Meet The Team! Richard

Ferguson

Secretary, sponsor and creator of the specialist Stick Dressing, Wood

Turning and Wood Carving section -

Richard began his interest in hardwoods when he and wife Carol moved to Slaley in

the late 70’s. In making renovations to their house Richard found many established

softwood suppliers locally but no hardwoods for flooring, beams, lintels and tables.

He had a lightbulb moment and thought “Why not do it ourselves?” and set up his

early business at the Townhead end of the village behind the former petrol station

building a specialist dryer unit. In time a site became available for rent at Whitley

Chapel and eventually the surrounding 12-acre wood was for sale. Hexhamshire

Hardwoods was born.

“It’s a bespoke business; nothing is standard issue” explains Richard. The quantity

and variety of unusual timbers on offer these days is outstanding. We’ve heard of

Lime, and Pear and obviously Oak but Camel Thorn, Thuya Burn or Zebrano?

Richard and son Graeme, who joined the business after university, are at heart,

environmentalists. The woodland surrounding the work site is occasionally thinned

out but only ‘windblows’ are harvested. A long-term replanting scheme has always

been in place.

And Richards involvement with the show? “That all started in 1979” he says. The

first shows attracted cabinet maker skilled entries, “We had a memorable ornate

fireplace surround arriving from Darlington and a reproduction Georgian cabinet

from South Shields!” These days the Woodturning, Wood Carving and Sculpture and

Dressed sticks entries are much more physically portable yet with the sheer amount

of them, they are something of a ‘showstopper’ and take up a fair share of space in

the show tent.And Hexhamshire Hardwoods responded to the interest by also

specialising in the rare hardwoods for these skills. There is abundance of prepared

blanks for woodturning bowls, spindles, and even small blanks for pens. Small

hardwood blocks too for woodprints and natural unusual shapes for carving. “Over

time we’ve built up a tremendous ‘bank’ of exhibitors who are often former skilled

engineers from the shipyards, mines and Consett Steel Works and there are many

specialist organisations” says Richard. His knowledge and reputation in running this

kind of event has meant he is able to attract very well-regarded judges in these

skills, this year Kevin Purdey for Woodturning, Brian Tuckey for the Carving and

Tom Keers from the Stick Dressing Association. We look forward to seeing yet

another impressive display.