Newsletter 7 Spring 2001

Visit of Her Majesty the Queen 14 June 2001

We are delighted that Her Majesty the Queen has consented to visit Sunbury to view the embroidery and meet the embroiderers in June. However, a lot  of protocol quite rightly surrounds any royal visit and we cannot yet announce the detailed arrangements but as soon as we can we will do so in the press so that everyone who wishes to can ensure that the welcome we extend to Her majesty is as warm as possible.

Exhibition in the House of Commons

At our last exhibition David Wilshire, our MP, explained that it was possible for him to enter a House of Commons ballot for the limited number of opportunities available for members to mount exhibitions in the House of commons. We happily embraced his suggestion that he should put the embroidery forward and we were delighted when he informed us that we had been successful in the ballot. The embroidery was due to be on display in the House of Commons Upper Waiting Hall in the week following Her Majesty's visit. However in the event of an election on 7th June this exhibition would be cancelled and we would have to re-enter the ballot and take our chances on a further opportunity later in the year.

Charity Status

 Our second submission to the Charity Commission was successful and we are now a registered charity, no. 1085014. Our objects ar widely drawn and their aims are not only to display the embroidery but to pursue any field associated with Sunbury's history, wildlife and activities.

Talks

We continue to give talks to various groups both within Sunbury and in surrounding areas. We now have a comprehensive set of slides which allows our embroiderers to not only illustrate the embroidery but also the process where by it was achieved. If your group would like a talk please don't hesitate to contact the embroidery workshop on 01932 788101 during its opening hours 10am to 4pm Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri. You should note that because of the Queen's visit and the House of Commons the workshop will be closed for the two weeks beginning 11th June 2001.

Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Festival

As part of the Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Festival this year the workshop will be open all day on Sunday 22 July from 10am - 4pm.

The Proposed Embroidery Centre in the Walled Garden, Sunbury-on-Thames

Since the completion of the embroidery the only one of our initial aims yet to be fulfilled id that of installing the embroidery in a suitable permanent home. In the early days St Mary's Church was seen as appropriate but as the quality of the embroidery became apparent many felt that siting within the church would not allow it to be viewed close to eye level. The centre in the Walled Garden has been proposed to satisfy this requirement. The site offered by Spelthorne Borough Council has allowed a building to be designed which will not only create a fine environment in which to display the embroidery but has allowed us to provide a long top lit wall on which exhibitions can be mounted, apace in which children and adults can be taught embroidery techniques, accommodation for the Local History Society archive as well as a glazed tearoom where visitors to the embroidery and the walled garden can refresh themselves. The design has received planning permission and work to enable a start on site is now only dependent on raising the necessary funds. The building is likely to cost in excess of £250,000. Our efforts throughout the project have raised over £60,000, partly from corporate donations, but primarily from our local community's support of our various sponsor-a-square schemes, purchases of our jigsaws, cards, calendars, bookmarks and children activity books, as well as giving individual donations in the workshop and at our many exhibitions. This has allowed us to set aside nearly £25,000 for the building but we still need to raise at least £225,000. We have formed a fund raising sub-committee under the chairmanship of Paul Watts and they are actively seeking lottery corporate and charity help. Hopefully this will be successful but we still need the help of all those local people who have shown such an interest and support for the project.

Who do you know?

When seeking corporate sponsorship it is helpful if the appeal is addressed to a particular person known to the person making the request. many local residents may be friends or acquaintances of the chairman or directors of substantial companies worth approaching. If you have such contacts and could help to bring them and the project team together your assistance would be greatly appreciated. We can out a pack of information together if you wish to make an approach directly, or we can do so if you let us know at the embroidery workshop or contact the fund raising committee members Paul Watts o Jerry Cook. In the same way if you have contacts with or know of any grant making bodies please let us know.

Jigsaws and Things

Please continue to visit the workshop in Riverbank, Thames Street (opposite bar 41) and purchase our merchandising or Sponsor a Square. If you haven't visited recently you'll be surprised at the extra items available. The workshop continues to be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 4 pm. Senior embroiderers are always present and you will always receive a warm welcome. If you wish to phone the workshop you can do so on 01932 788101.

Treasure Hunt

Local resident Tim Walters has prepared a treasure hunt which will be launched in the week of the Queen's visit. Solving the various clues will make for an enjoyable few hours of brain teasing entertainment for the whole family or individuals. A cash prize of £500 will be offered and if a number of correct entries are received a prominent personality will make a public draw of the winning entry during January 2001. A book of clues and entry form will be available through local shops and the workshop for £5.

'A Tapestry of Dreams'

On Saturday 20th of April 2001at 8pm Moira Edwards has kindly arranged a musical evening with refreshments. Tickets are £7.50 and are available at the embroidery Workshop or from the Box Office 01932 787370. This will be a great evening, so please come and support this worthwhile event. The poster for this is shown on the front of this newsletter.

Sponsor a Building Square

For £5 you can sponsor part of the proposed building. Certificates are issued for any square sponsored and you can colour it in with a colour of your choice!. Again squares can be sponsored at the workshop.

Friends of the Embroidery

During the coming months we hope to launch a Friends of the Embroidery scheme which will allow those interested to show their support in a meaningful way and ensure that they can be kept up to date with events and be associated with the project. In the meantime we welcome any donations you are able to give. You can do this by completing the enclosed form and returning it to the Embroidery Workshop.

Other events

If you or your club or organization have other ideas about how money could be raised, or if you are able to create revenue for the project, let us know and we will be pleased to consider any proposal.

Web site created by Phil Smith Mar '00  -  © The Sunbury Millennium Embroidery 2000-20010 - Registered Charity Number 1085014