Andy Coates (UK) oak vessel 18x11cm. SignedI came to know Ray from my time serving on the committee of the AWGB, and over eleven years came to hold him in the highest regard. We didn't always agree on things, but that's the way of the world. What I think we did share was a love of what we did for a living; woodturning. Ray's knowledge, experience and passion will never be bettered. Along with a few notable folk he helped cut the trail we all follow today.When Ray's roughed down piece arrived a few cracks had developed at the base of the form during the drying process, and I wondered if I should dramatically alter the form in order to save the piece. I decided upon a change in the shape of the base to remove the cracks and then completed it in pretty much the style Ray might have. But it needed something of me in it; and that had to be colour, texture or carving. Ray always preferred natural wood over decorated, so what I decided upon was a lot of Ray and a tiny bit of me in the finished form. I like to think that he would have been horrified.The Ray Key Collaboration Auction