Recalling our debt to our Honorary President Mary Jeffery
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| Mary (seated) is pictured her at our 40th birthday celebrations with two other guild founder members (Chris Suddick, L and Ann Howells, R) |
This guild would not have existed without Mary. In our October newsletter Ann Howells (Chair of the guild) reflected that she first met Mary when enrolled onto her Further Education class in spinning, weaving and dyeing at the College in Stratford. To relieve the pressure on class places this guild was started and membership soon grew to over 90.
Mary was always there with ideas for speakers, plans for events, and above all her wide experience and knowledge which she was always ready to share. When the guild was 24 and Mary was 80 we made her Honorary President. She continued to play a leading part in the guild until the last few years when she became less active. We were delighted to see her at our 40th Birthday celebration in 2015.
Several members attended her funeral on October 17th and were reminded of how important textile skills were in her life and the lasting friendships made through the guild. A donation to Oxfam and Barnado's was made on behalf of the guild.