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Jim Steele with his chair and trophy.

For our annual get together in May 2006 we went to Dorset to the magnificent setting of the National Trust’s Kingston Lacy property. As the English weather is apt to do, it was a bit of a case of “we came, we bodged, we shivered” but a good time was had by all. Whilst it wasn’t exactly shorts, swim suits and suntan lotion and there was bit of a chill in the air, we APT-ers are never downhearted and we were entertained and educated with a fine array of workshops on such topics as hurdle making, bowmaking, spoon carving, stick back chairs, hay rake making and broom squires. There were a good number of lathes present this year which was great to see and with 176 tickets sold it was one of the best attended AGMs in several years.

The Committee would like to thank the Dorset group and in particular local member and coppice worker Dave Partridge for all his and their hard work in making it all happen. Countless hours of organisation must have gone into making it such a smooth running event.

There were the usual competition classes for chair making, stools, treen and turnery all proving that there is still a wealth of craftsmanship and talent alive and well. The Woodland Heritage sponsored trophy for Best in Show was won by our chairman Jim Steele who has been making chairs in the Warwickshire town of Southam for a number of years.

The 2007 AGM and Bodger’s Ball will be held over the weekend of the 12th and 13th May at the National Trust’s Wallington Estate near Morpeth in Northumberland.

There will be a wealth of demonstrations, workshops, competitions, displays of furniture and turnery and a chance to chat to a vast range of folk involved with woodlands and greenwood crafts.

Wade Muggleton