Meeting rescheduled owing to snow on the usual day and fortunately the white stuff had disappeared leaving us with heavy rain! Luckily our demonstrator - David Wood, Master Thatcher - was able to fit us in on the new date. Not exactly a "wood related" demo (apart from the name) but very interesting.
Of special note was that we must have had a record turnout for the competition tables; clearly the sub zero temperatures hadn't kept members from their workshops. The competition had the theme "a finial box" and so those who followed this theme will receive a bonus point.
DDWC
March 2018 Meeting
Our demonstrator arrives in classic style!
No mistaking his profession.
David Wood - Master Thatcher -commences work on a bird table.
Bundles of wheat straw/rye straw tied to frame of bird table.
Straw tied in to give it the desired shape.
Pegs and band (Hazel) used to permanently fix the thatch.
Addition of decorative banding.
Excess thatch trimmed from base.
Base of thatch knocked into an even finish.
Lead sheet cut and fitted for top.
Finished and ready for the birds!
First place in the Masters' competition went to Richard Hagues who used Walnut and Sycamore. . . . .
. . . . there was a surprise inside!
Second place to Peter Fantham for his finial box in Apple.
Third to John Williams' finial box in Walnut and Maple.
Also entered was John Henbery using African Laurel and Mahogany . . .
. . . and Dick Potter who chose Laburnum and Rosewood for his exhibit..
First place in the Members' competition went to Peter Rutter for his use of Walnut and Tulip wood.
Second equal to David Waldron who used Walnut and Fruit wood . . .
. . . .Graham Jerram chose Sycamore for his entry . . . .
. . . . and David Reynolds' finial box in Ebony and Brown Oak.
Third equal to Gregory Holmes who made good use of a piece of driftwood. . .
. . . and Tina Shinner with her pyrographed entry in Lime.
Also entered were - Roger King's finial box in Yew . . .
. . .Liz King who used Basswood and gold leaf . .
. . . James Snell using Plum and Blackwood . .
. . .Carole Snell's carving in Pine . .
. . . Terry Murtha's entry turned from wet Yew . .
. . . Brian Walker used Oak for his themed entry . . .
. . . Douglas Moseley . . .
. . . John Waring produced a finial box in Scots Pine . . .
. . . Tony Rawcliffe who combined turning and carving . . .
. . . Graham Legg turned a finial box in Ash. . .
. . . . Ernie Hanson who used Oak and Mahogany . . .