On 22nd May 2025, the Worshipful Company of Turners formally presented a new woodturning lathe to QPAC to support the centre’s growing demand for woodturning classes.
The presentation was made by Master Turner, Chistopher Scott, and received on behalf of QPAC by Sarah Lewis, CEO along with woodturning tutor, Philip Francis. Assistant Ian Adkins, Chairman of the Craft Committee, and Liveryman Paul Ferguson MBE were also present for the presentation.
The donation forms part of the Company’s ongoing charitable work to promote excellence in the craft of turning and to ensure wider access to its benefits. The new lathe will enhance QPAC’s capacity to offer accredited training, support to people with additional needs, as well as classes through wider community initiatives such as Bucks Adult Learning.
As Philip Francis commented, ‘This Lathe will make an immediate impact. Demand for our courses has grown significantly across the region. With this new equipment, we can continue to deliver high-quality instruction and broaden access to the craft.’
Assistant Ian Adkins added, ‘We are delighted to support such a vibrant and inclusive centre. This partnership embodies our belief in ‘turning for good’ – using the craft to enrich lives, empower learners and foster community.’
From left to right: Paul Ferguson MBE (Liveryman), Ian Adkins (Assistant), Sarah Lewis (CEO), Master Turner Christopher Scott, Philip Francis (QPAC tutor).
The Herts, Beds and Bucks Woodturners also conducted an interview with Phil, which you can read below:
‘An interview with’ Philip Francis
Here, Philip takes the opportunity to talk about his work in woodturning, how and why he started and of his connection with the Queens Park Arts Centre and the Worshipful Company – Allen Kaye
At school, I did A Level Woodwork; there was a Union Graduate lathe in the workshop, but we never did any turning. In 1970, I went to Shoreditch College, one of the main teacher training colleges in England for craft. Again, woodturning was not explicitly taught, although as students we were tasked to produce a turned piece of coursework. During the summer of 1969, I had holidayed with my sister and family in Italy where we stopped at an alabaster shop/factory. The owner had been a prisoner of war in Wales and when he found out that I was a craft student he gave me a piece of alabaster to see what I could do with it. My first turning attempt was subsequently made with this gifted alabaster.
After college I taught for twenty-five years in Secondary schools in Aylesbury where very occasionally a student would show an interest in woodturning. It wasn’t until I moved to a Specialist school in Winslow that with smaller groups and an LSA I was able to do some woodturning. We had a Union Jubilee lathe and made products to sell in the Young Enterprise scheme. This got us started and soon we had two more lathes donated. We used our first profits to buy play stations and a pool table that the students could use at break times but we soon decided to plough the money back into the company and over time we bought three more lathes and were fortunate to get grants from The Buckinghamshire Foundation and Aylesbury Town Council for a further lathe and some tools. The William Harding Charity granted us dust extraction for all our machines.
Of course, these grants didn’t come without any work. In the Young Enterprise scheme, we yearly competed against the Grammar and Mainstream Secondary schools in the area, winning our fair share of honours. We won the London YE competition, a National Competition in Milton Keynes, and one year we got the award for the best Company in the UK. There is no greater feeling for a young person when someone buys something that they’ve made, and this goes for us older people as well.
During this time, the school sent me on courses to Craft Supplies in Derbyshire – my first proper training was with Ken Allen and later Mike Hanbury. Years later my wife bought me a course with Nick Agar at Axminster. The school welcomed outside visitors, so Stuart King and Gary Rance came to enthuse the students and myself. I taught an evening lesson for Bucks Adult Learning, and it was a great bonus for me when some of the learners bought their own lathes, one of them going on to win a competition in the Woodworker magazine.
I retired from full time employment and looked for something to do in my spare time. I tried joining the organisation Men in Sheds but didn’t quite fit. Very near where I live is the Queens Park Arts Centre. I had volunteered there over thirty years ago, so I went on a visit. The workshop needed some TLC but thought I could help. Then came COVID. The school where I did my BAL class decided not to have more classes when it was over, and teacher who was at the QPAC became ill, 13 so I took over and brought my evening class there as well. Since I’ve been at QPAC, we have acquired four lathes giving us a total of seven, a new band saw, circular saw, disc sander mortice machine, and we are
slowly saving for and acquiring dust extraction.
I now teach there three times a week, two sessions as a volunteer. The payback is I can use the workshop when it’s free. I am proud to report that we have recently won the King’s Award for Volunteering. My connection with the Worshipful Company of Turners of London comes from Stuart King who told me that they give grants for lathes. To cut a long story short, we have been awarded one and are having the official presentation this week. I also teach their Certificate of Woodturning and currently have nine participants.
What happens to all of the items you make?
I have market stalls once a month at Wendover and Chesham where I sell my products. The best sellers are my flowers and mushrooms – no surprises as they are the cheapest as well as being good of course.
Describe a project that did not go as planned and what you did to save the day
Some time ago I bought a
newel post at the club table I wanted to turn it into a lamp. It was too long to fit on any of the lathes at QPAC so I took it to Gary’s. Drilling from both ends the holes didn’t meet, so what to do? I cut off the square piece at the bottom, joined the holes internally, threaded the cable through the two pieces and then joined them with dowel joints. The feet were joined on with biscuits. It turned out ok and was sold for £150.
What is your favourite wood?
My favourite woods are Ash or Yew and my least favourite being wenge.
What is your favourite finish? Favourite finishes: all those years ago on my first woodturning course I was introduced to Chestnut Products and have stuck by Sanding Sealer, Melamine and Finishing Wax. Recently I have broadened my horizons to their Food Safe Finish and Stain.
What sharpening system do you use?
I use an Axminster Trade grindstone with a white wheel and a homemade tool rest to sharpen my tools and an oilstone for the parting tools and skew chisels.
What was your worst accident in the workshop?
My worst accident in the workshop happened last year whilst teaching a class. I stupidly caught my hand on the circular saw and the saw won. Fortunately, there was a doctor and a first aider in the group. The doctor, who worked at the local hospital offered to drive me there. I hoped in vain for
preferential treatment given my inside connections, but no such luck. I got out at 05.30. Two days later I was on the operating table for three hours whilst they put me back together.
Do you have any other hobbies?
In my youth I played rugby to a reasonable standard and now I woodturn. I can do most of the things I need with a roughing gouge, a 3/8 bowl gouge, parting tool and skew. Apart from the H&B I am very fortunate to be a member of a woodturning group which meets once a month, at which I continue my learning. The group consists of Stuart King, Gary Rance. Philip Jones, Michael Wood, Mike Fitz – professional turners all- plus Tony Champion, Chris Bentley and Harvey Alison members of H&B and as you know are excellent turners.
