Newsletters

April 2009

May I take this opportunity of thanking so many of you for your kind words of support as I take on my new role in a new career as Director.  I am very aware of the enormous impact Crispin Hill made with so many people connected with Skillway and to follow in his footsteps is quite a daunting prospect!  However, having known Crispin for much of my life, I feel it an enormous privilege to take over his seat in such a worthy organisation and for a cause which is close to my heart.  Like Crispin, I move from the privileged end of education to its complete opposite to a point where I hope I can repay to others the wonderful life and opportunities I have had so far.
 
Shortly after my appointment, we were able to lure Vivien Gillman - an old friend and colleague from Aldro - out of retirement to join us as Chief Fundraiser.  Vivien was the School Bursar for many years until her retirement a little over a year ago.  As one might expect, her knowledge of all things educational, domestic and otherwise is enormous, her business acumen impeccable and her list of contacts endless!  She sits on the governing body of some local schools and is the Chairman of one.  Skillway will benefit enormously from her expertise. 
 
It’s odd to think that as we face a beautiful, mild English spring and perhaps the warmest April for at least a decade, that only a few months ago we were suffering from the grips of one of the coldest winters for some years.  The snow and ice kept schools closed for a short period which meant we were unable to operate 100% all term but it was during that time of bitter weather that the temperature in the workshops fell below the ‘comfort zone’.  However with funds being available from one particular source we are well into the planning stages of lowering and erecting false polycarbonate ceilings in our two workshops which should go to some lengths in retaining most of the heat.
 
With the closure of the DT department at Christ’s College, Guildford, we were very kindly offered a huge assortment of electrical and hand tools, accessories and materials at a very low and favourable cost to Skillway.  A team of staff was duly despatched with a rented truck to an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ and returned exceedingly, heavily laden!  The new equipment further enhances the variety of skills which we are able to offer to our students.  We are enormously grateful to Jonathan Vinen and Christ’s College.
 
A new hot water system has been recently installed in the Art Studio - something which has been overdue for some time.  With this addition, the room has become more practical and comfortable for those studying.
 
The workshop office has benefited from a new ‘lockable’ filing cabinet donated by a friend of Skillway and a new cordless telephone system was purchased which should allow the Manager greater ease at answering the phone where he stands rather than rushing back to the office each time it rings!  The Skillway office in Crown Court has also benefited from new phones and, perhaps more importantly, a new computer with Wi-Fi connection.  The front door to the office has been repaired and a new lock installed so now one doesn’t have to walk through the Cellar Café to gain access to our office above!
 
The workshops continue to be a buzz of activity and our lists have remained full with about 35 students from ten secondary schools each week for the past academic year.  As always, a wide variety of projects have been completed and most of them to an amazingly high standard – true testimony of the enormous patience, teaching, care and skill of our highly valued staff and craftsmen.  Highlights have included ‘wet’ working steam engines with each part having been machined-turned on metal lathes, miniature metal Spitfires mounted on blocks of wood, bar stools, occasional tables, hinged-lid boxes to mention but a very few.  Orders have even been taken from Worplesdon Bridleway Association for a number of bird boxes!  Work also continues in our ‘eco’ department with our wind-powered turbine.
 
We continue to derive much local interest and it is most re-assuring to hear people mention when in passing that they have heard/know of Skillway or have read about us either in local press and journals or have seen us at exhibitions.  Local support has been very gratefully received from a number of  individuals, churches, businesses and organisations.  Recently a donation from Parsons Brinckerhoff enabled us to purchase a set of new workshop overalls emblazoned with our name and our sponsor.  We remain extremely grateful to them for all their support and to their staff who help us in our workshops whenever they can.  We have also had a number of visitors looking round our workshops and through their goodwill and influence our reputation continues to spread.
 
It is perhaps inevitable that with a change of management some changes may take place in the structure of the organisation.  However I am not in a hurry to make changes for changes’ sake but some smaller changes will and have taken place.  I am determined that the ethos of Skillway and all it stands for remains intact and ‘cast in stone’.  If and when changes are made, it is done with considerable thought and much discussion.  Needlessly to say, myself and Vivien do have some new ideas and innovations for the days ahead but these concern management matters rather than elsewhere.
 
You will have noticed this Newsletter comes with our new brochure or ‘flyer’.  It is possible the brochure might be considered slightly garish but this is quite deliberate.  It is our primary aim to get noticed and by doing so, we anticipate the brochure will be picked up from enquiring minds and read!  The brochure is to ‘whet’ the appetite in the hope that further enquiries will be made about us; it is not meant as a mini-prospectus.  The brochure will accompany letters when seeking funding.  We hope you approve.

The Bible says that “Bread is the staff of life” but it does not follow that the life of the Staff is one long loaf!  Under the careful guidance of our Manager, Greg Bleach, the staff and volunteer craftsmen have continued to work extremely hard, do an amazing job and always seem so willing to help.  I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting them and applaud their dedication and loyalty.  My particular thanks to Greg for his help and patience in easing me into my new job.  As of January this year, Guy Gammell stepped down from ‘holding the fort’ with fund-raising, as did Judy Culhane.  Both Guy and Judy have been invaluable mainstays for which Skillway owes them much for its stability.  Guy remains a Trustee and a most encouraging mentor for me, while Judy is enjoying time with her family and recent grandchild.  Jenny Bell has recently had a hip operation and we look forward to her return in due course; she is anxious to be able to ‘run up’ the stairs to the office!  We wish her a continued and speedy recovery.
 
Today’s financial turmoil has indeed made life precarious for all of us and many charities are suffering very badly too.  Our situation has been made more drastic with the cessation of a grant from the European Social Fund; nearly one third of our income has disappeared leaving us with a very ‘black hole’ to fill.  We remain hopeful we can make up the shortfall by pushing harder for corporate funding, sponsorships and of course grants.  We are always exceedingly grateful to our benefactors without whom life at Skillway would be impossible.  We would especially ask of you to pray for the well being of Skillway, that we can ‘ride the financial tempest’, find the necessary funding and so fulfil the task that is set before us in God’s name.
 
 
Humphrey Davis.   Director.

September 2009

After the harsh, cold days of winter and the dawning of spring and summer, I am often reminded of the words of  Wordsworth, ‘Earth has not anything to show more fair…’  With the comfort of warmer, longer days; of the clunk of ‘leather on willow’; of strawberries and cream; of freshly mown grass; of evening scents from herbaceous borders; of  seaside holidays…all so English; the summer term seems to herald brighter thoughts and rejuvenated horizons surfing on waves of optimism.  And so it has been at Skillway.
 
Much has happened both at the Workshops and behind the scenes at the office.  Perhaps the biggest landmark saw the retirement of Keith Powell in July.  Keith has been a stalwart of Skillway as a member of staff and a Trustee ever since its embryonic beginnings at Guildford.  With his architectural knowledge and understanding of Council ‘thinking’, he has advised and steered us through mountains of red-tape particularly associated with Planning Departments, overseen necessary structural alterations and additions to our buildings and kept a weathered eye on their maintenance.  His keen interest in photography has seen him produce top-quality detailed portfolios for students, displays for exhibitions and the production of our own brochures.  Many of our students receive Open College Network Accreditation and it was Keith who was largely responsible for researching, setting up and monitoring this important qualification.  His accomplishments have been considerable at Skillway and a huge number of students have had the benefit of his wisdom and skill.  In the short time I have known Keith, I have thoroughly appreciated all his advice and kindness and I cannot thank him enough. There is little doubt he will be missed by us all; we wish him every happiness in his ‘official’ retirement.  A further tribute appears later in this Newsletter.
 
The end of the summer term marks the end of a year’s hard work and for some students the end of the Masterclass, two year course.  Our highest annual accolade is the Crispin Hill Progress Award.  This year Greg Bleach and his staff awarded it to Scott Godden in our Masterclass.  Scott has progressed through some difficult times both in and out of school to show a genuine commitment and loyalty to Skillway culminating in two Open College Network Accreditations in woodwork and metalwork.  This is a wonderful achievement for Scott and thoroughly well deserved too.  It is very gratifying to report that all five of our Masterclass students have gained places at Guildford College for September to study Woodwork and General Construction.
 
Among the many projects completed this year by our students, we have been able to return a fully refurbished early water pump to The Rural Life Museum in Tilford.
 
 Skillway is not all about ‘hard work and no play’ neither is it the other way round!  However on visits to the workshops I am always very envious of the students having the opportunities of  learning and creating ‘works of art’ under the personal tutorage of skilled craftsmen in a happy, friendly, convivial atmosphere – so far removed from school!  There is little doubt that some of the students’ craftsmanship is superb and some of the projects they undertake are really quite demanding.  Such success at different ability levels is testament to the huge patience, self-sacrifice, dedication and commitment of the staff.  The students’ reward for hard work is light recreation in the form of ‘outings’.  Earlier in the term, a younger group of students took to the River Wey, Godalming, in Kayaks built in the Workshops.  This annual event relished by the students is also appreciated by on-lookers!  Dressed appropriately in safety gear and under close adult supervision, the experience of balancing a ‘wobbly’ canoe in water and paddling in a purposeful direction soon draws much mirth.  However within a short spell of time and after a hearty picnic lunch, confidence becomes sufficiently high for various and inevitable ‘water sports’!  We are hugely indebted to PC Pete Harris (qualified canoeing instructor) for his assistance, supervision and instruction on the water.  A group of older students turned their attention to refurbishing two Go-Karts in the Workshops with the chance of testing them at Dunsfold Aerodrome.  This annual event is also much coveted by the students and as with all outings undertaken, meticulous detail is given to supervision and safety at all times.  Two outings were made in early July during the hot spell and soon ‘burning rubber’ was inevitable.  Our ‘boy racers’ took to the fast short circuit and while some found it easier than others, a few found taking the longer and more scenic route off the track the penalty for poor concentration!  Pit Stops for repairs were numerous but with a horde of mechanics on hand, the karts were soon back on the circuit.  Towards the end of term another group of students was dispatched to Albury Trout Lakes for a day’s instruction in Fly Fishing.  This was a new experience for most of the students.  All necessary equipment was hired and after a few hours of patient instruction, the fishermen were ready despite the dreary wet weather.  Alas, dreams of a bountiful catch never actually materialised - this time ‘they all got away’ bar one caught by a member of staff!  However, the introduction of a new venture for the students was well appreciated  and perhaps one which we should repeat again for future outings.
 
We have had a number of visitors over the course of the term.  A short visit from Jeremy Hunt MP was a tremendous boost for us, this being his second visit to us since his first a few years ago, and yet again he was very interested and fully supportive of the work and contributions that Skillway offers to the community.  It was a great pleasure to welcome Godalming’s new Mayor Joy Poulter and Counsellor Stefan Reynolds round to our workshops.  Both Joy and Stefan have been tremendous supporters of Skillway and their help and advice has been invaluable; we were delighted to learn from Joy that Skillway has been chosen as one of the Mayor’s charities for this year – this is the second successive year we have been chosen!  We were also visited by Perdita Hunt (Director, Watts Gallery) and Helen Heinkens-Lewes (Head of Learning, Watts Gallery) they too were very impressed with the work of our students and staff so too were Ellie Paterson (Surrey Youth Justice Service) and John Montogemery (Shackleford Arts Society).  We welcomed the return of an old friend, John Barraclough of The David Williamson Trust who continue to be extremely supportive and we remain exceedingly grateful to them for their generosity.  

One of our present aims is to concentrate spreading Skillway’s name and reputation locally.  Therefore we have been very pleased to have had a prominent article of Jeremy Hunt’s visit in the Surrey Advertiser, the Fly Fishing outing (mentioned above) in the Haslemere Herald and a two page report of Skillway’s work in the ‘free’ Surrey magazine Roundandabout. 

Jeremy Hunt MP receives instruction from Greg

We have also received publicity from GOLO (Godalming Lottery) and a short report for local radio.  At the time of writing and with fingers crossed, we hope to get further publicity in another issue of Roundabout while the Surrey Advertiser has indicated a strong interest in promoting our cause further in future issues. 

We were delighted to learn in June that Godalming’s Sainsbury’s together with its customers had voted Skillway as their Charity for the Year and recently the same too of Farncombe Wives Group.  Also the outgoing Godalming Mayor, Paul Rivers, made Skillway one of his two Mayoral charities for his time in office.  We are extremely grateful indeed to all mentioned above for their support.

We remain particularly grateful to all our loyal individual supporters and Trust Funds who continue to be most generous with their gifts to us.  Times are hard for everybody at present, and therefore it becomes especially poignant when receiving your enormous generosity.  Since our calamitous loss of European Social Funding last year, we continue to work hard to find a replacement grant and extra funding which unfortunately, for the present, still eludes us.  A good reputation is essential but to produce quality goods is imperative and is the yardstick of how we are to be judged; with Greg in charge we are in safe hands.  Greg is well supported by Jon Taylor and Richard Jeffrey both of whom have boundless enthusiasm, a great sense of humour and a real gift for working with teenagers.  Our craftsmen are unique and each person is testament to the huge skill passed from one generation to another so essential in our communities that to lose their skills would be to the detriment of society and to the Arts.  At Skillway we applaud their dedication and commitment and genuinely thank them for sharing with us their skills and wisdom to inspire the younger generation.  It is good to report the number of students enrolled for our courses next term has increased and hopefully will remain so for the full academic year.  Three new volunteer craftsmen are to join us at the start of term and we look forward to welcoming them.
 
HELP!  Having been chosen as Godalming Sainsbury’s Charity for the Year, we are in need of volunteers to hold collecting boxes, pack customers’ shopping bags and assist with helping Skillway stalls especially with the run-up to Christmas.  If you feel you could help us with these chores, we would be very grateful to hear from you .  Please contact either Vivien Gillman or myself at the office: 01483 239969 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Thank you.  STOP PRESS!  We are about to re-launch an updated and more informative website at the same address www.skillway.org.uk do visit it and pass it on to your friends.
 
Humphrey Davis, Director.
 

A Tribute to Keith Powell from Greg Bleach, Manager of Skillway
I first met Keith at my interview where I believe he asked just enough questions of myself to get the measure and to make his decision.  After my appointment, we met at weekly Management Committee meetings where I reported on events at the workshops.  From that time on he has shown me friendship, support and encouragement as I grew in confidence in my first year.  I soon appreciated his enormous wisdom, vast knowledge and advice which I knew I would do well to listen and to act upon them.
 
Keith never missed an opportunity to voice his support for me.  Since he had spent several years before I arrived as a volunteer craftsman working directly with the students, he appreciated some of the difficulties and challenges which arose at the workshops which I had to face.  Even when he had ‘retired’ working with the students in the workshops, he continued his work at management level with the Surrey Care Trust to initiate the Accreditation system we use today together with other duties including PR, Building Adviser and attending general meetings promoting Skillway in the community and in local businesses.  Whenever I was short of a volunteer, my faithful colleague Keith would be the first to step forward to help which is where he has been now for several years, again working at the ‘coal face’ with the students as a woodwork volunteer.  What a tireless volunteer he has been: faithful and dedicated to Skillway, and quietly full of faith.  On behalf of all the students who have attended Skillway over the many years and for myself, we thank you Keith very much indeed for all that you have given to this organisation.