Henry Goosen Award | President’s Challenge Award | John Bese Award
Henry Goosen Award
 An annual award in honor of Henry Goosen for the member(s) contributing to the Guild in both spirit and advancement in woodturning knowledge and skill. | Since 1988, members of the Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild have shared a passion for wood. With smiles on our faces, we explore the grain, colour and texture of the medium with our eyes and hands. As woodturners, we turn it on a lathe to add our own touch, giving it form, to further engage the senses and perhaps even evoke an emotion. Both the craft and the art form change and grow over time. New techniques and designs are endless and we seek them out, adding our own innovations as we go. Henry Goosen, a charter member, well known for this passion for wood, embodied that spirit. He always took the lead in innovation and sought advancement of his own skills. His enthusiasm was infectious, encouraging others to do the same and ultimately leading the guild and its members in a forward direction. As such, Henry is the epitome of the ultimate woodturner. Henry Goosen was born on Sept. 8 1918 and passed away on June 7th 1995. The Henry Goosen award is given to members who help keep the passion of the guild alive. Through the years, recipients of the Henry Goosen award have all contributed in some capacity to making the Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild a vibrant and on-going success. This award not only honours Henry, but represents those members who have contributed to the success of the guild and helped inspire others to do the same. |
The Henry Goosen Award is given annually at the FVWG May monthly meeting. Here is a list of past winners:
| Recipients | |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Murray Sluys |
| 2020 | Al Timms |
| 2019 | Michael Hamilton-Clark |
| 2018 | Gerry Vickers |
| 2017 | Don Best |
| 2016 | Lance Rossington/Allan Cusworth |
| 2015 | Gary Burns |
| 2014 | Beverly Pears |
| 2013 | Gary Burns/Derek Bird |
| 2012 | Roger Pitts |
| 2011 | Adam Christiaane & George Geurts |
| 2010 | Brian Muphy & Ross Patterson |
| 2009 | Murray Sluys & Gerald Blenkern |
| 2008 | Perry Niehaus & Ian Fulford |
| 2007 | Bill Olsen & Colin Delory |
| 2006 | Wayne Cunningham & Margaret Eiserman |
| 2005 | Paul Weibe & Jim Peardon |
| 2004 | Ed Pretty & Stan Clarke |
| 2003 | Murray Harris, Bob Gonzales & Elenor Wells |
| 2002 | Ian Waymark |
| 2001 | Ted Lightfoot |
| 2000 | John Krieger & Jim Vosbough |
| 1999 | Bob Burke |
President’s Challenge Award
A large 22-in high by 10.5-in dia lidded urn was turned from a single piece of Maple in May 2008 by long-standing FVWG member Stan Clarke who liked to turn ‘big stuff’. It was used until 2014 as the trophy to be awarded annually to the member who had submitted most frequently on the monthly President’s Challenge.
In addition to being a versatile woodturner, Stan was also a potter and glass blower. At one point he taught Design at UBC and was a firm believer in the “Rule of 1/3rds” for obtaining pleasing proportions. He was still turning when he was in his 90’s.
Stan passed on in 2012, leaving a number of members who will remember him as a wonderful and inspiring mentor. The urn stays on as testament to his ‘big stuff’ skills but due to its size and the fact that there was no more space left on the base for name plaques, it was retired, and in 2016 a club member created the present mounted burl plate.
| Recipients | |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Robin Killam |
| 2018 | Michael Hamilton-Clark |
| 2017 | Michael Hamilton-Clark |
| 2016 | Keith Ruttan |
John Bese Award
This award is in honour of John Bese and is given annually to a member to recognize outstanding skill in design and craftsmanship. John was an early Guild member and was an enthusiastic turner who constantly challenged himself. He pushed his personal boundaries not only from a design perspective but also with turning techniques. He was always seeking anything new and was a great ambassador for woodturning, demonstrating throughout Canada and across the USA. He rose to be one of the most prolific bowl turners in B.C and was also instrumental in forming the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild.
With its objectives being to recognize outstanding skill in design and craftsmanship, this award is a fitting tribute to John who so amply demonstrated these traits. The Trophy is made from Curley Maple, one of John’s favorite woods and the gouge was one of his, well-used and still sharp. John lived to turn. When he passed on in 2005, he had a mountain of bowls roughed out, drying and ready to turn. His finish was beautiful to the touch and it brought him great pleasure to watch people smile as they handled one of his pieces.
| Recipients | |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Ken Davidson |
| 2019 | Gloria Herbert |
| 2018 | Gary Kelly |
| 2017 | Keith Ruttan |
| 2016 | John Spitters |
| 2015 | Barry Wilkinson |
| 2014 | John Spitters |
| 2013 | Ed Pretty |
| 2012 | George Geurts |
| 2011 | Gloria Herbert |
| 2010 | Allan Cusworth |
| 2009 | Ed Pretty |
| 2008 | Ross Paterson |
| 2007 | Herb Reece |
| 2006 | Colin Delory |
| 2005 | Bob Gonzales |