Vintage Fashion
History Group, December 4th 2019
Our members enjoyed a talk and presentation about vintage fashion by Joanne Massey.
Joanne says her obsession with the 1950s began as a teenager, when she loved to watch old movies. Joanne and her husband, Kevin enjoy living in the past in a recreation of a 1950’s home near Rugeley. Joanne shared her memories of her friendship with Lady Bagot of Blithfield Hall, who gave her some of her handbags from Harrods. The vintage collection included evening wear, knitwear, day dresses, a stunning dressing gown, with shawl collar, coats, jackets, gaberdine suits and six pairs of superb leather shoes which were stored in a vintage suitcase with separate compartments. Many of the garments were purchased in the USA. Others were sourced from the internet and charity shops. Joanne shared her stories and her passion for vintage fashion with enthusiasm. We were remided of the superior quality of vintage garments, unlike the unethical, short lived, poorly made clothing and accessories on sale today.
Our new venture, A film screening event
On Saturday 23rd. November, many of our members and their friends were transported from a very wet Stafford to sunny Maastricht, in the Netherlands. We enjoyed our first film screening event in our village hall. After a few technical hitches, (the screen would not fit on our stage and the heat from the projector set off the fire alarm) the 2019 concert of André Rieu and his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra commenced on time at 2.00 pm. As always, Andre’s concert was full of surprises, including a lively finale by the disco group, The Village People! A handful of members left their seats to dance and sing along to YMCA. All in all, a memorable and fun afternoon.
Thanks to John (Reels on Wheels) for his patience in setting up the equipment and showing the film.
Congratulations to the Bowlers!
I am delighted to announce that the Bowlers raised £444.00 for Staffs Wildlife Trust at their Tea/Coffee Morning. Well done everyone!
Pam Ewan (left) and Anne Mace (right) presented the cheque to Denise Gould.
Welcome to your new Committee Member, Tim Gray
Fundraising
At the Annual General Meeting on October 21st. members voted for the following four Charities:
- The Monthly Alzheimer’s Support Evening ( MASE) http://themasegroup.org/
- Midlands Air Ambulance https://www.midlandsairambulance.com/
- Katharine House https://www.khhospice.org.uk/
- The Donna Louise https://www.thedonnalouise.org/
30th Anniversary
30th Anniversary Celebration Lunch
Brocton Hall Golf Club, 8.3.2019
Please click on photos to enlarge
Photo credits: Peter Randall, Jim Bergin, Rose Gwilt, Ian James
Charity Christmas Concert December, 15th. December 2018
Many thanks to Jeremy Wheeler, who organised a Christmas Concert by THE STAFFORD ORCHESTRA.
Thank you to Jean Martin
THURSDAY Indoor Bowling Group:
Jean Martin has been providing the Thursday Indoor Bowlers with a good selection of refreshments over the past 6 years.
To mark her achievements the Bowlers presented her with Flowers, Chocolates and Card signed by all her friends. Being a very competitive Bowler Jean is remaining with the group.
Thanks for everything Jean, we all wish you a long and happy ‘retirement’ from the Kitchen.
In honour of this event, Jean requested that a percentage of surplus refreshment funds, carried forward from previous years, be donated to the deserving Donna Louise Charity, with the balance being used for the groups Christmas Raffle.
Alan Green. Group Leader
Donna Louise Charity Coffee Morning, October 19th. 2018
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ROYAL CROWN DERBY – TUESDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2019
ROYAL CROWN DERBY – TUESDAY 26th FEBRUARY 2019
In the morning we have a tour of the factory to discover how each item of English fine bone china is made and see how the artisans create the beautiful pieces that are cherished throughout the world. See the full journey that the wares take from clay to the final gilded products. We then visit the visitor centre and museum with an exhibition showing some of the earliest and rarest pieces produced in Derby history and the most comprehensive collection of Derby Porcelain to be seen anywhere in the world. Lunch in the 1750 Tea Room will consist of a selection of freshly made sandwiches, assorted mini quiche, sausage rolls and spicy potato wedges or chips; fresh fruit scones served with jam and clotted cream, a selection of cakes, tea or coffee. After lunch visit the shop, which offers a selection of best quality and slightly imperfect tableware patterns covering classic to contemporary designs, giftware, commemoratives, and a range of paperweights, all with 10% discount.
Singing for Pleasure
Good news!
Please see the following message from Janet Palmer.
Len Westwood-Originator of Phoenix
Many thanks to Bob Jenkins and Jim Bergin for the following documents.
Please click to enlarge
Outing to Rockingham Castle, August 2018
Many thanks to Jim Bergin for the photographs.
Please click to enlarge
WARNERS Holiday, CRICKET ST. THOMAS, MAY 2018
Thanks to Jim Bergin for the following photographs.
Click to enlarge
Pat has arranged a holiday at WARNERS NIDD HALL HOTEL, a grade 11 listed mansion in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, yet only a few minutes from Harrogate.
WATCH THIS SPACE…..FULL DETAILS WILL BE POSTED SOON.
Leisure Club included with your stay:
- Use of our NEW Fresh-Air Fitness
- Indoor heated swimming pool (towels provided)
- Ice cold plunge pool
- Steam room and sauna
- Hot spa pool
- Fully equipped fitness studio
- Aqua fit sessions
Full details and booking form will be included in the AUGUST edition of your PHOENIX Newsletter.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Coffee Morning on April 24th.
The amount raised in the raffle was £87, which has been donated to one of our chosen charities,
Katharine House Hospice
Jeremy Wheeler welcomes members to the Coffee Morning (above)
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Blue John Cavern, April 25th. 2018
David Barker organised an outing to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet and Blue John Cavern on April 25th. 2018.
Please click on individual photos to enlarge
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is a unique eighteenth century industrial works. Catch a glimpse of life at home and at work at a rural scythe and steelworks dating back to the 18th century.
Abbeydale Works was once a producer of agricultural tools and the largest water-powered industrial site on the River Sheaf. It is now a group of Grade I and Grade II listed buildings and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
See the Manager’s House and Worker’s Cottage, waterwheels, workshops, tilt hammers, a grinding hull, steam engine and the last complete surviving crucible steel furnance in the UK!
Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet has been restored and transformed following a 3 year £1million Heritage Lottery Funded restoration project completed in 2016.
The new gallery tells the story behind the works, its people and their working lives.
The world famous Blue John Cavern in Castleton in the Peak District has been said to be the finest that can be seen by the general public in Western Europe.
Many of our members enjoyed an outing to the charming town of Uppingham and Rockingham Castle, on Wednesday August 1st 2018.
Many thanks to Jim Bergin for the photographs in the following slideshow.
Date for your diary: Outing to Masson Mills, Tuesday September 18th 2018
Pat Wilkinson arranged an outing to
Sir Richard Arkwright’s MASSON MILLS, followed by a visit to Carsington Water
Masson Mills Working Textile Museum
Masson Mills house a fascinating collection of authentic historic textile machinery dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In 2010 the collection was described as “possibly the UK’s finest collection of working textile machines” and includes machinery originally from Masson Mills, along with a large collection of other items and artefacts from textile mills all over Britain.
Masson Mills Weaving Shed
Masson Mills Shopping Village really is a unique shopping experience with sixty different retail concepts set over five floors, all under one roof. – with designer clothes, jewellery, lingerie, golf, gifts, beer, whisky and food, ladies and men’s clothing from The Edinburgh Woollen Mill and much more. ‘City centre shopping without the city’ The shopping village adjoins Masson Mills Working Textile Museum.
Zumba Gold activity group closed to new members
Our Zumba GOLD Activity group is full to capacity, so I am unable to welcome NEW members at the moment. If you would like me to add your name to the waiting list, please contact me.
Rose Gwilt
Outing to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet now SOLD OUT
The outing to Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet is now SOLD OUT
If you would like your name to be added to the waiting list, please contact David Barker