Volunteers Huntingdon DFAS

Volunteers

Heritage Volunteers work on projects ranging from conservation of textiles to transcribing documents, helping in museums and refurbishing books in libraries. We currently have embroidery groups working on altar frontals and other church embroideries for local parish churches, as well as groups recording gardens. The cataloguing of photos, watercolours, prints and other items at the Norris Museum, St Ives, where the information was being transferred to a computer to make it readily available for research, is now completed.. One or two more people, able to give a few hours per month to assist with this work at the Norris Museum, are particularly needed, and other groups too would welcome new members. For more information about all these activities, please phone Mrs Pat Spencer at 01487-740642

Skills and techniques can be learned on the job, and there are special training days available so please do not feel you are not competent to become a volunteer

Eltisley Church, February 2002. Volunteers at the dedication of the altar frontal and pulpit fall, on which they had worked from January 2000 until February 2002.
This group, led by Lady Jenny Hemingford, has also completed work on an altar frontal and red chasuble for All Saints Church, Pidley-cum-Fenton. These were dedicated on Palm Sunday, 16th March 2008
They have now started on a new project on an altar front for Croxton Church

Another group of volunteers. led by Isobel Lattimore, spent 15 months producing an altar frontal, super frontal, pulpit and lectern falls, burse, veil, stole, chasuble and collection bag for St Peter's Church, Knapwell. These were dedicated on 30th April 2006. The embroidered cross was a copy of the altar cross, and the words below were copied from those on the apse

On the left: a volunteer is copying the lettering, couching down gold threads onto felt shapes that add depth to the lettering so that the gold will catch the light. You can see the gold threads down two of the bars of the letter W

The group have since restored the altar frontals (on the left) and created a new chasuble (below) for Boxworth Church. These were dedicated on Sunday 18th November 2007

The enthusiasm of Huntingdon Garden Heritage Volunteers remains undiminished as we enter our sixth year. In the last 12 months we have recorded or visited over 20 wonderful gardens, some of them in collaboration with the Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust. Highlights have included Casewick Park, Grimsthorpe Castle and the garden of Richard Ayres MBE, former head gardener of Anglesey Abbey. Festivities have ranged from Christmas lunch at Anglesey Abbey and restaurant cuisine at Moggerhanger (Grade I listed house, recast by Sir John Soane RA 1790-1812, now complete with sumptuous menu) to sampling many splendid local hostelries. This year records of our Cambridgeshire gardens have been submitted to the Parks and Gardens Data Trust and will form part of a permanent national collection freely available on-line to historians, planners and garden enthusiasts. Many congratulations to our Huntingdon DFAS team for all their efforts.

If you are interested in learning more about our activities please contact the Heritage Volunteers Representative by phone on 01487 740642 or the Garden Group co-ordinator, Judith Christie - email: judith.christie@ntlworld.com

Below: Topiary and Herbaceous Border at Grimsthorpe Castle, Summer Visit 2007. Photo courtesy of Ray Briggs. Other photos by Judith Christie

The garden at Lode belonging to Richard Ayres MBE, former Head Gardener of Anglesey Abbey, in Autumn 2007

Members of the group with Richard Ayres MBE and aquilegias at Hardwicke House, Cambridge, Spring 2008

Church Recorders make detailed inventories of the furnishings and relevant parts of the fabric from altar frontals to doormats.Everything is measured, described, weighed (if appropriate), photographed or drawn. We are then able to research the history of objects, using archives, books, the memories of parishioners, and local and national Record Offices.
This all sounds very serious, but the actual recording is fascinating and generates great co-operation between recorders - anyone handy will be called upon to hold a tape measure or steady a ladder. Come into our current church and you might find a group gathered round a Bishop's chair. The woodwork team will have measured it, decided it is made of oak, and looked the design up in a reference book; the textile people will be studying the tapestry seat; the photographer will be waiting for the opportunity to take several shots from different angles. Perched up a ladder, one of the memorial team will be transcribing a Latin text, reading aloud to their partner who is writing it down.

No previous experience is necessary to become a recorder, although an interest in history, architecture and beautiful objects is helpful - which is why NADFAS members are so suitable!

The first Church Record completed by Huntingdon DFAS was presented at All Saints, Brington, on 22nd July 2007 to the priest-in-charge, Jackie Duck, in the presence of the Bishop of Ely and a full congegation. All seven recorders were able to be present, and the Record was much admired at the reception that followed the service. The completed project was subsequently sent to NADFAS House

Recording at All Saints, Huntingdon, is nearing completion.

On the left: a splendid window in the chancel of the church, showing the nativity.
Below: a visit from the area representative, Mrs Sara Day. From left to right: Chris (miscellaneous and compiling), Jennifer (memorials), Sara Day, Olive (leader, paintings, non-precious metal work), and Sue Milton (rector's wife). The group photographer (John) was behind the camera. Note the jackets - it was cold in the church in March!

If you would like to learn more about joining the recorders, please phone Mrs Olive Cutting at 01832-710186