My name is Alan Smith having spent 30 years as a police officer and 13 years working in secondary education, locally at The Pingle school, I retired. Phew!

I have been turning for over 20 years, and was a founder member of Derwent Woodturning Club, where I was the chairperson for 22 years!

The club meet on the first and third Wednesday at Sharpes Pottery Museum in Swadlincote,Derbyshire.

For details of the club see the links page on here

I am a keen spindle turner and my turning heroes are Chris Stott, who is the inspiration for many boxes that I make, and the late Ray Key, both excellent box makers.

My site is named after my old Border Terrier, Toby, (he’s gone over the rainbow bridge now) who spent many hours lying in my workshop next to the wood burning stove. He kept nice and warm in my early Woodturning days, where wood was turned or burned and sometimes both!