and the "Artisan of the Year" is.............me!

Yesterday was quite a day. I went to Cliveden House for the Country Living Magazine and Balvenie whisky "Artisan of the Year" awards and was very pleased and more than a little surprised to be named their "Artisan of the Year". Cliveden is very grand, I wished I had parked my van in the gap in the middle here.


Susy Smith Editor of Country Living and the Balvenie folk introducing the awards.


Expectant craftsfolk all feeling a little out of place in the grand surroundings, the day before we were all in our workshops.


My friend Doug Joiner getting the commended award for his work setting up the Horse Loggers Association and training apprentices.


And afterwards there was lots of very special whisky to try but all I could do was sniff and sip as I had to drive home.


I did come home with a nice cheque and a very special £350 bottle of my own though. There is a feature in the November issue of Country Living which is out any day now.

I don't know if it will result in a flood of orders. I have very low stocks of bowls at the moment and have just had two orders for building oak bridges which will keep me busy all winter but hopefully it will bring more publicity to the Heritage Crafts Association too.