What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London
What Our Students Say
I have recently completed two training courses with John: a year-long furniture making course followed by a 12 week course on furniture restoration. The two courses comprised four consecutive 12 week terms, ending in July 2013.
My training with John involved a complete change in direction for me. Shortly before starting the course I had retired from a 30-year career as partner of a large international law firm. I had almost no prior woodworking experience.
My time with John was a revelation and has, I feel, provided me with the ideal foundation for my new career. The content of both courses was practical and well structured, covering all of the fundamentals while still providing scope for the student to explore particular areas of interest and creativity. Equally importantly, I regard John’s abilities as a teacher as second to none. He shares his immense knowledge and experience with patient good humour and practical guidance, always encouraging his students to test their abilities and reach their potential. In short, I would happily recommend John and his courses to anyone who is considering retraining in woodworking.
Andrew Wilson
Guildford, Surrey
Incredibly, I was completely unaware of the precision required in a cabinet maker when I signed up for John’s furniture making course.
My learning curve was dizzying.
That said, my time in John Lloyd’s teaching workshop was a treat.
John makes you laugh, but also makes you want to learn. As you’d expect, he knows about all things woodwork, which is great. But as a trainer he is patient and clear – and a little bit wise like Yoda.
Expect to learn your joints, acquire some traditional veneering skills, get non partisan tools advice, pick up some finishing skills, learn the importance and satisfaction of properly sharp tools and even get advice on how to set up a machine shop.
I found the course a fabulously relaxed but productive time, with the added joy of the company of a glue eating dog, “Cake Wednesday”, and a regular revisiting of the Two Ronnies Fork Handles sketch .
More importantly I took away an appreciation of a cabinet maker’s precision and a real drive to achieve that precision in all my work.
Caroline Jones
Brighton, Sussex
John was tremendously patient. The course taught me hand skills which would have taken years to develop. Now I feel confident that I comprehend not only the traditional methods, but also how they integrate into current fine furniture making.
I had taken some courses before (in the States) but John’s was not only delightful, I also learned a tremendous amount. The dovetail practice alone was worth the price of admission.
I now feel confident in my techniques to produce pieces that match my aspirations.
Peter McCoy (12 Week Foundation Course)
Portand, Oregon, USA
I had been considering a major career change to pursue something I was passionate about for some years prior to meeting John to discuss what could be achieved in a year with his tuition and guidance. By the time I first turned up at Bankside Farm to discuss these ideas with John I had already been researching the various options for retraining for some time. I had also met with a lot of people running similar courses over this period. Although the idea of furniture making had completely got under my skin I was acutely aware that I did not know what I did not know so it was quite difficult to know what questions to ask. John was great at explaining his approach to teaching and what one could expect to get out of a year with him with a bit of hard work. I was also impressed with the fact that John had run a “making and restoration” business so could also approach things from a commercial perspective. A few months later we met again after and clarified a few other things and so my career transition begun.
The first term provided a great structure with set topics being covered with the objective of developing hand skills. There was however a large amount of scope for tailoring the projects to your requirements. As the second and third term progressed there is a lot more scope “going off piste” and I designed the chair I made in my second term, and the cabinet in the third term to learn a combination of specific skills including laminating, some simple carving, veneering, coopering, spokeshave work, making a tambour, knuckle joints etc. John is always available for help and guidance and the fact that he has, at some point, seen every mistake possible was always reassuring!
The fact that the courses are 100% hands on really worked for me and this focussed approach can clearly develop someone from novice to someone getting great results in a relatively short space of time. Cabinet making is a huge topic and although a year is only really enough to make a start, after that period you may not be fast but you will be will be equipped to approach most tasks with a good degree of confidence that with a bit of careful consideration you can get the result you want… and for the other tasks you can just pick up the phone to Bankside Farm! I still do!
John Long
West Sussex
“it took a John Lloyd course . . . . . . . . . . . to finally put him on track. ‘That was the best four months of my life. I learnt a lot’, he recalls.”
Marc Fish, Newhaven, East Sussex
Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine, Issue 144, September 2008
With a very basic knowledge of carpentry and a previous career firstly in the Royal Navy and then in the oil industry, I decided to retrain as a cabinet maker and restorer of fine furniture. Accordingly, I attended four 12 week courses at John Lloyd Fine Furniture spread over the period 2009 and 2010.
A significant benefit of training with John Lloyd is that he is personally on hand all day on every training day to offer one to one training to his own students. Every student is therefore able to progress at his or her own pace. Class sizes are kept small enough to ensure that every student can get all the personal instruction and encouragement that is necessary.
As the majority of trainees are looking for a second career the range of backgrounds and skill levels varies considerably. During my training I found John Lloyd to be a man of infinite patience who was able to cope constructively with a wide range of abilities and temperaments in helping everyone to achieve their personal goal.
I would recommend the 12 week cabinet making skills and techniques to anyone seeking to retrain in this fascinating and rewarding skill. The courses provide an excellent grounding in the basic skills and techniques of cabinet making using primarily hand tools in order to develop the all important hand skills. Later in the courses trainees move on to learn the safe operation of a range of woodworking machinery. With this thorough grounding in skills and techniques, cabinet maker trainees are then able to select a range of additional specialist courses to further develop their skills.
After completing two 12 week courses I was fortunate to be offered a significant cabinet making commission, the proceeds of which financed my third 12 week course. I then took a fourth 12 week course specialising in furniture restoration which I was then able to finance with a number of restoration commissions which I undertook during the course under the watchful eye of John Lloyd. My significant investment in retraining has since proved to have been an excellent investment in a new career.
Julian Thomson
Surrey
I did the 36 week cabinet making course with John in 2010/11 and found it to be a hugely enjoyable and educating experience. I had no previous knowledge of woodworking, and now, a few years later I am self-employed making bespoke furniture. This fact is mainly due to John’s proficiency in his craft and his skill and patience in passing on such tacit knowledge. I now appreciate his traditional approach to making all the more; it has given me a grounding and confidence to go forwards in what I do. The course takes place at his home, which means the atmosphere is one of conviviality too! Highly recommended to anyone considering venturing into all things wood…
Bertram Whitford
London
Giving up a full time role in the chemical industry working around the world to take up woodwork was undoubtedly difficult decision, but having spoken to both John and Sara-Jane, then visiting the workshop it seemed that this was the right thing to do and a fantastic place to do it. The opportunity to spend some time talking with John’s current students was invaluable as one of my biggest worries was that I had hadn’t done any sort of woodwork since school, but I found I wasn’t alone and many of John’s students arrive with little or no previous experience.
The relaxed atmosphere in the workshop provides a comfortable and pleasurable environment to learn, couple this with John’s excellent teaching skills and I was amazed how quickly I was making something I could be proud of. John’s flexible approach to teaching (he is in or around the workshop all day) and his ability to keep track of everybody’s individual progress means that you can develop your skills at your own pace and not have any pressure to keep up with or wait for the other students. The test pieces and projects have been developed by John to give a broad understanding of cabinet making underpinned by a focus on good fundamental hand skills and attention to detail.
My year with John was an incredibly rewarding, enjoyable, life changing experience. So much so in fact, I didn’t want to leave, so I didn’t. We’ve made Sussex our home and I now rent a bench at Bankside Farm with other ex-students and watch as each group of new students produce an incredible array of boxes, tables, chairs and cabinets under John’s excellent and hugely experienced watchful eye.
David Willis
West Sussex
After more than 35 years in a totally different career with large companies and corporations I spent six months with John in 2009/2010 and can honestly say it was some of the most productive and enjoyable time I’ve ever spent. John’s calm and knowledgeable manner took away the “rabbit in the headlights” feeling I had on day one staring at my new set of tools and each day I couldn’t wait to get to the workshop and learn something new. John’s patience and understanding manner meant that in each piece of mangled timber and patchy sample board I presented him with in the early days he could always find something positive to say. This motivated me so well that by the end of the first term I actually felt as though I’d made real progress and I even had some really nice Christmas presents for the family. By the end of the second term I came away thinking maybe I could make a go of a sunset career as a cabinet maker and 3 years on thanks to that time with John I’m still in business and enjoying myself immensely.
Adam Hume
Maidstone, Kent
I loved my time on the course. It was the best thing I have ever done and I have absolutely no regrets about my change of career. I found John very knowledgeable and on the very rare occasions when he wasn’t sure about something he would do some research to get the answer.
I loved the fact that we were taught the old fashioned way of doing things before we were shown how to do them with modern machinery. That may not be what everyone wants but it really suited me.
One of the best things about his tuition is that he doesn’t do things for you. I think that is superb. He is prepared to discuss your project with you and give you advice but he lets you do the work once you have discussed with him the best way of proceeding. I suspect that is quite difficult for him. I know I would find it very hard. By doing that I think it has meant that I have the confidence to have a go, although there are times when I wish someone else would do it for me!
Another great thing is that he has given me so much support since I left. I try not to bother him too much, but whenever I have he has come back to me with advice within a few hours (if not sooner) of me sending my email to him. He is also very happy for me to pop in (not unannounced) to discuss projects with him.
Christine Layton
Caterham, Surrey
After 24 weeks with John I feel I have acquired a new and detailed set of practical woodworking skills, which not only lend themselves to fine furniture & cabinet making but also to other areas of woodwork.
John has a calm and relaxed teaching method which is both thorough and relevant. From day one it’s obvious he has extensive knowledge in a wide ranging subject and is on hand throughout the day to pass on advice.
Hand skills play a big part in John’s initial teaching approach, with machinery skills being introduced later on in the course. This gives a good balance and provides knowledge in both traditional and modern techniques which can be called upon when deciding on a solution to a problem.
I’m very pleased with my decision to take a place at Bankside Farm and am confident that it has given me one of the best possible groundings in woodworking.
Joel Latham
Hope Valley, Derbyshire
I spent a year studying with John on a furniture making long course. Not only is he a fine furniture maker and restorer, but he is also a really good teacher as well. More importantly, perhaps, he is very easy to learn from – making it that much easier to acquire those skills and techniques that initially appeared such a mystery.
It was a really interesting and stimulating environment to study in and I enjoyed every day. The fact that John is one of the most patient people I have ever met certainly helped a lot too!
James Gledhill
London