We’ve just held another very successful one-week introductory course, designed to give students an introduction to woodworking.

It’s also a highly practical course that gives students a range of DIY skills.

On the course, students learn how to make a hardwood box with a wooden hinge.

They also make a small wooden upholstered stool and a turned bowl on the lathe.

One student who will make good use of his new skillset is Andy Mohun from Tain in the Highlands of Scotland.

Now retired from a career in the RAF, Andy has turned his hand to crofting – running his own small farm.

He’s always had an interest in woodworking, and his croft has woodland that requires careful management.

That woodland management aspect of his job led him to the Chippendale school, to learn more about how to make furniture.

He has hardwood stacked in a shed back home, and his first project is to make a table…and who knows what after that!

For Andy, it’s enough of an introduction to allow him to take his hobby forwards, and put it to good use.

For others, our introductory course is a way of finding out whether a career in fine woodworking might be for them.

We’ve had several introductory course students go on to enrol on our one-month intermediate course.

Several more have gone one step further, and signed up on our professional course.

Which is good news for them because the introductory course fees are then deducted.

“It’s been a great week,” says Andy.  “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself and the staff have been great.”