The main events organised by BWA are the regular monthly club evenings at Priestwood Community Centre. These are held throughout the year on the third Wednesday of each month.
Where possible, the club night is streamed through Zoom for remote viewers and recorded for later viewing via a link in the members section.
BWA Club Nights
Demonstrations
Most club nights are based around a turning demonstration. BWA will invite a professional turner to visit the club and show us how to turn a particular item, or the use of a particular tool or turning technique. We are also experimenting with remote demonstrations using our AV equipment at the venue, so that demonstrators can beam in from their workshops, but the members view it on a screen rather than in their own homes.
That way we can have the best of both worlds: demonstrators from all over the globe, as well as a proper hands-on competition table and a cup of tea with friends.
The Open Evening
Typically the March Club night is a general social evening to give members a chance to chat and get to know each other. Each of the four club lathes will be in use for brief demonstrations by club members of a particular technique or tool, or finishing method. Some members will bring along their sharpening systems to provide guidance on sharpening tools.
The Annual General Meeting
The AGM takes place on the October Club night, sometimes followed by a short demo from a Club member. The BWA Committee will report the previous year’s activities, provide a set of accounts for the year and outline a plan for the following year. Officers will be elected to the committee and the members attending will be given an opportunity to comment on the previous years performance and make recommendations for the upcoming year.
Wood Sales
On most club evenings, club funds will be boosted by selling timber blanks and tools. The timber blanks, generally from native British trees, are collected by club volunteers during the year and sold at very reasonable prices. This is a good opportunity to obtain some interesting timber at prices far cheaper than will be seen at any commercial outlet. Members are also invited to sell any unwanted tools; a percentage of the money received will go towards club funds.
The Christmas Special
The December Club night is the Christmas Special, another social evening with a soft drinks and some nibbles. The evening will include a raffle, a hands-on turning challenge to turn a Christmas Bauble and the Association prize giving. The monthly competition is for the Keith Sherwood Challenge (see the Competitions page for details)
Hands-on Workshop Sessions
These are held roughly every two months throughout the year. They are full day events, generally at the weekend, held either at a member’s workshop or at Priestwood Community Centre.
They are generally based on a particular turning technique, e.g. multi-axis turning, or finishing and decorating ideas. The club provides the lathes, mentoring from some of the more experienced turners and lots of coffee. The attendees provide the wood, the tools and the enthusiasm. A small charge is levied to cover any costs.
External Events
BWA is involved in providing demonstrations with the intent of both promoting woodturning and attracting new members.
We have been providing demonstrations to local groups including the Women’s Institute and the Scouts. We have also attended local Craft Fairs, Garden Centres and Village Fetes.
BWA Wood Collection
We often get offers to harvest timber which can be used for woodturning. This might vary from small lengths of timber cut down in a local garden, to large trees.
BWA has a number of members experienced in using chain saws and associated equipment. Where necessary, a small work party can be organised to collect and process the timber. The timber will then be sold to club members on club nights.