Pren reviews

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."

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

"Can’t say enough about this experience, my husband left inspired. The course was not rushed, he felt he really was inspired to continue with the woodwork . Les is an incredible teacher, the environment was calm, the course I rushed and thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks Les. "

Pren responded:

"You're very welcome and I'm always pleased when a student is inspired to continue woodturning."

Tom & Tim Gully reviewed: Learn to turn in Snowdonia - taster course

"Really good. My 9 year old son did it, and it completely lived up to his expectations. Really good pace, kept us both engaged throughout. Very knowledgeable teacher, who pitched the level just right. Tom was delighted to come away with all his creations. He took his bowl to school to show everyone. "

Pren responded:

"Thanks for the review, Tim. Tom was a delight to work with and it was so pleasant to see such enthusiasm in one so young."

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

"It was my first time wood turning and I was a little apprehensive but from the moment I met Les I felt totally at ease. His method of teaching is that of being a friend more than a teacher. He was very knowledgeable about all aspects of wood turning and, after a brief safety instruction, he got straight into making my very first bowl which turned out beautifully. He taught me so much and I will definitely be going back after practising what I was taught. If you need help and advice, Les is the best around."

Pren responded:

"Thanks for the review, Howell. You'll always be welcome to return - we had a good, productive day"

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

"Had a fantastic day with Les. Very skilled and passionate. I am a novice and had never touched a lathe before. Les made me feel at ease and took his time to teach me and I made a lovely bowl and a goblet. Came home with a lot of ideas and enthusiasm. Would strongly recommend to anyone. "

Pren responded:

"Thank you so much Adhi. We had a great day and between yourself and your friend we got through a lot of work...a very enjoyable and productive day!"