Al's Wood and Craft Club started in 2013 as a small weekly gathering for wood carvers in the Lymington area led by Alan Leagas. They met on Tuesday evenings at the Lymington Community Centre which had a workshop originally used by Brockenhurst College. Alan hoped that there would be enough local interest generated to enable them to cover the hire costs. Alan, John Creton and Tony Denham took the plunge. John said “Alan and Tony were the experienced carvers, my level was that of someone who could sharpen a pencil with a kitchen knife, and make a decent cup of tea.”
The club survived and prospered in the following months and membership grew apace. John explained:” A wonderful mixture of experienced and novice carvers developed as word got round of our existence, and it was amazing to see the development of all aspects of the club. Each individual who joined helped develop the club, often bringing in additional abilities, like wood turning, and that spirit continues today where all the skills are willingly shared among the members.
“We welcomed people who just wanted to try something different, or even had a one-off project they wished to complete and where the necessary tools and knowledge were available. Some stayed and some moved on to other interests, but the initial financial targets were all met and the club prospered to a level where it was run on two evenings a week. Unfortunately the Community Centre facility was abruptly closed when asbestos was found in the fabric of the building. So now there was a club with a thriving membership but no accommodation or access to tools.
Alan decided that the club could still be viable if a suitable building could be found and members went on a hunt for some affordable accommodation. So we found a new home on a recently developed site opposite Sway Tower, a useful landmark for finding the club.
Under Alan's leadership a committee was formed, a lease signed and our equipment was installed. A big advantage of the new premises was that we had access all week long. As a result we now have four sessions each week and the ability to open more when the demand is there at times to suit the members.
John said: “Right from the start we have a broad level of membership from the very experienced to 'pencil sharpeners' and we continue to share our knowledge and enjoy the friendship created by working with wood and chatting over tea and biscuits.”
The public were able to see the scope of our work when a number of similar clubs from across the region got together for an annual exhibition in St. Thomas Church Hall in Lymington each August and we are proud to say that items of our work have won 'best in show' on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, The Covid epidemic saw the end to this lovely event but we have held open days and demonstrated our capabilities at local fetes.
Sadly, in 2024, Alan passed away. He had been the driving force behind the Club from its inception but the original committee, bolstered by other members, and under the leadership of John Whiting, took on the task of running the club and bringing it to where it is today.