The AGM meeting itself was packed with news and information. Here are a few highlights:

Jean Draper

New Guild Chairman Chris Berry presented Jean Draper with a parting gift from Individual Members.

I was overwhelmed and very touched to receive not only a very beautiful bouquet of flowers, but a completely unexpected and very generous cheque - a gift from Individual Members - to enable me to purchase a piece of embroidery of my choice.

It will take me a while to find just the right piece, but I shall enjoy looking and finally choosing something very special. I should like to thank you for your generosity and appreciation at this time, and also for your kindness and support throughout my time as Chairman.

But there was no rest for Jean, as she went on in the afternoon to deliver an outstanding Annual Guild Lecture.

Gala Dinner

After a reception at the Lowry on Friday night, and visits to the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Gallery of Costume at Platt Hall, the climax of the social events was the Saturday night dinner at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Following a fascinating demonstration of working looms, Chris Berry announced to Members that the Guild had marked its Patron’s recent special birthday with a special gift. HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was 100 on Christmas Day, and had been presented with a framed image of a piece of 17th century needlelace from the Guild Collection. The Guild had received a personal letter of thanks from Princess Alice’s Lady in Waiting.

If you didn’t get to the AGM weekend

The AGM weekend is open to Branch as well as Individual Members. But if you weren’t there you may well be attending one of the Regional and Area Days being held around the UK. For those Members who have not taken part in one of these events, a visit to one may come as something of a revelation, with excellent lectures, displays, traders and activities for you to enjoy.

The Guild believes that the quality of these Regional and Area Days is a great strength of a successful Guild. Guild Officers and staff will be participating in the Days, and at some the ICE video will be shown.

The new Chairman, Chris Berry, was at Wigan on 27 April, at Perth on 11th May and Nottingham on 18th May. Harry Williamson, Honorary Treasurer was at Basingstoke on the 11th May. Michael Spender, Director, was at Exeter on 6th April and Wigan on 27th April, then at Scunthorpe on 18th May, and will be at Stafford on 15th June, and Chelmsford on 13th July.

Further details of Regional and Area Days as well as Regional AGMs are given in What’s On.