The interview

Having missed this feature for a few issues I thought you might like to see it again. I chose as my subject this month somebody well known to the Guild as a whole. A young man who combines a full time job with raising a family, editing and producing a journal, acting as secretary to a new chapter, teaching and demonstrating turning, puts on one-man exhibitions, and in between all this manages to turn out some excellent pieces, original and artistic in anyone’s eyes.
I called on Francis Morrin in deepest Meath, in the village of Rathoath, not far from Ashbourne to ask him about himself and woodturning in general
Francis: I come from a family where everyone was mechanical to a degree-a country garage- so as the youngest I was exposed to a lot of machinery and tools including a metal turning lathe that I had a financial share in. We made lots of parts for vehicles where demand existed and gradually learned another skill to supplement ordinary maintenance.
Editor: Still a long way from woodturning, so where did you get the bug?
Fran: It might have started from watching a cousin working with a very primitive homemade lathe. Later, when I bought my first real machine, a DML 24, I really got stuck in and in my newly- built workshop at the bottom of the garden I often spent four or five nights a week just turning without really knowing anything about the skills required. One day I came across Keith Rowley’s primer for learners and found it so helpful I usually had it propped up in front of me as I worked. I reckon I learned how to turn from that book!
Ed: Apart from just practice what else helps to set one apart in terms of skill?
Fran: I learn a lot from watching others at demos, seminars and such., and paying great attention to the techniques used . Teaching beginners also helps because one has to try and analyse the reasons for doing something one way and not t’other. Why tools work best one way and cause grief if used wrongly.
Ed: How did you become involved with the Guild?
Fran:Through joining the Midlands Chapter I was asked to edit the Guild Journal after Peter Mulvaney and have been doing that for some time now. This brings me into contact with many other activities in the Guild and I get to meet many different Peoplewhom I might not ordinarily meet face to face. Publishing the journal is a challenge, especially attracting advertising which is crucial to its survival. Ideally it should be out every two months or even monthly, but at present neither is feasible.
Ed: About the Guild itself, is it evolving along the right lines?
Fran: Not as well as it could. With nearly 800 members and growing the organisation will have to change to meet the developing needs of the modern turner. How to do this with accord is the problem. We are becoming known outside our own circle thanks to our website and this also adds pressure to change to meet other needs.
Ed: And now you are secretary of the newly-formed NorthEast Chapter?
Fran: I was asked to help and after we advertised in local press it was obvious from the response that there was a need for a new chapter to cater for this part of the country. With nearly forty members now and thanks to Seamus Cassidy providing the venue each month, its off the ground and taking on a character of its own. We welcome all turners to come and see us at home.
Ed: To wind this up how do you regard turning? Is it a craft or is it art?
Fran: It depends on the turner really, it can be either or both. Somebody once said
‘’’The workman uses his hands
The craftsman his hands and his head
The artist his hands, head and heart’’
The artistic aspect of turning cannot be ignored because it is so important to the development of the craft.
Ed: Thanks for talking to me and sorry I left out so much of what you said and the tour of your workshop, fascinating in itself.