Four North American woodworking experts have been passing on their skills to over 70 furniture enthusiasts at summer workshops at Royal Leamington Spa College.
Following the first successful course at the college last year, the New English Workshop worked with curriculum leader Jamie Ward to bring another summer school to the college in Leamington Spa.
US TV star, Roy Underhill, and fellow woodworking authorities: Chris Schwarz, Peter Follansbee and Tom Fidgen, each ran five-day intensive woodworking courses in the college’s furniture workshop, with students from across the UK and Ireland travelling to take part. All the woodworking was done by hand – no machines.
Roy’s group made a book stand designed by Thomas Jefferson, a pinch rod with metal work, a grease box and a nail curiosity. Chris’s students made a knockdown bench while Peter’s group made a 17th century inspired green-oak carved box and Tom’s students made a sawyer’s bench.
Royal Leamington Spa College has been running furniture crafts courses for over 60 years and has a track record in producing talented furniture makers. Jamie Ward has been the driver behind getting the prestigious workshops at the college.
He says: “I thought this was a great opportunity to show the wider woodwork community what fantastic facilities we have here. It’s a privilege to welcome these international experts to the college, and what’s even better is that nine of our own students got the chance to take part in the courses for free, so it’s been an amazing experience for them and for me.”
