The Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners (GAW) was formed in 1991 and today has over 100 members. We are a voluntary, non-profit making organisation which exists to promote woodturning in a friendly atmosphere. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Hucclecote Rugby Club in Gloucester (7pm for 7:30pm start). At most meetings we have a top class demonstrator and a chance to chat to fellow turners. If you are interested then please come along and join us.
Here’s what one of our newest members has to say about a training day with the GAW :
Thoroughly enjoyed the day and came home buzzing with enthusiasm. If the committee are in any doubt of the value of these training days, please don’t be. I, and I’m sure all that attend, increase their skills and are very grateful for the time the tutors give for free. Now, with the guidance I received, I have made my first box and learnt a lot.
New Charity – Cotswold RDA
At the AGM it was decided that our charity for 2024/5 will be Cotswold Riding for the Disabled who operate from their facilities on Cheltenham Racecourse.
Cotswold RDA provides a safe and friendly environment for people of all ages living with a disability. Riding with them not only improves physical and mental well-being but, enhances quality of life.
They are one of the largest RDA groups in the country, with excellent facilities including indoor and outdoor arenas, 10 stables and grazing, all of which needs funding. So why not get some wood on your lathe and make some pieces to be sold at Frampton in September!
Live Demonstrations at Hucclecote
Live demonstrations are now taking place and streaming over Zoom has stopped. There are no longer any restrictions on numbers attending at Hucclecote and refreshments are available. Visitors are welcome to join us. However, if you want a free tea or coffee, YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MUG.
May will see another new demonstrator for GAW, Peter comes to us from Herefordshire where he was the Membership and Programme secretary of the Herefordshire woodturners. He has recently been approved by the AWGB as a Tutor.
Peter started turning wood as a creative pastime in the mid-90s whilst living and working in the field of International Development in East Africa and South Asia. His motivation at the time .. he has always loved working with wood, and woodturning provided an ideal way to de-stress after an intense day of meetings and travel. Directing a razor sharp tool into a chunk of irregular wood rotating at speed requires ALL of your attention !!
The last meeting was the club AGM, folloewed by a fascinating talk by stroud based clock case restorer Will Cook. He let us into a few of the secrets of making a clock case appear ‘old’ by avoiding modern tools and techniques and going back to what was ‘the art of the possible’ from several centuries ago.
It is essential that your EMAIL ADDRESS IS UP TO DATE for you to receive the latest details from the club. This will include the log on details for each zoom demonstration. The details are also posted on the ‘members only‘ web page. If you’re not receiving your monthly newsletters than please check your ‘junk’ folder and if you still can’t find them then contact membership@gaw.org.uk
Latest News
There will be several vacancies on the committee in the next year or two. If you would be interested in helping your club, then please talk to any committee member for more details – without sufficient volunteers there will be no club. Specifically the vacancies are :
- Programme Manager
- The programme for 2025 is almost complete (only one to arrange), so this would be a gentle introduction checking that the monthly demonstrators have all the info they need and making any final arrangements such as the subject of the demonstration, then towards the end of 2024 start organising the 2026 programme by identifying potential demonstrators and establishing their interest and availability (with help from the rest of the committee).
- Wood organiser (2024/5)
- We will need a new wood organiser from early 2025 and so we’re looking for someone who can start to learn what’s involved this year with a view to taking the lead in 2025. They would be responsible for sourcing, preparing and pricing all the wood we sell to members and looking after the new wood store.
- Secretary (2024/5)
- David intends to stand down as Secretary at the AGM in 2025 and so we will need someone to take over and continue this vital unseen role. Again, we’d like to identify someone early so that they can benefit from a long handover and be fully equipped in a year from now. Duties include minuting all the committee meetings, publishing the monthly newsletter and dealing with any correspondence sent to the club.
If you could help with any of these positions, or just want to find out more about them before deciding, then please talk to any committee member.
The password protecting ‘members only’ pages has changed. The new one is available in the newsletter sent to members on Friday 8th March or on the WhatsApp group.
The committee have taken the difficult decision to close the membership as there are currently more people in the club than we could accommodate if everyone turned up for a club night – as it is we are running out of chairs on busy nights. There will now be a waiting list in operation for new members, though there is a reasonable turn over so hopefully any wait won’t be too long.
Find previous news stories here
Tool Sharpening
As requested by members, here’s an introduction to Tool Sharpening with Bench Grinders from John. If you’ve any questions please ask him – either at a club meeting or by email : chairman@gaw.org.uk
Members Gallery
If you’d like your work included in the member’s gallery then please send some pictures and a description to Phil – web@gaw.org.uk.
Project Plans
There are now over 60 project plans available and you can search to find anything of particular interest or just to get inspiration. They are also free – even to non-members!
The GAW ‘WhatsApp group’ is a way of staying in contact with fellow members during the month and also a useful source of advice on anything to do with woodturning. If you’d like to be added to the group then please contact Mike (whatsapp@gaw.org.uk)
The members only page now has Chestnut finishing school information, not a complete list but pretty comprehensive.
Beginnings in Turning
An Extract from the February 2020 Woodturning magazine.
“A Turning Journey”
When Mike was still working five years ago he asked his daughter for a woodturning lesson as a Christmas present but then changed his mind, deciding it wasn’t such a good idea while he was still working. So instead she brought him a year’s membership for the Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners (GAW) and he has never looked back.
Want to know more then read the full article, click here: A Turning Journey
Toolite of Mitcheldean are one of GAW’s sponsors. They offer all GAW members a discount of up to 10% on selected products. Please check prior to purchase. Take your membership badge as proof of GAW membership.