Woodturners to host 20th anniversary demonstration day in Castletown
Woodturning enthusiasts in Caithness will celebrate a 20-year anniversary by holding a demonstration day in Castletown this month.
North Highland Woodturners Association, founded in 2004, will have professional woodturner Mark Sutton as special guest and members of the public are encouraged to attend.
The event takes place at Castlehill Heritage Centre on Saturday, May 25, from 10am to 4pm.
The association has 27 members who meet at Castlehill on the first and third Saturday of every month, from 9am until noon.
They carry out demonstrations as part of the cream teas held at Castlehill during August where people have an opportunity to make their own keyrings. Scout groups and SWI ladies have been shown how to create keyrings too.
Membership secretary Steve Gibson explained: “We have club rooms at Castlehill where we have seven static lathes and a number of portable lathes.
“All in all we have let people from the ages of eight to 80 try their hand, and although some were reluctant at first they have all enjoyed it.
“One thing that we are looking to do in the long term is to get some small lathes, desktop ones, and go out to old folk’s homes and that type of thing.
“It tends to hinge around keyrings because they’re nice and easy to make and the materials for them only cost us about £2 a time.”
He added: “To try and help the community we pay for a table at the lifeboat day at Scrabster where we carry out demonstrations.”
Anyone wishing to find out more ahead of the 20th anniversary demonstration day can go along to a meeting on the morning of Saturday, May 18.
Those attending the demonstration day can expect to see Highland-based expert Mark Sutton producing a “spectacular piece”, according to Steve.
Visitors will be shown colouring and texturing techniques using locally sourced materials in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Entry is £5, including tea, coffee and biscuits, with a break for lunch from 12.30pm.
North Highland Woodturners Association is part of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain.