Pren reviews

Maurice Conlon reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"My wife gifted me this course and I’m so glad she did. From the warm welcome to the expert tuition with as much hands on tools as I was willing to try, Les’ session was outstanding. Although a competent DIYer, I am a novice at wood turning and came only with the most basic outlines of ideas, yet with Les’ help I turned out a really lovely (and useful) beech bowl with double channel for me to use as phone stand and nick nacks on my dressing table, and a stunning (if I say so myself) simple but elegant oak stand for our table candle vase. I’m already thinking of design improvements for my phone stand and contemplating a return session for more. Thanks Les!"

Pren responded:

"Hello Maurice ... I'm so glad that you enjoyed and valued your day. It was a refreshing change to work on a few different projects, so I'm pleased that they turned out well. Kind regards and many thanks, Les."

Julie & Nick reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia - taster course

"What an amazing day. Les was an absolutely brilliant tutor. If you're looking for a taster session or more skilled learning Les absolutely knows his stuff. We had a sterling half day - a very informative, patient, adaptable fun session with a master of his craft. We had the most wonderful time and came away thrilled and feeling passionate about all things handmade from wood! Thanks a million Les - we thought you were brilliant."

Pren responded:

"Thank you so much for that....I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day so much."

Adam Mackridge reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Great day. Really clear instructions beforehand and a friendly, informative, and enjoyable session all round. I managed to make a couple of things that turned out really well and were of very high quality. I learned loads about wood turning, from safety through to tools and technique. Can't recommend highly enough. "

Pren responded:

"Thanks so much for that, Adam. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day."

Loz reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"A fantastic day! Les is a brilliant and down to Earth instructor, with great knowledge of turning. Whether you are looking for a crafty fun day learning how to make a bowl, or looking for more intricate knowledge to get into turning as a hobby this is the perfect session to kickstart your journey! Thanks Again Les! "

Pren responded:

"Thank you so much. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day....I most certainly did. Regards, Les."

Alan reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"We had a great day with Les, very relaxed and really enjoyable. An expert wood turner and excellent tutor, Les makes you feel at ease and confident in what you’re doing and what you can achieve. Everything is explained and he helps if needs be, overall a fantastic experience."

Pren responded:

"Hello Alan and thanks for the great review. I'm so pleased that you enjoyed your day."

Jan Stevens reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia - taster course

"Wood turning was something I had wanted to do for years and I finally got the opportunity in November. I have to say that I was nervous not knowing what to expect from the day but from the moment I got there Les put me at my ease and I had the best day ever. Les has so much knowledge and skill and patiently answered my many questions, he was an excellent teacher explaining everything in a way I understood and I managed to produce a piece that I will always be proud of. Thank you Les for a truly memorable experience."

Pren responded:

"Hello Jan and thank you so much for your review. I'm delighted that you enjoyed your day, you were fun to work with. Regards, Les."

Karl reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Les is full of years of knowledge and know how, his relaxed and encouraging teaching style allows you to progress at your pace. If you’re starting from scratch in looking to enhance your knowledge, I can fully recommend Les. A most enjoyable day"

Pren responded:

"Thank you Karl. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day."

mrs wendy grant reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"Fantastic starter course for woodturning, we would thoroughly recommend Les to anyone as a tutor due to his vast experience and knowledge in the subject, not to mention his unflagging patience with complete novices such as ourselves! We certainly enjoyed the day in full. "

Pren responded:

"Thank you Wendy. You and Sam were great fun to work with and I enjoyed our day. Les"

Peter reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Had a brilliant day with Les Symonds. He was an excellent teacher, extremely knowledgeable, and I learn't so much, just hope I can put it into practice. I finished the day having made and finished a beautiful bowl and trinket box, which I will treasure forever. Cannot recommend enough!"

Pren responded:

"Thank you so much for the review Peter and I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day. Les"

Helen reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"This was one of the best crafting experiences I’ve ever been on. Creating beautiful bowls from chunks of oak and beech seemed almost impossible at the start of the day … but it wasn’t! Absolutely delighted with the bowls AND the fir trees crafted with A LOT of patience and support. Les you are a brilliant teacher - thank you so much for the whole experience."

Pren responded:

"Hee hee...didn't we have a good day. You were both a delight to work with and the time, as it always does when one is enjoying oneself, flew by! Les."

Marion reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"I went with a friend to do this course. We are both complete novices but had an interesting and instructive day. We came away with 2 lovely pieces of turned wood each. I would certainly like do another day or course and learn more about turning wood. Thank you Les."

Pren responded:

"Thank you Marion. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day and look forward to working with you again."

Miles and Catherine Hitchcock reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"We had a really fun day learning the basics of bowl turning. Les was very patient with us and was excellent at setting the pace as each new skill was explained, demonstrated and put into practice. Les was happy to answer any questions we had about equipment and techniques and showed us how to maintain the tools and just generally impart his own love of the skill. His good humour and clear explanations made for a very enjoyable experience with the added bonus of taking home two lovely bowls (and a fir tree) made by ourselves under Les’s supervision. Would recommend for anyone, either to learn a new and fun skill, or tap into a wealth of experience with an excellent tutor."

Pren responded:

"Thanks so much for that lovely review. I'll be catching up with emails etc tonight, so I'll send you the information sheets that we talked about. Regards, Les."

Gary Crane reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Excellent day! Learned a great deal. Les was very welcoming and quickly put me at ease and his instruction and patience was exemplary. Came away with 2 nice pieces of woodturning and a head buzzing with ideas. Would thoroughly recommend this course."

Pren responded:

"Thanks for that, Gary. I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day so much. Les."

David reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"I have just enjoyed a terrific day with Les on his 1 to 1 wood turning day in his excellent workshop in beautiful north Wales. Les has years of experience turning and is hugely skilled but what makes the day is the fact he can impart some of that knowledge to others through his excellent tuition. I would highly recommend this course. "

Pren responded:

"Well thank you David for that review...much appreciated."

Tony reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Les is an expert wood turner who has forgotten more than 99% of folk who come to his workshop. The beauty of Les is that you’ll never feel this huge gap as he is also an expert and patient teacher. I had a most wonderful day as a hobby wood turner learning a few more skills for practice at home. Very worthwhile whatever your skill level. "

Lyndon reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Excellent day suitable for all! A thoroughly enjoyable day with Les in his workshop! I’d never used a lathe before and I was unsure on what I’d be able to make. Les took me through the techniques and shared the right level of information for my experience. I came away with some fabulous items and would recommend this day to anyone. "

Tony reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Les is an expert at his craft but also an expert in patient teaching. I learned a great deal during a day making a beautiful beech bowl and will now spend some time practising at my home workshop some of the many technique "tweaks" that Les gave me to think about. Whether you're a beginner or of a reasonable skill, the day will be very rewarding. "

Pren responded:

"Thank you for that Tony. I'm really pleased that you will be able to use the new skills that you have learned to increase the range of things that you are currently making."

Angela reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"My husband was gifted this course for his birthday and attended a session in May. He thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and felt that he came away with an increased skillset, ready to have a go at home. He said that the session with Les was very relaxed, yet extremely informative. He feels so much more confident now. He came home with a toadstool, Christmas tree and a gorgeous bowl. Thanks, Les! "

Pren responded:

"Really pleased to hear this...thanks Angela."

Graham Cooke reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"I can't recommend this course highly enough. Les is incredibly skilled, knowledgeable and talented but is also a fantastic teacher. Les has a great outlook on working with natural features and characteristics in pieces of wood which matched my feelings towards wanting to make something unique and natural. I learned so much and we made a fabulous piece together - a great day! "

Pren responded:

"Thank you for your kind words, Graham...didn't we have just the m,ost enjoyable day!"

Julie Bell reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Fully enjoyable and educational. Would recommend to anyone."

Pren responded:

"Thank you Julie...it was a good and very busy day. Les"

Bryan Hardy reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia - taster course

"As a beginner, Les was the perfect tutor. Would recommend to anyone who wants to learn to have a course. "

Pren responded:

"Many thanks Bryan...I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your session. Les"

Adrian & Sue reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"What a fabulous day! Les is a very knowledgeable, skilled and patient teacher. His workshop is perfectly setup for teaching two people together – we were both delighted with the bowls and small trees that we made during the day. Les was extremely helpful in helping us to plan what we need to start woodturning at home. Such an enjoyable day that whizzed past – we can’t recommend Les highly enough. , "

Pren responded:

"Thank you A&S...it was a great day, we had a few good laughs and got plenty of work done. Well done to both of you for those bowls and I trust that your future venture in woodturning goes well."

Barry reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"Thanks to Les, my fascination with woodturning has been nurtured even more and I'm considering picking it up as a hobby or even a profession in the long term. There are countless reviews talking about how amazing Les's sessions are and I just wanted to add mine as well. Overall, highly recommended and I'm delighted that I get to drink my morning hot beverages from the beaker that I turned from a fallen branch of Sycamore!"

Pren responded:

"Thanks foem those kind words and I'm delighted that you're usin g that beaker regularly."

Huw reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day

"I had a fantastic day with Mr Les Symonds learning basic turning skills. He was extremely knowledgeable, very friendly and is an excellent teacher. He is clearly able to teach a wide range of skills and techniques, adapting them to your abilities and preferences. Thank you Les, I would highly recommend this course. "

Pren responded:

"Thank you Huw...I'm really pleased that you enjoyed your day so much."

Nett reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia, North Wales - Full day for 2 students

"What an excellent course. Les is such a skilled teacher and a lovely person. Between the two of us, my partner and I made a candlestick, pine tree and bangle. All of them just perfect. Can't believe we made such wonderful pieces in one day. Thank you so much Les. I can't recommend you enough. Fantastic"

Pren responded:

"Thank you Nett...I thoroughly enjoyed our day and am pleased that you were able to make pieces that you liked so much. Kind regards, Les. p.s. ... I hope your cold gets better soon."