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From the principal
This term and year is going well. I’m delighted that the number of people participating in Guild activities has continued to grow during these post-pandemic years. Whilst the charity will always face new challenges; it’s great that we now have a feeling of normality. I am always delighted to see faces, old and new, happily engaged in their chosen Guild activity. The half-term holiday is now here and the weather forecast for the bank holiday weekend is a good one; fingers crossed that this is the beginning of a fab summer.
I hope that with an improvement in the weather more people will opt to walk or cycle to the Guild, we have a cycle rack near the rear entrance. I understand that some people have to drive to the Guild and we have three dedicated disabled parking bays for those who need them. If you are unable to find a space in the Guild’s carpark, we recommend that you use a local public one; Spring Street carpark operated by Cheshire East Council is the nearest. Some local residents have been complaining about inconsiderate on-street parking, whilst I’m sure that this isn’t caused by Guild participants, please park considerately wherever that may be.
We have a wonderful programme arranged for September onwards. The new prospectus will have an ‘at a glance’ guide and full details of what’s on will be on the website; please remember places are always allocated on a first-to-book basis.
I look forward to seeing you after a relaxing break.
Bookings for next term open 5 June
Discount available online only between Wednesday 5 June and Wednesday 31 July 2024
Use promo code GUILD2024 at the checkout
Artwork Inspired by Lindow Moss at the Guild
We have a sequence of really exciting art exhibitions taking place after Easter and into the autumn term. They are designed as a series of work inspired by Lindow Moss to celebrate the natural beauty of the landscape.
The first exhibition will take place from 3 June to 12 July in the community cafe
Art work designed by our talented contemporary textiles, jewellery & calligraphy and lettering students, you're all invited to join us for the opening night.
Hannah’s jewellers join forces with other creative classes celebrating 40 years since the discovery of the Lindow Man “Pete”. We welcome our local community to support and meet our students on Friday 7th June 6:30-9:30pm to see our jewellery Influenced from wandering Lindow Common, looking at nature and the terrain to inspire our jewellery and metalwork.
Researching and exploring primitive metalworking techniques from the Iron Age period has been an exciting collaborative brief. Enjoying
folding, forging and forming metals in our workshop, experimenting with textures to develop an array of fold formed leaves, copper cuffs and penannulars. Students have incorporated these experiments into their jewellery inspired by the Iron Age Era.
Some work will be for sale to support our students learning program and the Guilds funds.
Hannah will be hosting workshops introducing our local community to some of these primitive metalworking techniques, crafting pieces of jewellery in the Guild's metal workshop.
Calligraphy and Lettering. Using lettering in an ‘inspired-by’ context had already proved to be successful with the cross-curriculum theme on ‘Honesty’. Working with a theme encourages much deeper thinking about how to represent a subject in a design using lettering as the main medium.
The Lindow project was particularly challenging because it precedes written traditions. As calligraphy is linked to language, it proved difficult to find something to write.
The body had been in the Moss for some 2000 years, and as he was extensively studied and analysed since being discovered in 1984, with even his face re-constructed, anything written about him is subject to copyright.
So, while our starting point may be text, we also need an appropriate style for the writing. While there is an extensive choice of formal calligraphic scripts, none were going to be visually in tune with this subject or the ecology of Lindow Moss. We set about designing a script, based on the freedom of an Italic hand, but the ascenders and descenders are exaggerated to resemble the tall grasses found at Lindow and the underlying shapes to suggest leaf litter.
In 2007 Lindow man had returned to the Manchester Museum. Part of his welcome ritual, led by ‘Gordon the Toad’, was the opportunity to leave offerings, and one of the offerings was a poem written by Gordon, and displayed as a small hand-made book. (Read more about it here: Lindow Man in Manchester : On Display – Honouring the Ancient Dead). Google led us to Gordon the Toad, aka environmentalist Gordon MacLellan: (Read about Gordon here: Who is Creeping Toad? | Creeping Toad).
Gordon was unhesitating in
giving his consent and ‘delighted’ that we wanted to use his poem.
Finally, we had our script, and we had our words.
A totem would symbolise the enduring mystery and humanity of this man through the medium of Gordon’s poem. A well-timed meeting with Anna Riordan at Safeguarding, led to Anna ‘volunteering’ to make the totem from a garden centre sleeper and the idea finally became a reality.
The poem was divided between the students who were attending in the spring. Our paper was treated with a rich, brown ink made from crushed walnuts; the sleeper was also painted with the same ink. All the edges of the paper for the individual verses were torn and blackened with an ink pad, pinned to the sleeper, and linked together with criss-cross pieces of calfskin, painted with green/brown ink.
We have other, individual exhibits, separate from the totem, which share the same ethos.
The aim throughout has been to honour and respect this unknown man who suffered such a brutal end, more fitting than being on public view in a glass case. I am pleased to say that the calligraphy group have achieved that, with many thanks to Gordon the Toad and Anna.
Calligraphy at the Guild Images
The new members of our group embraced the Lindow theme with enthusiasm. This sample is by Sara Gledhill.
Submissions Invited from Artists and Makers
Original 2D and 3D work in any medium
Deadline 23 August 2024
Email: gallery@guildlifelonglearning.org for more information
Click HERE for the guidelines
Friends of Lindow Moss
We would like to invite you to please Save the Date of 20th June from 7pm-9pm for a visit to Lindow Moss to see the new outdoor Art Trail - Window on Lindow.
Featuring work by artists Phil Barton, Liz Ellis, Juliette Hamilton, Rupert Randall and Steve Sutton, the trail will be available to view at Lindow Moss over the summer.
To find out more and join the Discover Lindow mailing list click HERE
Shout out for photographers to document the Window on Lindow Art Trail.
Click here to see the design Brief
At Death Cafe people talk about death over tea and cake.
"Went to my first Death Cafe last week......fascinating discussion. Will go again"
A death cafe is a non for profit organisation.
Our charitable partnerships are important to us.
Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank Co-op Fairtrade coffee morning at the Guild went off a storm this month. To quote Chair Wendy Hobson: "Permission to eat cake for breakfast
🍰🎂🧁 granted!! " 😀
Thank you to everyone that came along to support the cause, donate raffle prizes and volunteer their time. BN raised in the region of £750 to support people living in hygiene poverty because no one should have to choose between basic necessities.
Save the date
Our Festival of Writing is back for another celebration of storytelling, creativity and the written word!
It promises to be a fun-filled day you won't want to miss with author talks, writing workshops, performances, activities for kids and adults, book sales and more!
Whether you're a passionate writer, avid reader or just love a good story, the Festival of Writing has something for everyone. There's even a food and bar service available throughout the day!
Details are being finalised about our incredible lineup of events and guests, when this page will be updated.
And don't forget to follow our dedicated Festival social pages on
Wilmslow Festival of Writing on Facebook or
Wilmslow Festival of Writing on Insta to get our latest updates.
See you on 6th July!
For your diary
Summer school jewellery classes throughout July and August
Summer jewellery classes are ideal for beginners to explore jewellery making with smaller class sizes. You may choose to make a complete piece during the 3 hour session such as a pendant or ring. If you are familiar with the workshop you might decide to learn how to combine techniques such as chainmaking and setting alongside your current project.
Booking for these classes will be available from 5 June
Social Group for those with memory loss and their carers
Wednesday 5th June and 3th July
A safe and supportive monthly afternoon activity for people living with dementia and their carers. It’s a chance for carers and family to meet new friends in similar situations for company and a chat. There is no fee to join us however it would be fantastic if you could let us know you plan to attend so we can plan the catering. Also, if anyone would like to volunteer their time to help support this activity, please contact Ali in the office
Information info@guildlifelonglearning.org
T- 01625 523903
Guildlifelonglearning.org
This is a great opportunity to see some really exciting and varied drama from all over the North West. Groups are limited to a maximum of 45 minutes and each evening has several different plays on.
Each evening is concluded by a verbal adjudication by our adjudicator.
Tickets at wgp.org
Weather For Beginners
Thursday 27 June
This one-day course will be especially valuable for those who are intending to study Extreme Weather events in the British Isles which commences in the autumn Term. The course will concentrate on the basics of meteorology. It will take the form of a series of small lectures with breaks in between.
For more information on the topics discussed click HERE
German Language Over Breakfast For Beginners
Guten Morgen! We are thrilled to invite you to our brand-new German conversation and continental breakfast event for beginners. Join us on Saturday 13th July for three hours of linguistic exploration and cultural immersion.
Click HERE for more information
Latin for Beginners
“Salvete omnes!” Have you ever wanted to learn Latin? Are you curious about the meanings of Latin words we see around us in everyday life?
Come and join us on Saturday 15th June as we dive into the beautiful language of the Ancient Romans, learning to speak, read and write Latin “ab initio” (from the beginning)
We’ll make countless connections between Latin and its derivatives in everyday English: Latin is all around us, and we’ll find out some of the fascinating ways in which we still encounter it in our daily lives. You already know a lot more Latin than you think you do!
This Day School provides a taster of the “Latin for Beginners” course starting in September at the Guild; everyone is extremely welcome.
Valete omnes!
Click HERE for booking information
Life-drawing: Two-model half-day class
Tuesday 2 July 1.30pm - 4pm
This is a very special life-drawing session! We have two models who will make poses in reference to each other. Our models are a married couple who both independently have modelling experience. Their poses they will subtly visualise themes to do with communication and situations between people and places.
Community course
Emergency First Aid at Work (1-day/6hrs) GFLL Community Course
Next course Saturday 22 June at 10am
Fee: £20.00 per person
Approved by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB) this is a 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work training course. It consists of 6 classroom hours with a mixture of theory, individual and group work, and practical sessions. No prior knowledge or experience of first aid is required.
We'd like to extent our warmest thanks to the following contributors:
Gardening Club, Plant Sale
This year's Plant Sale was an amazing success and raised a whopping £1,117.80, a record. A very big thank you to everyone who helped either by donating plants, helping on the day or buying plants.
Particular thanks must of course go to Eileen who organised the event and worked so hard both in the planning and on the day.
Mia's Jewellery Students
With the help of Mia's resin jewellery making fundraiser plus her students selling their handmade pieces, the target of £600 to raise funds for a new workshop torch was quickly reached and torch purchased. Thank you everyone.
Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund
Thanks to the funding we have received from Manchester Airport community trust fund, we can provide increased functional space for our social activities.
The activities that will benefit this summer include:
Quilting Group
Life Drawing classes and events
Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank coffee morning and Give a Smile campaigns
Gallery at the Guild public exhibitions
#DeathCafe
Floral Design Club
Art Classes
Plus many many more into the future
Thank you for supporting our mission to advance education with the aim to connect people and limit social isolation within our local community.
Concetta El-Badri
Thank you very much to Connie for selecting us as her charity partner this month.
Connie, a skilled florist and the founder of @flowery.viibes in Cheshire, beautifully captured the exquisite sustainable floral pop-up in collaboration with the Department of Floristry and Floral Art at Myerscough College & University Centre.
Isn't her work simply stunning?
The Guild goes far – by Janine Turner
When I set up my German film club on a Monday evening, I like to allow myself time to slip downstairs and look at the sparkling cabinets of jewellery. I often treat myself to earrings.
For several years now, I have been learning the Russian language. This began with a request from a Russian lady to teach her English. We decided that, in lieu of payment, she would teach me Russian. In the lockdowns, I met Elena every morning at 10.30, including weekends via WhatsApp or Zoom. We got the hang of the mute button very rapidly.
Elena then referred me to her friend Tanya in Moscow, and so Tanya and I met every Monday and Wednesday evening. We three are good, good friends, despite war.
It was Tanya’s birthday recently and Elena had to return to Moscow to sort her pension. I thought of the sparkling cabinet at the Guild. Ali helped me choose a pretty necklace and soon it was wending its way across the Customs of Uzbekistan then Russia – in Elena’s suitcase.
Tanya got her Guild Gift on her birthday, and she is delighted!
Jan
Look who turned up in the @britishsewingbee this year! One of our fabulous Guild silversmithing students, Luke @sewlukeivo
Wishing you all the very best on your exciting journey.
"This is a bit exciting! Absolutely buzzin’ to be a Bee 🐝" - Luke
