Congratulations to Adrian Cooke, the well-deserved winner of this unique chalice at the recent Book Launch at Waterstone's, Nottingham!

A specially commisioned chalice has been lovingly turned by expert woodturner Ken Allen from oak, a wood sacred to the Celts. It represents the Holy Grail and the Celtic spirit woven into the Grail legend, the spirit of healing and harmony with Mother Nature. This is a one-off piece and is imbued with the properties that will help the bearer find their own inner Holy Grail. It is a chalice symbolic of the original Holy Grail chalice, and will find a home with a modern day disciple worthy of its properties.

This chalice was turned out of approximately 220 year old oak, from the oak forest that used to cover Cannock Chase. Castle Ring in Cannock Chase plays a key part in the book.

Ken Allen runs a traditional woodturning craft shop at Shuborough Hall, where he can be seen at work in his workshop. A fine selection of his work is available for sale there. Don't miss his exquisetly turned spinning tops, the dimmensions for which have been mathmatically formulated by one of his sons. The precision, balance and almost perpetual motion of these tops, seem to defy the laws of physics.

Shugburough is also home to a monument that plays a key role in the Grail mystery.