Author Archives: Rolf Buwert

Woodturner, toy maker, storyteller (author of Beatrix the Bad Fairy and Haggis Hunting, a short history) and maker of Haggis Hunting Horns. I own a very small woodland where I grow my own timber and talk to the birds. I trade under the name of Created Woodcrafts. AWGB Accredited Woodturning Tutor.

Chairman’s Report 2025

Galloway Woodturners

Chairman’s Report 2025

It gives me great pleasure to present my report for the past year.

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all members of the committee for their hard work, dedication, and continued commitment throughout the year. Your efforts, both seen and unseen, have ensured that our club continues to thrive and remain well supported by our members.

 

A special thank you goes to

Phil Jones & Phil Howard for the creation of the beginners course manual.

Ken Powers and his wife for hosting Richard Findley

Phil Jones, who stepped down from the committee this year. Your contribution, time and enthusiasm have been greatly appreciated.

Sadly, we also remember the loss of one of our valued members Jake, this year. Their contribution, friendship, and enthusiasm, heckling will be deeply missed.

Despite this sadness, it has been another successful and positive year for our club. Membership remains strong at 61, our events and activities have been well attended, and the spirit of camaraderie that de?nes our group continues to shine through everything we do.

Our professional demonstrators this year have been Les Throne, Eugine Grimmley and Richard Findley. Unfortunately, the club experienced losses on two of the events, despite the considerable effort that went into planning and advertising.

Kenneth Coates & Stephen Eccles are qualified tutors and have run several beginners courses this year. Thank you

The dark nights are nearly upon us, with this in mind, Stephen and Kenneth have offered to open the club up on a Wednesday afternoon.

David Simpson has previously done this, but he is unable to this year.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has played a part—large or small—in making this another successful year. I look forward to working with you all in the year ahead.

Bryan Jardine

AGM Chairman’s Report 2024 (+ Leaving Report)

At this evening’s AGM I resigned as Chairman after 6 years(one year longer than I had originally intended because of COVID) and am happy to announce that our new Chairman is Bryan Jardine. Bryan has agreed to be Chairman for one year .

Our constitution states 

  • The Chairman shall be elected by the Members of the Club at the Annual General Meeting for a one year term of office and shall be eligible for re-election for additional terms.

I attach my 2024 Chairman’s Report and my Leaving Report

 

Rolf Buwert (ex Chairman)

Click on the link below to read the reports ?

Chairmans Report Galloway Woodturners 2024

Reminder – Demonstration by Margaret Garrard RPT this weekend Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September 2024

Can I remind all members (and the Saturday is also open to visitors) that the amazing Margaret Garrard (Registered Professional Turner) will be holding a full day demonstration, 10am to 4pm, on Saturday 8th September, there are still a few tickets available at £25 – which includes lunch.

Margaret will also hold A Days Tuition with Margaret Garrard  from 10 am to 4pm on the Sunday, 9th September, tickets £50 for the whole day, which also includes lunch. Two places are still available for this most excellent opportunity to spend a day with one of the finest woodturners in Britain.

 

Notice of the AGM 8th October 2024

Notice is hereby given of our AGM on Tuesday 8th October 2024, at 7pm, at Galloway Woodturners workshop.

In accordance with the constitution (see link below) the post of chairman is for a one year period, with the chairman open to reelection. As I have previously intimated I will resign at this AGM and will not seek reelection. A new chairman will need to be found, and election held if several people are nominated/ proposed/ volunteer.

https://gallowaywoodturners.co.uk/galloway-woodturners-constitution

 

The AGM will be followed by a short demonstration by Rolf Buwert.

Professional Demonstrator’s visit – Margaret Garrard 7th and 8th September 2024

We are very excited to be able to bring you Margaret Garrard RPT from North Yorkshire, one of the UK’s finest Woodturning artists. As the winner of several prestigious awards and scholarships she brings a great deal of experience and knowledge that she has gained from other members of The Worshipful Company of Woodturners and is going to share with us over the weekend.

Saturday 7th September Margaret will be holding an all day demonstration 10am to 4pm at our workshop just outside Castle Douglas, tickets ae £25 for the whole day and includes a light lunch.

The following day she will be holding a masterclass for a maximum of 5 people (you don’t need to be a ‘master’ just have a reasonabe grasp of woodturning. Margaret is the master and will educate, enthuse, support and encourage you to bring your ability to an other level). Tickets are £50 for the whole day, and also includes a light lunch.

Contact Sarah, our Secretary: Sarah Burns ( sjburns46@yahoo.co.uk ) for tickets

or our Chair: Rolf Buwert ( rolfbuwert@outlook.com )

 

Professional Demonstrator and Masterclass 17 and 18 August

We are extremely fortunate to have Mick Hanbury come to Galloway Woodturners on

Saturday 17th August for an all day demonstration

and

Sunday 18th August for an all day masterclass

Mick is a professional turner, and one of the finest artistic turners in the world. The son of a soldier he has travelled the world and picked up inspiration and learning mainly from Germany. Starting as a cabinetmaker he has now been turning for the past 25 years. 

He has demonstrated in the UK Ireland, Germany and the USA and Mick used to be the resident tutor at Doncaster College teaching mature students. Mick now teaches his specialised woodturning and embellishing techniques in his workshop in Lincolnshire, as well as at Turners Retreat in Nottinghamshire.

The Saturday demonstration is 10am to 4pm, costs £25 and includes tea/coffee and even lunch. As a UK and world famous turner this is going to be a most excellent demonstration so don’t miss out, get your ticket asap.

Sunday 18th Mick will hold a masterclass (10am to 4pm and £50 for the whole day), and a lucky few will benefit from his expert teaching. Mick is the master, you only need to be competent and willing to learn and develop as a turner, so anyone with more than 12 months turning experience should consider seizing the chance to participate in this masterclass.

See Jimmy ( james.brown40@btopenworld.com ) or Sarah ( sjburns46@yahoo.co.uk ) for tickets.

For more information on Mick Hanbury visit his web site – 

http://www.mickhanbury.co.uk/

Death of a member

It is with great sadness that I have to pass the news that Mick Fenton, a long standing member died on Wednesday 10th April, after a long illness, bravely bourne. Mick was a quiet little man with a strong north east english accent, and had been a member for over 8 years.

Mick’s Funeral service will take place at Roucan Loch Crematorium, Dumfries. DG1 4JF on Friday 3rd May at 11.00 a.m. 
Family flowers only please but, if desired, donations for Kirkcudbright RNLI will be accepted at service or can be given to Osborne Funeral Directors, 4 Gas Lane, Kirkcudbright. DG6 4HX 

It has been requested that mourners wear bright colours.

Good things.

Several good things have happened, and are going to happen, at Galloway Woodturners.

In no particular order, but firstly it was excellent to have another Beginner’s Woodturning course last week, Sarah and Antoinette had recently done a Taster course, were enthused enough to immediately join Galloway Woodturners and a few weeks later came back to do the Beginner’s course. Both were lovely to teach and had a good time, going home with beautiful little bowls. Welcome to you both.

After many weeks of sorting through our (sadly deceased) friend Ian‘s tons of tools and equipment (“He who dies with the most stuff wins!” Ian, you were a winner) The team of sorters labellers and pricers managed to sell the vast majority of the stuff, and recycle the rest. A heroic effort folks, thank you.

The weekend of 23rd and 24th March will see THE TINY TURNER Emma Cook return to us for an All Day Demonstration on the Saturday, and a Masterclass on the Sunday. I will resist singing her praises too much here but all of you who have bought tickets for the weekend will be certain of a great day’s entertainment, teaching and encouragement. Some of you will have met her before at Galloway Woodturners, or at Harrogate, where she always attracts big crowds. Some of you may also have seen her many video demos where her approachable and articulate personality puts people at their ease. A most excellent turner visiting us – we are indeed blessed.

David Simpson has been extremely generous with his time and support in his Wednesday afternoon workshop sessions over the winter (Thanks Judith for letting David out to play). They will come to an end shortly while he and Judith tend to their garden, David tells me that at the end of the gardening season he is prepared to do it again. Thanks David, and thanks to those members who came along for his sessions.

Another ‘good thing’ has been this month’s competition. Who would have thought that ‘A Platter’ would have drawn so many entries, or that such an apparently simple item would have produced so many variations, every one of which was to a very high standard of design and workmanship. Congratulations to all entrants. Well done to everyone.

And lastly, we have two more professional demonstrators Mick Hanbury and Margaret Garrard to look forward to in our programme this year, as well as Brian Conchie RPT, John Brown, Sarah Burns and Mick Schofield from our own membership.

 Yes, lots of good things at Galloway Woodturners in 2024.

 

A great honour, richly deserved, by our very own Roger Cutler RPT

Our very own, past chairman, Roger Cutler has been deemed “capable” by the Register of Professional Turners and therefore is on the register of Professional Turners. This is probably the highest honour a qualification a woodturner can be granted, so, well done Roger Cutler RPT.
To become a Registered Professional Turner requires a lot of time and hard work, there are many tests and criteria which have to be met as the standard is very high. We know Roger is capable of producing extremely high quality work but the Register of Prosessional Turners examined his workshop, several finished pieces as well as his working practices. His certificate states he is a “capable” woodturner which seems a bit underwhelming but is actually high praise. So congratulations Roger.