Members Say
“I have been making sticks since a small boy of six and just love working with traditional tools and wood.”
“My father was a farmer and taught me to find natural tools from the woodland around the farm. A little skill and patience brings great rewards from this free resource.”
“I never thought about making a stick at all before age 60 when a friend invited me along to a club meeting. The members were so welcoming and informative it almost breeds enthusiasm and I soon found myself trying a few things. Just a thumb stick to start with. Now I feel able to make most stick types and if I get stuck I know who to ask.”
Meetings
The club meets four times a year and you do not have to attend, though most find it useful to meet up.
Membership
The membership fee is £10/year and covers the small overheads of having a group of voluntary friends kept in order.
Ad-hoc
We also hold events during the year where members are invited to attend and bring guests such as the Christmas get together – usually held in Ashington Social club at a cost circa £6/head
Training
At regular meetings there is often a demonstration by a member or guest on a particular skill needed in stickmaking. Some members offer training for a small fee such as Simon Heath at his workshop. Often for quick questions and advice you can call a member and just ask – we are a friendly helpful bunch.
Shows
We often invite members to create a stick of a certain type to be judged at meetings. We also attend shows but not as a club; this is as individual members often showing their own sticks or demonstrating a traditional craft. Our members forum is the place to share interests and enquire about others of the same interest.