Despite the "it would have been easier my way" comments from the last time I posted one of these I continued with the templates and this time using cherry and sycamore, bought especially for the project, I ended up with what is actually an overdue wedding present (15 months ovrerdue ).
There appears to be one or two sanding marks that I swear were not there when I took it off the lathe on Sunday. I might have to refinish it.