November/December 2017

Gladys Gallivants
Minack Theatre, Cornwall
There I was perched on the foot path preparing to hike
to the Minack Theatre. The sheer drop on my left side
looked far too dicey with the sea crashing on the rocks
many metres below. I retraced my steps and took the
safer route scrambling up the hill.
Hot and bothered I arrived at the top and was welcomed
like a celebrity. “This is the traveller who has come all the
way from a drama group in the Southern Hemisphere”, the
front of house manager announced. It was marvellous,
given a cup of tea and escorted to the best seat, high
in the centre turret. I settled back to enjoy the play and
marvelled at the breathtaking panorama. The Atlantic
Ocean as the theatrical backdrop, a director’s dream.
Jean Anouilh’s comedy with identical twin brothers
and their respective lovers cavorting across the stage
and exiting with great speed, was performed in 1930’s
slinky gowns, clinging ever closer as the rain drizzled
down. The performers deserved a medal for completing
this French farce in such inclement conditions. At the
final bow, the audience showed their appreciation with
deafening applause.
Luckily a teacher in charge of a school group offered me a
lift back to the Truro railway station as the bus strike made
my return to Falmouth from Penzance that night totally
impossible.
It was getting late when I managed
to board a train, eventually returning
to the Falmouth hotel after 9pm to
the relief of my fellow travellers as
our tour moved on the following
morning. A very thoughtful
member of the group had requested
a plate of dinner to be kept for me which I gratefully
munch down. Between mouthfuls I recounted my
amazing and adventurous thirteen hour day. The dogged
performance of the ’Ring Round the Moon’ cast with
slightly soggy evening clothes drooping and their goose
bumps growing bigger than the beads in their necklaces.
“And another thing", I related, “ I come across an enormous
plant . It’s huge Gulliver sized leaves made me feel like a
Lilliputian.” “That must be a Gunnera Manicata,” a local
resident interjected. Camera happy me took a slide which
shows a travel bag at the base of a huge bush to show size
comparison. Not really that fantastic – problem would
have been solved with a selfie !
Amongst my collection of crested spoons and forks, I also
have a Falmouth crested tea strainer, a reminder of my
escapade down the West Country.
Festive Greetings to my readers and more travel yarns in
the New Year.
Let me introduce you to the Sussex
Stitchers. Technically, we are your
local members of the Embroiderers’
Guild, currently celebrating 40 years
of blissful existence. We like to think
we are much more fun, user friendly,
and less formal than that sounds.
We come from all corners of nearby
communities and walks of life to
learn and partake in endless aspects
of textile creation and decoration.
We love to celebrate local events
such as the opening of new hospitals
and schools as well as those of
national status. Last year we created
exhibits for the 300th anniversary of
Capability Brown for Standen House,
part of a nationwide initiative and we
have previously restored significant
treasures for Batemans in Burwash
and Monk’s House in Rodmell, all
National Trust properties in our
beautiful Sussex locality. We have
also produced decorative panels to
be seen in the Conquest Hospital
and a school in Eastbourne. We are
currently planning our project for
2018.
For many of us, this has been a
lifelong craze, though some were
“Much is Done” by the Sussex Stitchers
initially rather nervous about where
and how to start the art, being barely
able to jiggle threads on fabric on
arrival. No matter, we welcome
newcomers, experienced or not, and
encourage them to blossom.
We create decorative fabrics
then embellishment follows using
whatever comes to hand, including
the traditional silks, cottons and
wools. Re-incarnation technology
with glue guns, soluble fabrics,
soldering irons and the like whilst
less favoured by the National Trust
gives us a sense of exploration.
The Sussex landscape and coast
inspires greatly and the countryside
and beaches bear many bits and
bobs ripe for inclusion in a project.
Consequent achievements can be
stunning, especially with a little help
from friends.
Our contact details are below if
you would like to visit us with a
mind to joining our group. We are
renowned for being all inclusive,
sharing our various skills, techniques
and enthusiasm in our monthly
gatherings. More significantly, we
take pleasure in the putting of thread
to fabric, whilst enjoying each other’s
friendship and company, generally
over tea and the all important cake.
We would like to invite you to visit
our forthcoming exhibition of work,
“Much is Done” in Alfriston, in the
barn at the Much Ado Bookshop.
We will be there between 2.00 and
5.00pm on Friday 10th November
and 10.00am until 5.00pm on
Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th
November. Many pieces will be for
sale should you wish to admire them
for even longer and 10% of funds
raised will be donated to charity.
Sue Clark of the Sussex Stitchers
(The East Sussex Branch of the
Embroiderers’ Guild)
IN NEED OF
QUALITY
installed from
CARE AT
£1,795 *
* Prices exclude VAT and
are available to those
suffering from a long
term condition or illness
upon completion of a
declaration
Your Local Mobility Experts
HOME?
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"Radfield Home Care has enabled
me to continue living in the
comfort of my own home"
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REQUIRED
Please send me a copy of your 52 page brochure
and Seating Buying Guide to the address below: SL
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Clearwell Mobility
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Hastings
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