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Have Adze Will Travel

South Africa in 2001

During the winter of 2001 I spent 3 months in South Africa setting up a workshop and teaching basic woodworking skills to the indigenous people there. Funding had been arranged for power tools i.e. lathe and band-saw, but these arrived towards the end of my visit and so the items shown on this page were made (apart from the initial cutting with a chain saw) with an adze and a few carving chisels. The stump from which the table was shaped I found in a field partly burnt and still destined for the fire.  The local people were not aware of, and so could not recognize, timber which was burred i.e. the thousands of nobbly bits on the outside usually meaning beautiful grain patterns on the inside.

My method of teaching was neither structured nor specific, my aim was not to produce competent mediocrity.  these wonderful people were used to oppression and suppression from white people; it was essential to dissolve those barriers by genuine warmth, friendship and above all fun.  Only in such an atmosphere can creativity flourish - a real joy at making things.

The table, stool and sculpture were all formed by nature but they would still be in a field or wood had not someone developed the art of seeing - it was this art or freedom in looking which I wanted my friends to develop.  Chairs were not made due to a lack of suitable timber on the farm and lack of money to buy any.

Thanks to all who generously helped in 2001

I am particularly grateful for the help of Brian Cassidy in the New Forest and Ethlea Frank of The Order of St John in Johannesburg

A number of individuals were very generous in donating hand tools, among them:   

Les Loosemore of Steeple Ashton gave his own  high quality tools.  (His saw was in constant use at Nebo. ):   A Lady from Swindon donated her late husband's pattern making tools:   Judith Jack of Melksham:    David England of Chippenham:  Mr Peter Spraggs of Bowman's.

Money was also donated by the following:

Nedcor Bank in Johannesburg *

The Lions Club of Corsham  * Les Loosemore * John Kramer