May 2021 - Highland Woodturners Club (Scottish Charity SC053651)

23/05/202123/05/2021

Our next virtual meeting 27-05-2021 Inside-out-turning.

Our next meeting should be on the 27th May 2021, it was to be arranged by myself (Alec Mutch) but due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions this meeting has been made a virtual meeting. I was to be demonstrating the making of an Inside-out-turning, something I have demonstrated at the club before. However I am asking you all to have a go at making an Inside-out turning, I have given you a couple of pictures of Inside-out-turnings, the first picture was from a recent competition where John Ruickbie made some Inside-out chess pieces, the other is my usual Inside -out-turning using a miniature bottle of spirt incorporated into the turning.

These were John Ruickbie’s Inside-out-turnings of some chess pieces, they were entered into our spring competition and John took first prize with this entry.

This is one of my own Inside-out-turnings, it’s made from Maple with a miniature bottle of spirt trapped inside.

These are just some of the things that can be made using the Inside-out method, this is by no means all that can be made and I’m sure you will use your imagination to great effect and come up with something completely different. Do have a go and let everyone see what can be done, you will have until Friday 28th May 2021 to make and send me your pictures, some text with them would be appreciated.

Send your entry or entries to me at,

a.j.mutch4321@btinternet.com

I look forward to see what you all produce.

Do remember the clubhouse remains closed.

17/05/202117/05/2021

Report on our virtual meeting 13-05-2021 Platters.

Our meeting on Thursday 13th May 2021 was to be all about making wooden platters, the meeting was to be organised by myself (Alec Mutch) but due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions this meeting had to be changed to a virtual meeting. You were all invited to make a platter or two and send me the pictures of what you had made, the entries were thin on the ground with only 3 members putting forward their work, those were Dave Line, Nick Simpson, Geoff Potter and myself. Those are all regular contributors to the web site and we do appreciate their participation but we would really like to see lots more of you taking part in the online meetings.

15/05/202115/05/2021

Committee Minutes now available

Minutes from the meeting on 13th May are now available in the Members Section

12/05/202115/05/2021

Frank Albers, farewell to an old friend.

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Frank Albers has died, I got the sad news from another club member Jim Kelman on Monday evening. I contacted Jeanie, Frank’s partner on Tuesday morning and she told me what had happened. Frank had been ill for some considerable time, he was taken into Orrin House, Muir of Ord just over a week ago and died there recently, Jeanie told me he died peacefully after a long illness. Frank’s funeral will be a very private affair with only a limited number in attendance, Frank had no belief in elaborate ceremonies and his wishes will be adhered too.

Frank was one of the founding members of the Highland Woodturners Club that was started in 2005, firstly working out of Charleston Academy in Inverness, until later in 2010 he was one of the members who secured the premises in Munlochy. Frank continued to frequent the club meetings in Munlochy until his health started to deteriorate, he was a very accomplished woodturner, a perfectionist without being too critical of others who were learning the art, always willing to pass on his knowledge.

09/05/202111/05/2021

Our next meeting 13-05-2021 Platters.

Our next meeting should be on Thursday 13th May 2021, this meeting was to be organised by myself on the subject of making wooden platters, however this meeting has been changed to a virtual meeting due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

That does not mean you won’t have to do anything, I want you all to make at least one platter, photo it or them and send a copy or copies to me along with some information on the item or items you have made. There are no rules to follow, your platter can be any size in any wood, embellished or not it’s up to you.

Here are a few pictures of platters I have made in the past just to give you an idea of the type of thing you could make, you can use your imagination and come up with something completely different.

02/05/202102/05/2021

Report on our virtual Showtime meeting 29-04-2021.

Our Showtime meeting on the 29th April 2021 was to be organised by Geoff Potter and myself, but due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions this meeting had to be changed to a virtual meeting. Your were all asked to send me pictures of anything you had made recently, there was no actual criteria set down on what to make, we were just asking to see what you had been doing. There was a better response from our members for this meeting than had been the case over the last few months, and for this we are very pleased to see, I hope the increase in participation will continue.