THE BEGINING

MWA officially began in 1989, but its true beginning was a little earlier. Some years before, Mike Cripps, now a professional wood turner, had been given an old wood turning lathe and a few tools. After a few hair raising experiments, he began to discover the art of turning. Wood turning became his major hobby, and before long, Mike could be found demonstrating and selling his products at local craft fairs . He also gave talks and demonstrations to local craft based organisations. In the course of these activities he met other people who were interested in wood turning, some of whom were already well established turners. Mike organised informal meetings at Ickenham Cricket Club in Middlesex, where interested people could meet and enjoy a pint or two while discussing their hobby. From time to time, proficient turners would be invited to present short demonstrations, using Mike's lathe which he brought into the club house from his house nearby. There was always a display of work by members of the group, which was usually the subject of good natured and constructive criticism. 

​

At that time, the AWGB (Association of Woodturners of Great Britain) had just been formed. Mike joined it and took a significant part in its early development, so it was an easy step to suggest that the informal group meeting at the Cricket Club should consider becoming what was in those days known as a Chapter of the AWGB. There was an enthusiastic response. I cannot now remember exactly how many of us signed up, but it was probably in the order of 12 - 15 enthusiasts, most of whom already belonged to the AWGB. Of those early enthusiasts, only 2 or 3 remain members of MWA,, and just one remains on the Committee! 

​

MEETING PLACES

The room at the Cricket Club was small, and the group was outgrowing it. Also, in the Cricket Season, it then became clear that we needed to move, we needed larger premises, and moved to Southlands Arts Centre, in West Drayton near Uxbridge. Membership rapidly increased as more people took up wood turning, and we soon outgrew the Arts Centre and moved through a succession of local schools. The last one, a community school, suffered from a high level of vandalism, and despite our equipment being padlocked into an enclosed trolley, much of it was stolen or damaged. What was left was sold off, our insurance covered our losses. For a while we tried to operate with a much smaller lathe which could be taken home after each session, but it was soon obvious that it was not large enough to service the needs of the demonstrators. The last straw came when the school organisers let the room adjacent ours to an extremely loud pop group. It was time to move. 

​

In 1999 through the efforts of Peter Garrison , one of our members ,  we were able to rent a room , together with a space in which we could safely store our equipment , at the Gaelic Athletics Club in West End Road , Ruislip , Middlesex , where we continued to meet until 2016. Due to refurbishment we were required to move location for several months. We currently meet at the Gateway House, North Harrow Car Park, Pinner Road, North Harrow, HA2 7TA.

 

EQUIPMENT

A Poolewood 1000 lathe was purchased, which after modification continued to give good service, followed at intervals by a basic video camera outfit using two large screen TVs and a borrowed video camera. A wireless microphone system was also purchased. The weight and bulk of the TVs raised serious safety considerations, and so as soon as funds permitted, they were replaced by an excellent video camera and digital projector in 2006.

Our increasing membership needed a better view of of demonstrations, so in 2010,  Tony Champion (chair) improved our system with new lighting, a second projector and screen and a better overhead camera. A purchase much appreciated by the members. In 2016 the Poolewood was replaced with an Axminster AT1624VS. This has been placed on a set of wheels to ease movement for use. All our demonstrators have commented on the quality of this lathe.

​

SHOWS

During the early days, the annual Middlesex County Show was a successful annual event. MWA had a large stand at the show where members’ work was displayed and sold. Live demonstrations were mounted throughout the Show. MWA won the Best Stand in Show Cup so often that in the end it was awarded permanently. (Alan Spargo is housing this presently). Sadly, the Middlesex Show was financially not viable, and was closed. MWA exhibits regularly in the Chilterns area,  at the Cow Byre Gallery in Ruislip until 2016, Uxbridge Library from 2016 and other shows from time to time. Since 2010 we have been part of the Hillingdon Arts week and exhibit yearly. We are easily recognisable due to our Green Polo shirts that depict our logo, giving us identity as a group since 2009. Since 2013, we have been invited and attended several events including the Tudor Rose Woodturners two day event at Daventry Wood works to display our work and have taken part in the inter-club competitions.  We were invited to the 25th anniversary of the Surrey Association of Woodturners to their open day, and we have since been back on a yearly basis.

 

MWA and AWGB

It is worth noting that MWA has been closely associated with AWGB from its earliest days. Founder member Mac Kemp was in the early years an able Chairman of AWGB, and Mike Dennis, another founder member of MWA, served in many essential capacities greatly contributing to the success of AWGB and its renowned Seminars.  Adrian Needham, a more recent member of MWA was initially an AWGB Regional Representative and subsequently AWGB Treasurer.  He was actively involved in mounting of the biannual Seminars from 2007 to 2012 and was instrumental in formulating the AWGB plans to change its legal status from an unincorporated association to become a charitable company. He was also MWA Secretary from 2000 to 2004 and our Chairman from 2005 to 2009 .  Sandra , Adrian’s wife , was AWGB Membership Secretary and  worked on Seminar Registration from 2010 to 2012 .   The Club has provided Regional Representatives  from 2004 to 2008 , and Mike Collas was the  AWGB Secretary from 2008 to 2012 as well as MWA Secretary from 2005 to 2009 . For several  years MWA  manned and demonstrated on the AWGB stand at the Woodworking Exhibitions at Alexandra Palace. Frank Clarke , one of the organisers of the MWA team at Alexandra Palace , also helped to found the Cheam Woodturners Association in October 1999. 

In 1998 the AWGB published a book called Wonders in Wood ( in the library ) showing 101 pieces selected from their exhibition  to celebrate  the first 10 years of the AWGB . It included pieces by 10 people who were then current or past  members including

Cliff Coleman, Mac Kemp  David Moore  Eddie Morgan , Stuart Mortimer, Ralph Pooley, Gary Rance,  Alan Spargo, Elizabeth Van Trierum and George White. 

 

Club members have helped the AWGB initiative to interest young people in the craft by helping at events with the Scouts and Girl Guides  and continue to strive towards encouraging new younger members.

​

WEBSITE 

Christina Bishop built the first website in 2004 attached to Adrian Needham's website and in 2007, Christina and Adrian's work increased as more information was needed to be transferred to the MWA's website. In 2010 Peter Phelps took over as the Webmaster. Peter has included nearly all the Club's newsletters onto the site. In 2016 Vanessa Sanderson took the role as Webmaster and later by Tony champion 

​

NEWSLETTERS

The newsletters were launched by Mike Dennis. He wrote the first 11, and Lynn Dolder wrote the following 5. From May 1996 Alan Spargo has been writing for the club. He has recently completed the 154 issue. Originally these were printed for members to pick up at the club meetings. Since 2016 they are now emailed to members in colour. There were black and white printed copies until November 2017 and colour afterwards for those who do not use email. The editor from 2019 was Ben Dick and from November 2021 is Josh Pinto. The newsletter is distributed to members via Email with a few hard copies for those that are unable to receive them.

​

 

PROFESSIONAL TURNERS

Throughout its history, MWA has enjoyed the membership of several professional woodturners including Stuart Mortimer - spiral turning, Dennis Keeling - segmented turning, Dave Reeks and Robert Bishop who have shared their knowledge and expertise, supporting members to produce quality pieces. Currently we have Stuart King as our President from 2004, Gary Rance, Phil Jones, Mike Wood, Eddie Morgan, Brian Wooldridge and Ben Dick who all contribute to supporting our members and sharing their approaches to the craft.

​

LIBRARY

In 2003 the Committee accepted Gordon Cookson's idea to start a Library and run it on a monthly basis. It is now thought to be one of the largest woodturning club libraries in the country.

​

CHARITIES

We supported the Middlesex based Shooting Star Children’s Hospice for about 10 years until 2015 when they amalgamated with the larger Chase charity based in Surrey . The total raised was £7,612 from the 2 1/2% levy on all  our exhibition sales together with sales of our demonstration pieces  and donated equipment and donations from members and the public . 

 

 The Middlesex link was restored to our charitable fund raising by our support of St Luke’s Hospice ( Harrow and Brent branch ) .

Gateway House (our present HQ) is our current Charity. 

 

Alan Spargo 2011. Gordon Cookson updated 2017. Tony Champion updated 2020

 

                

 

MEMBERS’  COMPETITIONS

     

In 2007  the Ken Graddage memorial trophy was made by Stuart King for the Best Turned piece at the club’s annual one day seminar . The seminars had stopped in 1994 but were started again in 2000 and have continued since then in village halls first at Holmer Green and subsequently at Great Kingshill – villages to the   north of High Wycombe .These all day events give us a chance to attract and learn from professional demonstrators , who live too  

 far away for a midweek evening demo .

 

In 2008 we instigated the Turner of the Year Shield , which is  awarded for the member   with the highest total for ten entries in the monthly competition .In 2019 this shield was renamed The Alan Spargo Shield in honour of one of our founder members who passed away

in 2019.

 

      Congratulations to the following winners :

 

             GRADDAGE TROPHY                          TURNER OF THE YEAR

                                                                       THE ALAN SPARGO SHIELD

 

     2007      Eddie Morgan                            

 

     2008      Ralph Pooley                                       Tony Champion

 

     2009      Ralph Pooley                                       Eddie Morgan

 

     2010      Don Murray                                           Ralph Pooley

 

     2011      Gordon Cookson                                   Eddie Morgan

 

     2012      Tony Champion                                    Peter Leach

 

     2013      Peter Leach                                           Ben Dick

 

     2014      Eddie Morgan                                        Ben Dick

 

     2015      Gian Carlo Ciuffardi                               Eddie Morgan

 

     2016      Gian Carlo Ciuffardi                               Peter Leach

​

     2017      Ralph Pooley                                          Ben Dick

   

     2018      Giancarlo Cuiffardi                                 Peter Leach

​

     2019      Ben Dick                                                 Ben Dick

     

     2020

​

     2021      Peter Leach                                           Peter Leach

​

    2022      Ben Dick

​

​

 

​

 

MEMBERS’ SUPPORT OF THE CLUB

 

The MWA is very appreciative of the efforts of many members over the years , many of whom have been mentioned in this  History, as well as these particular people :

 

LIFE MEMBERS for their long and significant contribution to the club :

 

Mike Cripps  , Mac Kemp , Mike Dennis , Elizabeth Van Trierum , Don Kirby ,Don Murray , David Moore , Alan and Pat Spargo, Stuart King, Ralph Pooley, Cliff Coleman, Mary and Eddie Morgan , Mike Mansfield, Derek Pollecutt and Tony Champion.

 

CHAIRMEN 

 

Mike Cripps, Mac Kemp  , Mike Dennis 1997 - 2000 , Alan Spargo 2001-2005 , Adrian Needham 2005-2009  Tony Champion 2009 - 2019  Gordon Cookson 2019-

​

written by Alan Spargo and Gordon Cookson