In May a group
from East Surrey Area travelled to Liverpool, the 2008
European Capital of Culture to attend the NADFAS AGM Conference
and 40th Anniversary Celebrations.
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During our journey North, we
visited Baddesley Clinton, a romantic and atmospheric moated
manor house, dating from the 15c and little changed since
1634; the interiors and priest’s holes reflect the
Elizabethan era, when it was a haven for persecuted Catholics.
We then continued to Liverpool and our hotel at Albert
Dock. |
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On our second day we made the short journey to Salford
Quays and our first stop was at the Imperial War Museum North.
This award-winning building by international architect Daniel
Libeskind symbolises our world torn apart by conflict. The
focus is on people and their stories, about how lives have
been and still are shaped by war and conflict and a sense
of this disorientation has been designed into the building.
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A footbridge across the Manchester Ship Canal leads to
the Lowry Centre. There we were given a fascinating tour
of the Lowry collection by the Gallery Interpreter, Sean
Caherty. As an added bonus, there was an exhibition
of paintings by Laura Knight, a member of the Newlyn
School of art, famous for capturing the world of London's
theatreland, ballet and the circus, and the first woman artist
to be made a Dame of the British Empire.
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On 13th May proceedings began
in the morning with an open lecture given by our President
Christopher Lloyd CVO. During the lecture: Sir Thomas Lawrence
and the Birth of the Celebrity Portrait, Christopher explored
the career of the Regency portraitist with particular reference
to a portrait of Elizabeth Farren, second wife of the 12th
Earl of Derby who lived at nearby Knowsley Hall. Following
the lecture, NADFAS House staff and Volunteers were on hand to give information
about NADFAS' grant-giving, the work of the New Societies Team and to display
this year's winning Media Award entries.
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For those not attending the NADFAS lecture, the destination
was Dunham Massey in Cheshire. This country estate contains
one of Britain’s most sumptuous Edwardian interiors,
housing exceptional collections of paintings and Huguenot
silver. The beautiful weather enabled us to see the superb
gardens at their best. |
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That evening was the NADFAS celebration dinner at the Adelphi
Hotel, with the opportunity to catch up with friends from
other Areas and Societies. After the meal, there was a most
entertaining speech from the broadcaster Gillian Reynolds
MBE on her home town of Liverpool.
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The 14th May was a busy day combining
40th Anniversary celebrations with the business of the AGM.
The morning showcased the work of NADFAS volunteers and NADFAS’ grant
giving and previewed the book, Behind the Acanthus: The NADFAS
Story. Events were concluded with an Anniversary cake- cutting
ceremony performed by the National Chairman, Susan Sellers
and our patron HRH, The Duchess of Gloucester who had been
present for the morning.
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During lunch there was the opportunity
for members to browse the NADFAS stands which highlighted
the great work being carried out by volunteers in Church
Recording, Heritage Volunteering and Young Arts. After lunch
the formal business of the AGM began with presentations of
the new NADFAS stick pin to past National Chairmen followed
by the presentation of the 2008 Media Aware prizes.
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| No trip to Liverpool would be complete without taking a
ferry across the Mersey and some of our members did just
that with an evening cruise once the business of the day
was concluded. |
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| For the following day, Volunteers from North West Area
had arranged a selection of interesting events for members,
including visits to Liverpool’s two cathedrals, a trip
to Port Sunlight, Burne-Jones’ windows at All Hallows
Church, Knowsley Hall and a coach tour taking in many of
the City of Culture’s architectural highlights. |
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| On Friday, it was time for our
return journey to Surrey. In true NADFAS spirit, we made
the most of every minute and included a visit to Coughton
Court in Warwickshire. Coughton Court is one of England’s
finest Tudor houses and contains superb collections of paintings,
furniture and porcelain. Within the grounds are a walled
garden and two churches with fascinating connections with
the Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Everyone agreed that our 40th Anniversary celebrations
had done NADFAS proud and were in keeping with our founder
Patricia Fay’s motto that NADFAS should be fun!
June Robinson |
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