Hands-on woodturning was one of the crafts available for young people to try out at this year’s Gilwell 24, organised by the Scout Association for Explorer Scouts and Senior Section Guides. The event held at Gilwell Park in North London was attended by over 4,000 14-18 year olds and their leaders.
hands_on_woodturning_for_young_people_01

On behalf of the AWGB, East Herts Woodturning Club with the support of several other clubs and professional turners organised the woodturning activity. Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners Nicholas Somers and a former Master, Peter Gibson, were also present at the event.

Of the eleven lathes being used, five were loaned by Axminster Tools & Machinery. This enabled approximately 130 scouts and guides to try their hand at woodturning. After a short safety talk, each spent about half an hour making a small wooden item on the lathe under the supervision of an experienced turner.

L to R: John Leach (co -organiser of woodturning at Gilwell 24), Peter Gibson (a past Master and Chairman of the WCT Craft Committee), Nicholas Somers (Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners), Dennis Day ( Chairman of East Herts Woodturning Association) and Mike Rothwell (co -organiser of woodturning at Gilwell 24)
L to R: John Leach (co-organiser of woodturning at Gilwell 24), Peter Gibson (a past Master and Chairman of the WCT Craft Committee), Nicholas Somers (Master of the Worshipful Company of Turners), Dennis Day (Chairman of East Herts Woodturners) and Mike Rothwell (co-organiser of woodturning at Gilwell 24)

As well as Axminster, the organisers and the AWGB would also like to thank Acorn Woodturning, Birchanger Wood Trust, Chestnut Products, Henry Taylor Tools, Staples, The Worshipful Company of Turners and members of Cambridge, Chelmer, SECB and East Herts woodturning clubs for their support and the loaning of equipment.