Success at the Royal Welsh

This week it's been the Royal Welsh Show and every year the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths hold forge competitions as well as an Exhibition this year we sent all the second year panels from their last module as well as Sam's and Bob's gates which you'll know from previous postings have been to all our recent exhibitions and craft fairs .....

The day started with a set piece competition which Dan Moss who's just finished our first year of Blacksmithing entered ...and in-between forge competitions Ambrose , Dan and one of our recent graduates Nick Buchan gave a forge demonstration while I told the gathering crowds all about the college , course and crafts at Hereford , later in the afternoon there was a prize giving and the great news was that Sam's gate won the EA Janes Memorial Trophy for the best Apprentice / Trainee piece in the Show ..


Congratulations Sam ......it was disappointing that Sam couldn't pick up the prize himself but he's busy working with internationally renowned Blacksmith Pete Oberon , Ambrose picked up the award on his behalf and this wasn't the only prize Ambrose picked up and he won a first prize for his railing sample , which he picked up in his Anvil t shirt of course !!!

Dan's Forge

Dan has just finished his first year Artist Blacksmithing and he's just set up with a forge for the Summer holidays .. he's bought a small forge complete with bosh , water cooled tue and 240v blower from Greystone Forge in Somerset and just in case your interested in buying one ...


Contact : Mike Judd
greystoneforge@aol.com
01460 221031

He bought his Anvil on Gumtree from a scrap metal merchant in Bristol ..and with his tools from college his tongs and hammers from College he's has a Summer of forging ahead ..

Luckily a big lime tree has just been felled and after a short burst with a chain saw its made a great stand for the Anvil

More blog posts to follow :

John Makepeace , Margo Selby and Wally Gilbert

This was a great year for new fellows from the Crafts arena and we are delighted to announce that the famous and internationally renowned furniture maker John Makepeace has became a fellow along with Margo Selby the textile weave designer and silversmith Wally Gilbert who's from
Hereford . We are really looking forward to them joining the team...

Graduation Day .....

Kate and I really enjoyed celebrating everyone's success at our graduation ceremony yesterday which was held at Hereford's Cathedral .. I love meeting everyone's parents and we were so lucky it was actually sunny - HORRAY

Sam and Bob's gates at Hampton Court Post 4

Sam and Bob's gates took pride of place outside the marquee and made a great impact .. They're great pieces of work and although they were a challenge to move it was well worth it .

The Stand is up ! Post 3

Here are some photos of the stand up and completed it looks great , thank you everyone for all your help.

Let's hope it's a great event and most of all that it does not rain all weekend !!

Setting up Hampton Court .....Post 2

The morning started by picking up Sam and Bob's gates from Holme Lacy as they were loaded up with the fork lift I was reminded me quite how heavy they actually are! ...

When everything else was loaded we headed off to Hampton Court in the rain and set up in the Marquee.

There was a moment when I couldn't imagine how we were going to fit it all in - but we did

The Gloucester Guild of Craftsmen Summer Show

Congratulations to :

Dominique Boulton
Laura Crick
Mhairi Fraser
Stuart Makin
Robert Casson
Katie Wright
Gayle Ansell
Ben Esthop

I'll post some images when the exhibition opens ..a big thank you to Chris Noble who coordinates transporting work and makes this happen in addition to teaching Professional Practice at the College

Design for Living Hampton Court Post 1

We've booked a stand at next weekends Design for Living Show at Hampton Court , Nr Leominster .. and have asked a mix of graduates and second years to exhibit including

Chris Lawley
Laura Crick
Sophie Walker
Lee Pickard
Penny Allen
Clarice Munro
Bob Thomas
Sam Pearce
Nicki Burns
Gayle Ansell
Ben Esthop

Come and see ...

The take down at New Designers

It's hot stuffy everyone is exhausted and now there's two hours to takedown the entire exhibition pack the van and get onto the road back to Hereford .. Packing up alongside all the other stands in such a small window is a nightmare !!! Everyone pulled together as a team and we got the job done , arrived back at 1.45 am !!!