Each week we bring you a round-up of interesting and entertaining woodworking content from the Woodworkers Institute and the web, including handy tips to help you get stuck into your next woodworking project.
Mark Baker Woodturner of the Year Competition – Winners Announced!
We’ll be sharing winners on the Woodworkers Institute social media over the next few weeks, starting with the young turner category, revealed today. Plus see many of the entries now featured on the Woodworkers Institute.
When Politics Meets Woodwork
Woodworking might not be the first hobby associated with world leaders, however, some politicians have taken great satisfaction in working with tools and wood – perhaps as an antidote to the rigmarole of political life. One notable example is Edward Heath, Britain’s Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974. Best known for his love of sailing and classical music, Heath was also a keen craftsman, particularly interested in furniture restoration. His Salisbury home, Arundells, contains several pieces reflecting his appreciation for traditional woodworking and fine craftsmanship.
Across the Atlantic, Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, was an even more dedicated woodworker. Long after leaving office, he continued to build furniture, carving intricate wooden pieces as a form of relaxation. Carter also worked extensively with the nonprofit organisation Habitat for Humanity, helping construct homes for those in need, which was considered by many an extension of his practical, hands-on approach to leadership.
Another U.S. President, Theodore Roosevelt, enjoyed manual crafts like whittling and carving, reflecting his belief in self-reliance and the value of physical labour. Figures such as John Ruskin and William Morris championed the value of craftsmanship, seeing it as essential part of a healthy and fulfilled populace. In a sense, the endorsement of woodwork by these well-known politicians is the embodiment of this very principle, though how effectively it was implemented through policy would be hard to quantify, if at all.
From shaping policy to shaping wood, these leaders act as a reminder that craftsmanship and leadership require patience, vision and dedication. Perhaps woodwork and politics are not so different after all!