Fundraising at Hertfordshire Branch

As a branch established nearly 30 years we rejoice in one of our founder members in particular. Gwenda Fairbairn is a past winner of the President's Cup, the Broderers' Prize and recently won the Eastern Region Anchor Award Competition - a quiet unassuming knowledgeable member who stitches beautiful pieces but also gives her knowledge for all to benefit.

Last summer she and her husband invited the branch and her neighbours to come and enjoy home-made tea in their garden in aid of the new centre. In the autumn she offered a "Beading Day" for 2003 to raise additional funds. Bookings opened for this at the January meeting and 10 minutes later we were fixing a second day to accommodate the excess bookings. Over the two days 18 members gathered at Gwenda's house to pursue the type of beading that took their fancy after studying a host of samples. Groups formed to tackle a particular project to aid teaching and the early stages of tassels, amulet purses and a myriad of chains started to take shape. Add to this a lovely garden to wander through, a wonderful buffet spread, home-made cakes and biscuits for lunch, tea and coffee and you begin to get the picture. What better way to raise money than by having a super time learning new techniques in convivial company - the perfect recipe from our own branch treasure. The branch and the Guild as a whole owe a debt of gratitude to Gwenda and Terry who must have contributed around £500 to the fundraising efforts.

Jill Williams.