip up to Holmfirth was arranged, I met a very interesting man there, Bill Ishmay, Bill collected ceramic. It was real passion with him. So many well know potters works he had, now long after he died the works are in Leeds Museum. When I went up to collect the few bits that remained unsold. Joel and Abigail came with us, they liked the television program, "Last of the summer wine," so wanted to see Norah Batty`s house, well were it was filmed. I stayed just doing what I enjoyed, collector would come to us. Ruth and David Waterbury, well established American collectors call in on their visit to the UK. Now there is a beautiful book out , "Conversations with Wood" I feel privileged to have my work included along with the worlds best. Woodturning today is very popular, It is recognized for its Art works and also giving lots of folk pleasure by being in clubs of like minded, helping each other have the joy of working at a lathe, and being able to produce something that will last in to the future.