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Don White

Don White

It is with great sadness that we must share the news that Guild member Don White has passed away.

Don was a master woodturner, creating beauty in wood from small gift items, domestic salad bowls and platters, to larger architectural work.

We will remember him very well as an active member of the Guild and an extremely skillful maker. On first meeting he seemed to have the taciturn manner that is sometimes associated with the craftsman, most happy when making, but this belied a kind and generous man with a dry humour. Don was always willing to pitch in, and a good person to have around when it came to setting up exhibitions. As a maker, his work had a distinctive sensitivity - his shapes were delicate and refined and he had a sophisticated understanding of colour and texture.

He will be greatly missed by the Guild. Former Chair of The Guild, Mary Greensted shared these words ...

"I was very sorry to hear the sad news of Don White's death. I didn't know him well but I really admired his wood turning - technically excellent with a real sense of design and colour - none of the whimsy that sometime goes with the craft. There wasn't much of his work for sale in the Painswick shop when I first got involved with the Guild in 2009 and the feeling was that he was on the point of retiring. My perception however was that the move to Cheltenham and the opening of The Guild at 51 brought him a new sense of energy and inspiration. He started sending in his elegant turned vases in a range of boldly stained colours. They sold really well and this gave Don a real boost. My husband bought one of the first dishes with a worked and coloured rim and I rang Don to ask him about the techniques used. He was incredibly pleased and helpful, explaining the process and talking about his work generally. Since then has produced many more such pieces. He will be missed by the Guild and by the wood turning community."

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