Mary Ashton (UK) spalted beech footed bowl 8x20cm. SignedI first met Ray whilst at my first AWGB Seminar in 2005.I had made a couple of pieces for the gallery and was nervously excited whilst watching the gallery critique realising that one of my pieces was in line behind Ray awaiting his keen eyed appraisal.My piece was just about to be handed to him when the critique was drawn to a swift close due to overrunning time, other exciting events on the timetable couldn’t wait.Max Carey and other club members next to me noticed my disappointment, and as all were disappearing off excitedly to their next engagement, Max dragged me across the room to introduce me to Ray, who kindly agreed to give me a personal critique. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed when Ray was so complimentary about the shape and finish of my piece, with the knowledge that he was such an expert in both these fields himself.I went away with a huge smile on my face was even bigger the next morning when I found my piece had been picked from the gallery to be part of the travelling expedition.I was lucky enough to be able to attend the seminar due to receiving a grant from the AWGB. Of course the AWGB and consequently the seminar, and grants would not exist if Ray had not got together with other like-minded people, and worked to achieve their vision of bringing the woodturning community together for both advancement of skills, and just as importantly socially.I am hugely grateful to be part of this woodturning community.My Ray Key pieceSpalted Beech 3 footed bowl ~ ‘Milliput’ used to fill fissure ~ finished with Danish oil and microcrystalline waxWhen my selected ‘roughed’ item arrived in the post I was rather concerned about the large fissure which appeared more daunting than I remembered in the image I had seen. After initial panic and much deliberation considering artistic removal of ‘the gash’ (not easy with its position on the item), I decided filling seemed the only option.My main aim with taking part in this collaboration was to make something, hopefully with good, simple form which was evident even in Rays roughed out shape, and also knowing that Ray would not let any piece leave his workshop unless it was well finished I wished to achieve this too.The Ray Key Collaboration Auction