We are currently freshening up our website (like one does rather sporadically), and in describing our current classes were surprised to find that the woodwork one began 35 years ago! Not only that, but one member of the ‘class of ’82’ then held at Ringmer School, has been a continual attender ever since! Des, my good friend and fellow woodwork collaborator, has been coming ever since then, which if my maths is correct, amounts to over 1800 hours of class time, plus the homework of course!

Here's Joe cutting the pieces for his wine bottle rack

Here’s Joe cutting the pieces for his wine bottle rack

Hasn’t he learnt enough to do it on his own yet, you may well ask? Well yes and no. Yes, he has a great many skills and is a very accomplished woodworker, more than able to make everything himself. Indeed he has single-handedly furnished his own house (and is now branching out to his children’s houses), with bookcases, toys, chairs and tables. But the fact is that Des and many others still come to the weekly class for two other vital ingredients; the workshop and the people.

Chris gluing planks.. and the latest table by Des

Chris gluing planks.. and the latest table by Des

The workshop itself provides the bench space plus the machines and tools to actually do the work, whilst the six or seven other people in the class help give various solutions to design or practical questions that inevitably arise along the way. They are therefore essentially self-help groups, with the variety of differing opinions giving great scope for creative results. Because, as we are always being reminded, there is rarely only one answer to a design question.

Katya planing bevels on a raised and fielded cupboard door panel.. and the ubiquitous birdbox

Katya planing bevels on a raised and fielded cupboard door panel.. and the ubiquitous birdbox

Although Des (and many other serial woodworkers) have been coming for many years and know a lot about woodwork, we also get a fresh batch of beginners every term. And that means the ‘birdbox project’. If you are interested in finding out more about these classes, please make contact, or read what one recent woodwork course beginner wrote here.

Tim