THE meeting on Tuesday, April 1, was well attended and we were pleased to welcome three visitors, Joyce, Margaret and Sue.

Mrs Ann Hardy gave a talk about how she became a theatrical costumier and all that the job involved.

She told how she had grown up in Stratford, London, and always wanted to be a dressmaker.

She first took a job at Marshall and Snelgrove in Oxford Street, and served a four year apprenticeship to become an in-store costumier.

Debenhams took the store over and Ann was reduced to doing alterations, so she moved on and found a position with Nathans, who supplied garments for all the major film and stage productions of the time.

In 1790, the first Mr Nathan had started out as a tailor, supplying bespoke garments to the likes of Charles Dickens, who loved the theatre and would often appear in amateur productions.

Nathans also supplied fancy dress costumes and their clientele included members of the royal family.

As well as copies of a number of handwritten letters from Charles Dickens and some screen legends, Ann had brought along a number of photographs, including one of the then Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, dressed for one of the family pantomimes they used to perform at Windsor.

She told us how the garments were produced, from the initial sketch and choice of fabric to their final appearance in a production, and how they were subsequently locked away for safety.

Nathans produced hundred percent historically correct garments based on considerable research.

The company was later taken over by their rivals, Bermans, and more recently by Angels Costumiers.

As well as telling us about some of the costumes on which she had worked, Ann also told us a little bit about the stars for whom they had been made and those she had actually been fortunate enough to meet.

She also told us about some of the techniques used to make a garment look old or worn, and how lace was often dyed with tea or coffee to make it look antique.

Ann had clearly thoroughly enjoyed her work and, although it had been poorly paid she would not have missed it for the world.

Her talk was extremely interesting and entertaining and all agreed that it had got the year off to an excellent start.

The next meeting will be at 2pm on Tuesday, May 6, when Ian Unwin, consultant at Mayflower Nursery, is coming to give a gardening talk and will be bringing with him a selection of plants for members to purchase.

SCHOOL HOUSE ARTS

DON'T forget! This Saturday, April 19, you are invited to the launch of the exciting community arts project in the village hall from noon until 3pm.

Sign up for the workshops - full details will be available. There will be work by local artists for sale, also materials will be on sale.

Go along and meet the tutors and tell them what you would like.

This is a community project so they do want your ideas.

Refreshments will be served.

For more details, please give Margaret Garrood a ring on 01621 740656.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

FAMILY Communion Service on Sunday, April 20, at 10am.