Polelathe - Bodgers Ball 2009 Cusworth Hall

The Annual General Meeting of the Association of Polelathe Turners and Greenwood workers, otherwise known as the Bodgers Ball, was held last weekend in a field adjacent to Cusworth Hall, just outside Doncaster. It's an opportunity to meet like minded people, exchange ideas, be inspired by demonstrations and buy more old tools that you don't really need.

I was busy the week before and failed entirely to do the turning practice that I'd intended to participate in the various races or to prepare any items to put into the competitions.


A last minute problem with the Landrover meant that when I set off on Thursday evening to drive up over night it was with a new carburettor and distributor.

It was blowing a gale on the Friday and the competition for the most sheltered locations was hotly contested. There was a large contingent from the Sussex group and the Sussex shelter was erected successfully despite the wind.

Mike Gordon even found time to enter the team log to leg race, in which three people race to make two chair legs, despite talking on the PA sustem at the same time.

In the marquee the entries to the various classes are on display. The line of chairs always seems quite intimidating to those of us who have yet to make one.

I always like to see the freeform chairs, ie the wild and wacky ones (closest in the photo) as well as the more formal ones.

Alongside the chairs are also competition classes for treen, spoons and craft items of all sorts.









There were almost 200 people at the ball, so there was plenty to keep me busy all weekend.

Quite a few people brought their lathes and some were kind enough to demonstrate and even allow us to try our hands at new techqniques.

Paul Atkins, with endless forebearance, encouraged us to have a go at bowl turning. For me it was invaluable to try a lathe and tools which are perfectly set up and I think it will solve a few of my bowl turning problems.



A new feature at this Ball was an enclosure in the middle where a team assisted those who wanted to build lathes. By the end of the ball 10 assorted spindle and bowl lathes had been built.

These lathes are based upon a round wood design, and can be made from no more than a couple of logs using fairly simple hand tools, although a chainsaw makes things a lot quicker.






Sean Hellman demonstrated his carving techniques much to the fascination of visitors and one of his dragonflies deservedly won a competition class.

But most of all I covet his wood burning stove. You can see the chimney coming through the roof of his bell tent in the background. Sean - the combination of warm stove and Island whisky was deadly - thank you!





Exploring around the hall I managed to find myself in the old bakehouse and scullery, which always seem to fascinate me more than the formal rooms.

Despite the gale, it was a great weekend. I did indeed buy too many old tools. I am inspired to keep improving my skills and be able to enter a competition item or two by next year. Even the puncture on the M1 on the way back has failed to dampen my enthusiasm, and I am already looking forwards to the next one.