The fifth Woodturning Weekender will be held on

10 & 11 August 2024 at:

Springfields Event Centre

Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE12 6ET

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!

What visitors said about the 2023 Woodturning Weekender:

‘… a very enjoyable weekend and, much to my surprise, my wife Anne, who is not a woodturner, has already suggested that we go next year’ Peter H

‘I had a complete ball as usual, roll on next year’ Gary L

‘The organization was excellent and the demonstrations extremely interesting’ David J

‘We’ve already decided we’ll be at the next one!’ Alison and Nigel O

‘Everyone there was friendly and helpful, it felt like a family get together.’ Dennis M

‘My favourite woodturning show’ Katie A

Sign up below for bulletins to get all the news first.

Click here to get Woodturning Weekender Bulletins by email!

YOUR HEADLINING DEMONSTRATORS

MARY ASHTON

Mary has been working with wood since the late 1980s, starting at the Bristol Women’s Workshop. She quickly discovered an affinity for working with wood and developed her skills further.
Her tutor encouraged her to help others with their tool techniques, and later suggested she train further, with the intention of pursuing a career teaching woodwork.

She began teaching woodturning in 2004 at the Orchard Workshop, and has continued to do so since. She is also a trustee of the Max Carey Woodturning Trust, and was accepted onto the Register of Professional Turners in 2009.

Mary has had to reduce her teaching hours due to an impending relocation, so this will be a rare chance (for now) to watch, and learn from this great teacher.

http://www.maryashton-woodturner.co.uk/

ANDREW HALL

Andrew Hall doesn’t really need any introduction. He’s a regular at national shows, including Newark and Harrogate, and always draws a large crowd. He is also very active on YouTube, with a custom-built studio and a set-up probably second only to the BBC! Andrew has recorded videos for his own channel, as well as instructional films for machinery manufacturers. He is a fantastic demonstrator and teacher, this is your chance to get up close and personal.
There seems to be no end to Andrew’s talents, but among his specialities are his hats, helmets, blues bowls and guitars. Plus lots of other stuff too!

Andrew is also a keen wooden bow-tie model in his spare time, and plays a bit of guitar too; he attended our first Weekender and kept us all entertained with his playing and singing.

https://www.facebook.com/hallwoodhats/

CHRIS PARKER

As one half of the (self-proclaimed) Bald Woodturners, Chris Parker became a well-known face via his YouTube channel and Zoom demos during the lockdown, including a well-received demo for our Conkers LIVE series. More recently, he has been out and about in person at club demos and exhibitions. His teaching style and techniques have won him many fans, and he was recently admitted onto the Register of Professional Turners.

Chris enjoys teaching, and passing on his knowledge to others, and his passion for his craft is as strong now as it was when he started. As you can see above, he enjoys texturing his turned pieces with various techniques, from a simple wire brush to more advanced methods. He likes his creations to be organic and individual, drawing inspiration from various places, most notably from the ancient ceramicists.

https://www.chrisparkerwoodturner.com/

GARY RANCE

Completing our quartet of Headline Turners for the Woodturning Weekender, we’re delighted to have Gary Rance joining us. Gary has probably visited every woodturning club in the country in his time, and is a very well known demonstrator in the UK and also internationally. We’ve had the privilege and pleasure of working with him many times, after our paths crossed at one of the first exhibitions we attended over thirty years ago. We were both very young then!

At the age of 16, Gary started a three-year apprenticeship with a small woodturning company in Chesham and was soon put on piece work turning mainly peppermills and kitchenware. This was followed by a 10-year period turning stair balusters and chair parts. It is since becoming self-employed that Gary has made his mark on the woodturning scene, with success in competitions, articles of his work in various woodworking magazines, and demonstrating for trade companies. Gary is also on the Register of Professional Turners, and is considered to be one of the fastest and most accurate production woodturners in the UK.

www.garyrance.co.uk

We’ve altered the timetable slightly for 2024, so that the last demo on Sunday will end at 4.00. We hope this will allow more visitors to stay to the end and still get an early start on the journey home.

The running order for the Return to Springfields is:

Saturday:

Morning – Chris Parker (9.45-12.45 with a 30 minute break halfway)

Afternoon – Andrew Hall (2.00-5.00 with a 30 minute break halfway)

Sunday

Morning – Mary Ashton (9.30-12.15 with a 20 minute break halfway)

Afternoon – Gary Rance (1.15- 4.00 with a 20 minute break halfway)

SATURDAY EVENING TICKETS

The fun doesn’t stop when the demos finish on Saturday. The Weekender is meant to be a social event as well as informative, so there’s an opportunity to stay on into the evening. There will be a two-course barbecue with loads of food available (all dietary requirements will be catered for), and a fully stocked bar. It’s a great opportunity to chat with other visitors, the demonstrators, and Chestnut staff.
As always, expect the unexpected with one of our evenings. Previous evenings have included musical comedy, an Only Fools and Horses dining experience, a live concert from Gordon Giltrap, string quartets, magicians…

Oh, and sometimes there’s a bit of karaoke afterwards for those brave souls who want to stay on…

Please note: This is a ticket only event and numbers are limited.
Daytime tickets do not give access to the evening, a separate ticket is required.

FRIDAY EVENING: THE LOOONG WEEKENDER

When we started arranging our Weekenders, we quickly realized that a lot of our visitors would be arriving on Friday, and travelling solo. Having sat in hotels and restaurants eating alone in the past, we know it’s no fun. So, we have a very informal get-together on Fridays, before the Weekender starts.
It’s a great ice-breaker, a chance to meet up with old friends and to make new ones.
In 2024 we’re returning to The Kitchen, where the first Looong Weekender was held. It’s next door to the Travelodge in Spalding if you’re staying there, and a stone’s throw from the Weekender venue.

There’s no need to book, just come along when you’re ready, and stay as long as you want (or as long as the staff will let you!). We’ll be there from about 6.00, but there’s no formal start time. Early birds can get their food order in early, and avoid the rush!
(Please be warned: with the number of people who might turn up, there could be a wait for food to be ready. Please be patient!)

GOOD TO KNOW

The Weekender is, we hope, fun for everyone. Long-suffering, non-turning spouses are, of course, welcome to join in with all and any parts of the Weekender.

In the hopefully unlikely event we are forced to cancel the Weekender, full refunds will be given.

WAIT, THERE’S MORE..!

The Weekender gets bigger and, we hope, better, every year. There’s still loads to do when your headline demonstrators aren’t on stage…

CLINICS

These are smaller, more personal demos taking place during breaks, featuring many friends of Chestnut Products:

Bee and Andy Matthews – Lincolnshire Association of Woodturners – Alan Cramer – Lincs Wolds Woodturners – Kirsty Dalton – AWGB – Fenland Woodturners – Nathanael Griffiths – Gianni Deidda – Katie Armstrong – Benjamin Maney – Stephen Madden – Colin Watson

TRADE STANDS

For those of you itching to spend your money, we can help with that too! We’re expanding the trade section of the Weekender, with the following companies attending:

Taylors Mirfield – Turners Retreat – The Tiny Turner – Simon Hope Woodturning – Martin Pidgen Timber – Woodart Products – Shenton Woodcraft – Chestnut Products – and more to come!

QUESTIONS? PROBLEMS?

Call us on 01473 890118 or email mailroom@chestnutproducts.co.uk

*We reserve the right to change the schedule, line-up and other details at short notice if necessary*
Click HERE for full Weekender Terms and Conditions

ENTRANCE STRICTLY BY ADVANCE TICKET ONLY