History of the Oxford Guild – part three

OXFORD GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS & DYERS:
1980 to 1989

Documentation for this period is a bit patchy. A chance discovery by Ann Nutt of missing newsletters for 1981 to 1987 means we now have most of them for the decade. There is documentation on the Exhibitions but Committee minutes are missing from October 1980 to 1987, except for October 1982. The newsletters contain notes on some of the meetings and most of the progammes. We have several membership lists [those for 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 and 1989] and the programme cards for 1981 to 1989. No programme card was issued for 1989. The lists of members are of particular interest as several members still in the Guild joined at this time. ^{[some of the lists are reproduced in Appendix One]}

Consolidation

By 1980 the Guild was prospering. Membership had risen from an initial twenty four to seventy five. It rose to about one hundred in 1987, but dropped again to eighty by 1989.

The nineteen eighties was a period of consolidation although it was not plain sailing all of the time and, towards the end of the decade, it was becoming increasingly difficult to persuade members to take on committee work. Indeed in September 1989 the Committee had to point out that without a secretary and treasurer the Guild would have to disband. As we know, it did not come to that.

The Guild has never sought to make a profit but to produce enough money to give members the quality of service they would like. Over this decade the Guild managed to stay in funds and even produce a slight profit, always useful if unforeseen expenses occur. The subscription in 1983 was set at £5.00 a year of which 55p went to the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers [AGWSD]. In 1985 the subscription was raised to £6.00, in 1986 to £6.50 and in 1988 to £9.50.

Lecturers and tutors fees amounted to between £10.00 and £35.00 a session plus expenses in 1983. By 1989 the top fee exceeded £50.00. The charge for day courses stayed at £7.50 until it was raised to £8.00 in 1989. The use of the WI Hall in Summertown cost £2.50 an hour [usually three hours a session] plus £2.00 for the use of the kitchen.

The rate of inflation at this time is demonstrated by the annual Guild expenditure which was about £1100 in 1983, £1500 in 1985, and £1800 in 1989.

Towards the end of this period the Guild decided to take advantage of the tax recovery on donations possible for Registered Charities and, thanks to the hard work of the then Treasurer, June Kay, the Charity Commissioners granted it charity status in 1988. Since then the Inland Revenue has given back a significant sum each year; a very useful addition to the Guild’s income.

Looking at the activities of the Guild at this time it is typified by Exhibitions. In all, the Guild put on, or was a partner with adjacent Guilds, in ten exhibitions in the ten years from 1980 to 1989.

Activities: meetings and courses

The pattern established in previous years continued. Monthly meetings still took place in the Women’s Institute Hall in Middle Way and Westminster College was usually used for all-day workshops. Familiar names recur and subjects are repeated. ^{[a list of Activities may be found in Appendix Two]}

The emphasis on weaving techniques continues. A glance through the programme for the decade shows that nearly half the talks and demonstrations were concerned with some aspect of weaving. These included rugs, tapestry, ikat, braids, and historic and ethnic textiles. If you include fibre sources such as sheep as well as techniques, spinning was the next well-covered subject, but with only about a third as many occasions as those devoted to weaving. Dyeing and knitting were also covered but aesthetic subjects such as colour and design were neglected.

This contrasts with the talks given in the 1970s. Then, over two thirds were on weaving matters and the rest evenly divided between spinning and dyeing.

The interest in detail and technique is illustrated by two talks. The first by Angela Lodge in January 1982 covered wool quality, yarn count, ply and twist. The second by Mike Halsey in March of that year was concerned with sett.

The making of lengths of cloth was becoming less fashionable but it still had its passionate devotees. In an interesting piece by Irene McMillan in the September 1983 Newsletter she writes: … ‘for me, weaving will always be about making cloth… There are difficulties… of course. …one must be a sewer and enjoy making garments… and to have understanding relatives in Yorkshire where the water is beautifully soft and one can finish the cloth in their bath. …I would urge you to weave cloth enough to clothe yourself, your husband, the kids, to cover the furniture, to hang at the windows and cover the table and the bed. It will cost only a fraction of the price of good cloth, and will last for ever. And when you are tired of it , it will last another lifetime made into peggy rugs.’

In no particular order, a few of the more well known names who gave talks and workshops, and their subjects were:

Rod Owen – Peruvian and Japanese Braids
Marianne Straub – Ikat
Peter Collingwood – Tablet Weaving
Ann Hecht – Kasuri Weaving
Rufus Reade – Turkish Kilims
Mabel Ross – Yarn Design
Bobby Cox – Tapestries etc
Kaffe Fassett – Knitting
David Hill – Indigo Dyes
Janet Phillips – Rugs…and
Theo Moorman – Her Work

The last three gave talks in the 70s too.

In November 1982 the Committee decided to find out what members interests were and a questionnaire was sent out with the newsletter. There were 47 replies out of about 100 sent. There were 37 spinners, 30 weavers, half dyed, nearly all knitted and two-thirds dress-made. Clearly, most members’ interests were not confined to one aspect of textile making and most seemed satisfied by the Guild as it was. The programme balance was not too far adrift.

Activities: exhibitions

In this period, exhibitions by the Oxford Guild were held on alternate years. In the years between, it combined with a group of adjacent Guilds to produce an exhibition and sale. The five or six Guilds taking part varied from time to time.

The Guilds took it in turns to stage the event. The exhibits, like most at this time, were selected. Typically, each Guild was asked to put forward about 30 to 40 items with no more than 3 from any one member. Hanging fees were charged depending upon the value of the item and a percentage, usually 10%, was taken on sales.

1982

In 1982 the Oxford Guild held an Exhibition and Sale from 11th to 22nd May in the Exhibition Room of the Central Library, Westgate. As well as items by Guild members, work by the pupils of Barley Hill Primary School, Thame was also on display. The exhibition had a piece in the press with a photograph of Maureen Burton.

The June/July newsletter reported that: ‘Having… sold around £400 worth of our work, we can relax until the next exhibition…’

1983

The next year, 1983, five guilds got together to hold an exhibition in Cirencester. They were Oxford, Stratford, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. This time it was in the Cirencester [craft] Workshops from 30th April to 28th May. This was a long period but the exhibition was set up and supervised by the staff of the Workshops. Being displayed in part of the public area of a craft centre was a little confusing but the display was good.

Maggie Mulvey, then newsletter editor writes: ‘I have to say the that the room has a powerful rainbow aspect. The overall effect is stunning…’ and Maureen Burton, reflecting on the show writes: ‘Our colour was blue – what else for Oxford?… the people responsible for hanging the exhibition knew their job… and the standard achieved and presented to the public must have created a very good impression.’ The one complaint was that, having been asked to provide up to forty items, so many of the works submitted were unhung because they did not fit into the overall exhibition design.

1984

Oxford put on another Exhibition and Sale in Westgate Library in 1984, this time later in the year to attract the Christmas trade; from 13th to 24th November.

Ann Norman in the December newsletter of that year reports: ‘It was a great do, both financially and as far as the public were concerned, with our alluring banner catching the eye of many casual passer-by. We had over 1,350 visitors… The display by the children of Sandhills County Primary School was very lively and interesting…’

Thirty-three members exhibited 112 works of which 36 were sold. The exhibition cost some £1077 to put on and netted a profit of £83, ‘…a real team effort.’ The banner which Ann mentioned was strung across the entrance to the Westgate Mall. What happened to it?

Another exhibition which involved members of the Guild was ‘Growth’ a textile exhibition by the Oxfordshire Guild of Craftsmen held in the Oxfordshire County Museum from 26th May to 1st July. Maggie Mulvey’s review in the September newsletter highlights the work of Ann Norman and Eileen Gladstone.

1985

Two Exhibitions were held in 1985. The first, a joint effort by the Oxford and North Oxfordshire Guilds was held at the Bampton Arts Centre, Bampton from 20th May to 8th June and called ‘Spring into Summer’. From the poster, it seems to have been part of Oxfordshire Artweek. The space at Bampton is somewhat limited and the result was a rather confused display.

Never-the-less, as Maureen Burton writes: ‘Visitors have been impressed by the high standards of work…opening the eyes of the public to the work carried out by our members…. Sales have been better than we anticipated, …and …we have broken the record attendance as West Oxford Arts Association Exhibition.’

The second was in the Westgate Library, Oxford from 10th to 27th September. It was Oxford’s turn to organise and host the Five Guilds Exhibition and Sale and this, after the Bampton Exhibition, put a great strain on Guild members. The Guilds, as in 1983, were Gloucestershire, Oxford, Stratford, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

1986

In August 1986 the National Exhibition was held in St William’s College, York, Several Oxford members exhibited. It was said to have been a great success with children’s workshops and a trade fair. In the October Newsletter, Ann Nutt and Nancy Hulton wrote: ‘The display was cleverly hung by Gordon Reece. … Mabel Ross and Meira Stokl …had the unenviable task of choosing the final 248 items from about 600 submissions…‘.  Rod Owen’s superbly executed braids, Gladys May’s glowing tapestry and Eileen Gladstone’s silk ikat ‘Chinese’ jacket were all thought worthy of a mention.

Nineteen eighty six saw another Exhibition in Oxford’s Westgate Library. As in 1984 it was a close-to-Christmas event, from 18th to 29th November. The Oxford Mail reviewed it and included a long piece on Gladys May, a prolific tapestry weaver and exhibition designer, together with her photograph. The number of visitors and sales was disappointing but the exhibition did make a small profit.

Maureen Burton’s review highlights: ‘The special exhibit of Guernseys, Fair Isle jumpers and shawls, as well as that of the students from the College of Further Education… which …created a great deal of interest and many questions … Demonstrations on the two types of loom and spinning wheels… added greatly to its success.’

1987

It was the Worcestershire Guild’s turn to organise an event in 1987. The Six Guilds’ Exhibition ‘The Elements’ was held in the Kings School, Worcester from 17th to 29th August. The Oxford Guild was allocated the subject ‘Earth’. Jenny Forder in her report in the September Newsletter was quite enthusiastic, although surprised at the smallness of the Exhibition Hall and disappointed that so little had been sold. Maureen Burton and Gladys May were the Oxford Guild’s organisers. The Guilds were Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Oxford, Wiltshire and Stratford.

1988

The work of Guild members was displayed at the national Exhibition of AGWSD held at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells from 18th June to 3rd July. The Guild Newsletter of September 1988 publishes a ‘post mortem’. The Exhibition had many faults and it was given a round drubbing by Nancy Hulton, Gladys May and Mauricette Mellor. This is an extract from Mauricette’s comments which sums it up: ‘There was good work on display… most of which was unfortunately submerged in a sea of exhibits, many of questionable design and quality… Generally, the presentation was uninspired, and unrelieved. Heavy, tweedy clothing laid out and unsupported, dead in reverent half-light. The venue demanded special attention to each and every exhibit, sadly, however, lacking.’ A welcome change from the usual anodyne review.

‘Contrasts’ was the name given to the 1988 Exhibition by the Oxford Guild, yet again held in the Westgate Library, from 4th to 15th October. Ann Nutt, who was Chairman of the Exhibition Committee, in her report-back in the November 1988 Newsletter was a little disappointed that only 29 of the Guild’s 78 members exhibited but concluded that: ‘the 1988 Exhibition has proved to be a great success, both as a demonstration of our skills, and financially…over 500 signed the Visitor’s Book…39 members stewarded and demonstrated…’ and 144 items were on show. The variety of exhibits was great, ranging from braided bell pulls by Rod Owen and rope necklaces by Ann Norman, through Shetland shawls by Eileen Wynell-Mayow, immaculately woven overshot cloths by Gertie Beesley and several rugs, to Gladys May’s exuberant tapestries and plastic-bag weft shopping bags by Phyl Wager and Ann Nutt, not to mention a very fine wool and mohair jacket by Nancy Hulton.

The exhibition was reviewed for the Association Journal by M. Somerfield. She remarks: ‘A significant trend in the exhibition was the small percentage of handspun yarns and even smaller percentage of knitted garments.’ and brings up the perennial problem of pricing: ‘Some articles were very underpriced. When Guilds have professional and amateur members exhibiting together maybe this is inevitable, but the vexation must be confusing to the public.’ Lotte Kuemmel, who was in her nineties, was given a special mention for her tablet woven bookmarks. Lotte was an expert in tablet weaving and an early member of the Oxford Guild of Handloom Weavers, the predecessor of the present Guild.

The Wiltshire Guild produced the last exhibition of the decade. Five Guilds, Avon, Gloucestershire, Oxford[shire], Wiltshire and Worcestershire, participated and it took place in the Village Hall and Manor Room, Lacock from 31st July to 12th August. Oxford had 35 items accepted.

Much of the work in staging the Oxford Exhibitions was undertaken by Maureen Burton and Gladys May. Maureen was a very good organizer and Gladys had a superb eye for colour co-ordination and display. These two were backed-up by a special Exhibition Committee for each event.

One feature which the Guild liked to promote was the participation of school children. Several had displays by local schools and school visits were organised.

After this orgy of exhibiting it is small wonder that the following decade saw a general disillusionment with exhibitions, a questioning of their value against the huge effort involved, and a subsequent fall-off of the number held.

Newsletters

Except for 1980, most of the newsletters for the nineteen-eighties exist. They start out as duplicated A4 sheets, with one, for February 1986, foolscap sized and Banda? copied. The issues from February 1981 [no 1] until February 1987 [no 31] are numbered.

Nearly all these newsletters contained details of forthcoming events, notes about meetings workshops and exhibitions, lists of new members and additions to the library, and occasionally an article unrelated to Guild happenings.

From 1981 to 1987 there were five editors. The first was Rod Owen, who produced from no1 to no4 before he retired from the job through pressure of other work. Maggie Mulvey took over and edited no5 to no16 in a lively, chatty and informative manner. She was followed by Ann Norman who had a short stint in 1984 with no17 to no20. Ann’s contributions were very lively and jokey, but contained rather too much non-Guild chat particularly about the adventures of her sheep. Gertie Beesley followed, producing no21 to no26. The last editor to produce newsletters in this form [no 27 to no 31] was June Kay who was also Treasurer.

By this time the word processor was becoming common and the earliest desktop computers were changing the publishing scene. It suddenly became much easier to produce and reproduce well laid out little booklets. Not as easy as now, the printers were somewhat crude, remember daisy wheels and dot matrix printers?, the word-processing programmes quite limited and illustrations were still a problem, real live cut-and-paste.

The first A5, 12-page, folded and stapled booklet newsletter is dated April 1987. It was edited by Jenny Forder and most of it was written by Sonia Keates who also produced a drawing of a dye plant for the cover. There were similar publications for June and September. With the new format the contents also changed since there was room to expand. April includes not only a list of forthcoming events but information on the next Five Guilds Exhibition and the Annual Council Meeting of the Association, a report on the National Exhibition at York and a short history of the early guild.

The original Guild logo, designed by Jacqueline Crouch, made its first appearance in the June 1987 issue, together with the first small ads. The September issue has write-ups of events and also a plea for some one to take over the production of the Newsletter. The Newsletters for October and December revert to the old A4 form.

The next Newsletter, for February 1988, has a new editor, Gordon Entwisle. Gordon and his wife, Joyce, who were busy at the time converting Grove Mill, was an enthusiastic early computer man. The technology was still a little creaky but the results got progressively better and with them came a noticeably increase in scope of content, more news, more reviews, more chat and a computer-generated pattern on the cover. Gordon continued production until September 1993 when Jacqueline Crouch and her PC took over. There was a huge leap in printed quality.

After just over seventeen years, or longer if you count the Oxford Handloom Weavers Guild, the Oxford Guild had settled down to a regular pattern producing an interesting programme of events each year and an informative newsletter to keep members in touch. Its finances were sound, even if the resources were not vast, and the membership large and mostly enthusiastic, if somewhat unwilling to take on its running. Welcome to the last decade of the twentieth century……..

David Nutt
July 2007

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Appendix One:
Members

1980

The image containing names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Guild’s members for 1980 is not reproduced here.

1985

104 members listed

1989

80 members listed

Appendix Two:
programmes

1980

19th January: AGM and J Phillips on Discovering Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing in Morocco
16th February: B Liebler on Layered Weaving
22nd March: M Beale on Designing in Colour
19th April: Mr & Mrs Randle on The History of the Yorkshire Woollen and Worsted Industry
17th May: Morffydd Roberts on Cloth Finishing
7th June: Mrs Williams on Overshot Weaving
6th July: P Baines a Day’s Course on Wool Sorting
12th July: Jun Tomita on Japanese Kasuri Weaving
13th September: B Beard on Everybody’s doing it….
14th September: Day Course
11th October: Member’s Meeting Bring and Buy
15th November: Theo Morman on Her Work
22nd & 23rd November: J Hinchcliffe Colour Course
13th December: A Kingham

1981

17th January: AGM Rod Owen on Peruvian Textiles
24th January: Roy Russell on Synthetic Dye Systems
25th January: Roy Russell Dyeing Course
28th February: Irene Waller on British & International Weavers’ Work
14th March: E Chadwick on Aspects of Spinning
4th April: E Gladstone on the Greek Summer School
9th May: M Farmer on Rugs and Tapestries
13th June: Kaffe Fasset on Handspun Yarn Knitting
12th September: Skills Meeting
10th October: E Gale on Pattern Drafting
14th November: W Hollist on Spinning
15th November: W Hollist Workshop
12th December: Christmas Meeting

1982

16th January: AGM & A Lodge on Fibres
20th February: Summer School Slides
20th March: M Halsey
24th April: Handing in for Exhibition
11th to 22nd May: Exhibition
12th June: Peter Collingwood on Tablet Weaving
13th June: Peter Collingwood Workshop Tablet Weaving
7th July: Visit to Witney Blanket Mill
11th September; Yak and Yeti on Tibetan Carpet Weaving
18th September: Visit to Kelmscott and Snowshill Manor
3rd October: M Mulvey Day School Warping
16th October: Susan Foster on Weaving: Colour & Texture
13th November: J Buxton on Tapestry Weaving
14th November: J Buxton Day School Tapestry
11th December: Christmas Meeting

1983

15th January: AGM and slides
19th February: Joan Foster on The Cotswold Wool Trade
19th March: Enid Ross on Design for Weaving
20th March: Enid Ross Day School Design
16th April: N Graham on Knitting and Patterns for Handspun
21 May: P Baines on Designing Wool Threads
18th June: R Napier on Vegetable Dyes
16th July: F Walker on Felting
17th July: F Walker Day School Felting
10th September: T Wilcocks on Sheep Grades – Marketing and Selling
15th October: Members’ Meeting
12th November: R Patterson on Spinning a Yarn
10th December: A Stearns on Crochet

1984

21st January: AGM R Martin on Cotswold Woollen Weavers
15th February: D Veale on Colour and Design
17th March: R Wormsley on Weaving Blankets
14th April: M Shuffrey on Navajo Weaving
19th May: G St Aubyn Hubbard on Cloth Finishing and Making up
16th June: M Crompton on Inkle Loom Weaving
17th June: M Crompton Day School on Inkle Loom Weaving
14th July: J Kendal on Restoration of Tapestries at Hatfield House
15th September: S Harry on Colour
20th October: Selection for Exhibition
12th to 24th November: Exhibition
15th December: C Edwards on Spinning Fancy Yarns

1985

19th January: AGM ‘Fibrecrafts’
16th February: R Owen on Japanese Braids
16th March: H Chetwynd on Why Make a Meal of a Warp
20th April: E Chadwick on Spinning Silk and Cotton
18th May: J Kilbride on Church Vestments
May: Exhibition and Sale Bampton Town Hall
15th June: Member of V&A Museum on Spitalfields Silks and French Silk Weaving – 17th to 19th C
20th July: N L Child on Sorting a Fleece
9th to 28th September: Five Guilds Exhibition at Oxford
21st September: D Hill on Woad, Indigo and Associated Dyes & Colours
22nd September: D Hill Day School Woad, Indigo and Associated Dyes & Colours
19th October: M Straub on Ikat Weaving
16th November: C Squire: on Work as Treasurer of AGWSD
14th December: R Martin on Cost of Weaving

1986

18th January: AGM and Exhibition Slides
15th February: P Baines on History of Spinning Tools
15th March: K Glasbrook on Her Work
19th April: A Hecht on Kasuri Weaving
17th May: T Moorman
21st June : Members Activity Day
19th July: R Reade on Turkey and Kilims
20th September: M Ross on Yarn Design
21st September: M Ross Workshop
18th October: E Gladstone on Her Work
17th to 29th November: Exhibition
13th December: E Wensley on Knitting, Finishing Techniques

1987

17th January: AGM Problem Session
21st February: F Nock on Bolivian Weaving Traditions
21st March: W Higgs on The Musk Ox and its ‘Wool’
11th April: S Freeman on Creative Knitting
16th May: S Harris on Silk Spinning
20th June M Gilby on Off Loom Weaving
21st June: M Gilby Day School Off Loom Weaving
18th July: M Woodhead on Coloured Sheep Breeds for Spinning
17th to 29th August: Five Guilds Exhibition at Worcester
19th September: B Cox on From Painting to Weaving
17th October: S Simpson on Rainbow Dyeing
21st November: British Wool Marketing Board
12th December: Wingham Wool Work

1988

23rd January: AGM and E Gladstone on Pictures from the Loom
20th February: M Hitchcock on Introduction to Indonesian Textiles
19th March: W Hollist on The Heart and Soul of Spinning
23rd April: B Beard on Fashion Interpretation with Versatile Inlay
21st May: R Russell on The Russell Dye System
22nd May: R Russell Workshop The Russell Dye System
18th June: H Crosbie on Landscape into Tapestry
23rd July: J Phillips on Rug Weaving
17th September: J Moorhead on Circular Tapestry Weaving
25th September: R Owen Workshop Exploring Peruvian and Japanese Braids
3rd to 15th October: Exhibition
19th November: J & J Shailes on Spinning Fleece from Rare Breads
17th December: Fashion Parade and Christmas Party

1989

21st January: AGM and M Bichard on Baskets around the World
18th February: F Nock on Bolivian Weaving
18th March: F Benton on Designing for Handspinning
15th April: K Garfield-Young on Designing Fabrics for Special Needs
20th May: Members’ Workshops – Weavers and Spinners
17th June: G Dalby on Fast Colours from Natural Dyes
15th July: Mr Carlisle on Early’s of Witney
31st July to 12th August: Five Guilds Exhibition, Laycock
16th September: T Megchild on Creative Knitting and Colour in Textiles
21st October: J Tree on Felt Making
22nd October: J Tree Workshop Felt Making
18th November : A Lodge on Yarns, from Fibres to Finishing
16th December: A Norman on A Sideways Look at Spinning Weaving and Dyeing

 

Note: The meetings were held in the WI Hall, Summertown, Oxford except for 4th May, 9th April and 13th June 1981 when they were in the Bakehouse. Workshops were held at Westminster College.

It is possible that one or two of these meetings did not take place. Where last minute changes to the progamme are known these have been recorded.

Appendix Three:
Committee members
compiled from Programme cards and newsletters

1980

not known

1981

Chairwoman: Kathleen Potter
Vice-chairwoman: Phyl Wager
Secretary: Rod Owen
Treasurer: Gertrude Beesley
Demonstration Sec: Liz Humphries
Courses Sec: Sheila Mattock
Librarian: Margaret MacSwiney
Minutes: Eileen Wynell-Mayow
Committee: Helen Towell
Teas: Maureen Burton

1982

Chairman: Kathleen Potter
Secretary: Eileen Wynell-Mayow
Programme Sec: Sheila Mattock
Treasurer: Gertrude Beesley
Librarian: Jacqueline Crouch
Newsletter: Maggie Mulvey
Committee: Maureen Burton, Margaret MacSwiney, Helen Towell, Phyl Wager

Exhibition Committee 1982

Kathleen Potter, Phyl Wager, Gertrude Beesley, Sheila Mattock, Margaret MacSwiney, Patricia Baines, Jean Davey-Winter, Elizabeth Ryder

1983?

Chairman: Kathleen Potter
Secretary: Eileen Wynell-Mayow
Programme Sec: Sheila Mattock
Treasurer: Gertrude Beesley
Librarian: Jacqueline Crouch
Newsletter: Maggie Mulvey
Committee: Maureen Burton, Helen Towell, plus?

1984

not known

1985

Chairman: Maureen Burton
Secretary: Gladys May
Treasurer: Helen Cambray
Membership Sec: Dinah Clements
Programme Sec: Sheila Mattock
Librarians: –
Newsletter: Gertrude Beesley
Committee: Ann Nutt, Joyce Tovey

1986

Chairman: Maureen Burton
Secretary: Gladys May
Treasurer: Helen Cambray
Membership Sec: Dinah Clements
Programme Sec: Sheila Mattock
Librarians: Eva Exley, Sonia Keates
Committee: Eileen Gladstone, June Kay, Nancy Hulton, Helen Towell

Exhibition Committee 1986

Maureen Burton, Kathleen Potter, Margaret MacSwiney, Gladys May, Sheila Mattock, Maggie Mulvey, June Kay

1987

Chairman: Jenny Forder
Secretary: Gladys May
Treasurer: June Kay
Programme Sec: Sheila Mattock
Librarians: Eva Exley, Sonia Keates
Committee: Eileen Gladstone, Nancy Hulton, Lizzie Cook

1988

Chairman: Jenny Forder
Secretary: Mary Tucker
Treasurer: June Kay
Programme Sec: Brenda Knight
Membership Sec: Lizzie Cook
Librarians: Eva Exley, Sonia Keates
Committee: Eva Exley, Nancy Hulton, Mauricette Mellor, Ann Nutt, Ivy Brooks
Tea Organiser: Mary Jarvis

1989

Chairman: Jenny Forder
V. Chair. & Membership Sec: Lizzie Cook
Secretary: Gladys May
Treasurer: June Kay
Programme Sec: Brenda Knight
Committee: Ann Howatt, Christine Wrigley, Mauricette Mellor, Ann Nutt
Archivist: Ivy Brooks
Librarians: Eva Exley, Sonia Keates
Newsletter Editor: Gordon Entwisle

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With thanks to David Nutt for all his work compiling this information.