Cardiff and Vale College Carpentry student Leon nails national woodturning competition

Cardiff and Vale College Bench Joinery student Leon Hayward has won third prize in a national competition for woodturning.

Leon, 16 and from Barry, entered the Ray Key Youth Turner Competition, which is part of the Wizardry in Wood. Organised by the Worshipful Company of Turners, Wizardry in Wood is held every four years in Carpenters’ Hall in the City of London.

 “I was really shocked at first when I found out that I had come third as I didn’t think I was going to do as well as I did,” Leon said. “When they told me I thought, “There must only be three people in the competition!” But there were ten others from all around the country so I was very pleased.”

Leon’s tutor Peter Bradwick said: “Leon has his own workshop and is a member of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain and a local woodturning club. He is extremely enthusiastic and has produced many fine items in wood that he sells at craft fairs around the Vale of Glamorgan.”

“I really enjoy carpentry and I would like to do it as a career,” Leon said. “I’ve got a workshop in my mum and dad’s back garden and I’ve been to about four craft fairs in the Vale this year.”