A trio of interesting meetings leads the Guild into the annual August break. On 19th June, ‘Hidden Somerset’ was revealed with accompanying power-point presentation by Mike Bolton, from Yeovil, showing quirky signage in villages interspersed with historical facts about people, buildings and monuments.

Unknowns were the Chard Canal at Ilminster, the charabancs of Wookey Hole, Weyford Woods and Manor at Clapton, the Gartell Light Railway in the Blackmore Vale, the Shell War Memorial at Weston Zoyland and the Double Decker Pillbox at Taunton – a wide-ranging, interesting talk.

The following afternoon, 20th June, we were joined by TG friends from other Bath Guilds, members of the public and Journal Editor, Becky Brooks to celebrate the Guild’s 30th Anniversary with a very apt and engaging talk by jewellery maker/tutor, Frances (Benton) Carlaw, on ‘A Passion for Pearls’, covering the beauty, colours, myths and legends of pearls. Three trestle tables were laden with her creations and offered for sale.

All profits are given to charity and the proceeds from this meeting are to be donated to a special school for 35 high-spectrum autistic children in Scotland, where her daughter is Headteacher. Tea, yummy cakes and happy chatter; a generous raffle to which Frances donated two pairs of pearl earrings, and to which local stores Sainsbury’s and Tesco also kindly contributed, ensured a special celebratory afternoon.

On 17th July, we were joined by a new member when we welcomed Sarah Harris, who had travelled from Clevedon to give her talk on ‘The History of Knitting Patterns’, aided by various slides and a dash of humour. Having knitted throughout the generations, little did we know of the social history that has evolved around the craft since pre-pattern days when patterns were memorised and chanted, from knitting in the round to the advent of printed patterns, often using celebrities and Hollywood stars as models.

The advent of trains and more variety of materials boosted the knitted goods industry and added interest. Sarah reminded older members of the joys of the 1940s knitted swimsuits, which sagged southwards when wet!

Business-wise, at the June and July meetings, Chairman, Joan Norman, reported on Bath Federation’s AGM on 24th May, at which she was thanked for keeping the Federation functioning with the able assistance of the other four Trustees, including the Treasurer, who reported a healthy bank balance at year end.

The Chairman also gave a succinct report on the national AGM at Brighton Dome on 13th June, the morning session attended by TG’s national Patron, the Princess Royal, who presented various trophies and spoke of the challenges ahead for the organisation which were being addressed by the Trustee Board, for which technology is the future!

Both mandates on Under-18 marriage and Asbestos in Educational Establishments were fully debated and carried. Finances are sound going forward, but need strict monitoring given decreasing returns on investments and membership challenges.

The Chairman had received a reply from Jacob Rees-Mogg MP with copy letter from the Rt Hon Tracey Crouch MP, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, concerning TG’s 2015 national mandate on Advertising to Gamble.

We very much look forward to joining with TG friends in Bath for the annual Federation Summer Luncheon on Thursday, 26th July at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, Bradford-on-Avon. After which, we break until the next meeting on Tuesday, 18th September, when we welcome Colin Stone of the Freewheelers charity, Blood Bikes.

Secretary, Glen Hepworth, will be pleased to help with any queries on: 01761 413528.

Joan Norman