This article was first published in Kelso Life, April 2024
The Kelso Stickmakers, based at the Men’s Shed, featured well in the World Stickmaking Championships hosted at Chatsworth Hall last October by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire (Patron of the British Stickmakers Guild).
The World Championships are a culmination of the results of entrants to shows throughout the Stickmakers’ season. A tally is taken of points awarded for sticks entered, forming a table of results.
In the open class, Kelso Stickmakers Iain Patterson achieved 6th place on 85 points from 7 shows and Clifford Worrell achieved 8th place, accruing 42 points from 3 shows. In the Novice Class (for Stickmakers who have been making sticks less than 3 years) Kelso Sickmaker Ian W Forsyth, was runner up in the category with 29 points from 4 shows entered.
This is a great accomplishment, not only for Iain, Cliff and Ian, but also the Kelso Stickmakers as a whole. A great deal of time, hard work, effort, skill and technique go into the making of these sticks. Also present is a high level of mentoring, support, and camaraderie within the group, which helps bring these works to such a high standard.
The Stickmakers meet on Tuesday evenings at the Shed, and are always welcoming of newcomers interested in making their own stick.