About Us

We are a club which was formed in 1994 to promote the craft of woodturning in the East Surrey and North Kent areas.

We have monthly meetings, at which there is usually a demonstration of an aspect of turning, presented either by members or by one of the country's top turners; there is also the opportunity for members to discuss and display their turning successes and failures, and exchange tips and views. We have excellent close circuit video equipment which allows the audience a much better view of the demonstrator's techniques, including the all-important view from the tool-rest side of the lathe. We can see clearly just how the tool is being held and applied to the work. Each month there is a raffle, with several useful prizes (normally related to turning) on offer. Members are often selling, or even giving away wood or equipment - some great bargains can be had this way.

We are currently actively recruiting new members, so if you want to join, do get in touch - you won't have to go on a waiting list. There is no joining fee, and no meeting charges - only an annual subscription of just £40, which includes membership of the national association, the AWGB. If you want to check us out before joining, visitors are charged a guest fee of £5 per meeting, out of fairness to our members.

We attend local fairs and events, taking lathes with us and displaying the craft to an ever-widening audience, as well as running an active sales table of items produced by the membership. We also sometimes operate "hands-on" evenings during the year, where members and visitors are encouraged to come along and do some turning, receive some help with any problems they may have, or have new techniques demonstrated to them which they can then try out straight away (how often do you see something new, but have forgotten exactly how to do it when you finally get home to your lathe?).

Each year, the club holds one or more Exhibition and Craft Sales at local venues. We encourage other local craftspeople (such as woodcarvers, lacemakers and pyrographers) to exhibit their work and skills alongside ours, with turning demonstrations from club members, and this formula has been well-supported. These occasions are generally very successful, judging by the number of people attending each year and their comments! See the Events pages for more details of when these events are planned for.

We are an Affiliated Branch of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain (AWGB).

Click the logo above to link to their web site.