NADFAS - National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies |
|||
South West Area |
Covering 23 member societies in
|
This page last updated: |
|
February 2012
Dartmoor DFAS are due to hold their inaugural meeting at the Charter Hall, Okehampton on 8 February. We wish them well. Watch this space for a report.
January 2012
West Cornwall DFAS triumphantly justified our belief that there was a need for a society in the Penzance area when their inaugural meeting on 12 January was attended by 150 members and they now have a significant waiting list! An excellent and well organised meeting was addressed by the National Chairman, Gri Harrison, who also conducted the necessary business to formerly admit the society to NADFAS. The Zennor Building of Penwith College is brand new and the state-of-the-art theatre is an outstanding venue. Their first lecture was given by John Benjamin and was a tour-de-force review of the history of jewellery from Elizabeth the First to Elizabeth Taylor. Highly entertaining and beautifully illustrated, this talk was a first class start for what will, I am sure, be a highly successful society. Liz Woods and her team are to be congratulated on all their hard work in ensuring that everything went off very smoothly. After the lecture, there was wine and cheese straws in the refectory and the buzz of excited conversation bore witness to the feeling of optimism and enthusiasm.
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
December 2011
The winter issue of the NADFAS Review contained a two-page spread 'Focus on the South West Area'. Click here to see it in PDF.
November 2011
Our Area Heritage Volunteer Representative, Dilys Farrant, organised an excellent and very interesting annual meeting for Society Heritage Volunteer Representatives at the amazing new Somerset Heritage Centre in Taunton. After the morning meeting, Dilys had organised a lovely sandwich lunch and then those that could stay had a fascinating tour of the centre with the Somerset Count Archivist. Below is a picture taken in the enormous room dedicated to the storage of pictures.
L to R: Janet Tall (Somerset County Archivist), Samme Charlesworth (West Cornwall DFAS),
Sue Waring (Honiton DFAS), Dilys Farrant (SW Area HV rep and West Somerset DFAS), Valerie Laity (Truro DFAS).
The Area Heritage Volunteers also had their annual meeting on the same day in Bovey Tracy. For further details, click here.
October 2011
We had an excellent and well attended area meeting on the 21st at the Fingle Glen Golf Hotel. Our guests were Nigel Yallop, the National Vice-Chairman and Sue O'Brien, NADFAS Head of Training. After an interesting and lively morning meeting with many questions, we had an excellent buffet lunch. After lunch, there were two seminar sessions from which to chose. One was a discussion of NADFAS programming led by our area trainer, Maggie Biggs and attended by Sue O'Brien. The other was a session on setting up a society website led by Kevin McCarthy, an expert from Surrey who is also a NADFAS member.
September 2011
The exhibitions of the work done by A-level Art students for our Yoiung Arts competition are on exhibition at Trerice Manor and Greenway House this month. The Judging was carried out at Killerton House and the prize giving and exhibition launch was at Buckland Abbey. All four venues were kindly provided by the National Trust. The prize-winners cheques were provided by NADFAS and other prizes were donated by Windsor and Newton and by Photography Monthly.
 |
 |
 |
Prizewinner Nina Giles between her picture and her mum |
Some of the prizes |
A few of the entries |
 |
 |
 |
Chairman of Cornwall Council at opening of the exhibition at Trerice Manor |
The winning entry in the photography section, by Phoebe James |
Judged the art winner at Killerton House |
June 2011
We are currently in negotiation on the formation of two new societies in the South West Area - one in the Okehampton area and one in the Penzance area. Watch this space for further developments.
Awards have now been made in the South West Young Arts photographic competition and the first exhibition will be at Buckland Abbey on 2 September and thereafter at various other centres. More details soon on the Young Arts page.
May 2011
I have just returned from a very successful National AGM at Edinburgh. While there, I heard from Judith Quiney of NADFAS that the 2014 national AGM will be held in Torbay. More details later.
Also during May, the South West tour to Sicily took place. Twenty eight members made a very thorough one-week tour, starting with the Greeks in Eastern Sicily (plus a trip to Reggio Calabria on the mainland to see the Riace Bronzes) and finishing with the Normans in Palermo. In addition to the highlights of the very varied history and archaeology of the island, the group also visited a traditional Sicilian puppet show, which has been defined by UNESCO as a 'part of humanity's oral and intangible heritage'. The tour was so intensive that the group's morning calls were usually at 06.30 every morning and never later than 07.00! The tour was ably organised by for us by Norman Allen Group Travel. Here are a couple of pictures: -
 |
 |
April 2011
One of our best study days yet, The English Parish Church by Andrew Davis, together with a wonderful display of completed Church Records: -
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
November 2010
Another highly successful area study day at Exeter Golf Club. Elizabeth Gordon spoke on Sicily as a prelude to our tour in May 2011.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
October 2010
The completed church record for Cullompton Church was officially handed over in a service on Sunday 31 October. The picture shows the Priest-in-Charge, Edward Hobbs receiving the record from NADFAS SW Area Church Recording Representative, Priscilla Boddington (right) and NADFAS National Chairman, Gri Harrison.
September 2010
Congratulations to North Devon DFAS on their 30th anniversary which was marked by a celebration lunch at the Durrant House Hotel, attended by the National and Area Chairmen of NADFAS and addressed by Sarah Chesters of the RHS Rosemoor Gardens: -
 |
 |
 |
May 2010
NADFAS AGM at Kensington Town Hall on 19 May. More than a 1000 people attended a very interesting and enjoyable event: -
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The successful candidates in the recent trustee elections were introduced. They were : -
Jill Makepeace-Warne (re-elected), Miles Roberts (re-elected), June Robinson
April 2010
Study day at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre. Clare Ford-Wille on 'The History and Development of Landscape Painting'.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
March 2010
The NADFAS Annual Directory Meeting in its new venue of the Royal Horticultural Hall attracts about 800 programme secretaries and other committee members from societies all over the country and abroad to meet nearly all the available NADFAS lecturers. This is the opportunity to assess the lectures on offer and select and book the ones you select for your society.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
February 2010 Theatre regeneration project in Taunton
Members in the Somerset area may be interested in a project to refurbish the old Gaumont building. Project Gaumont believe that the old Gaumont building, which currently houses Mecca Bingo in Corporation Street, is large enough to house a number of attractions in addition to the existing bingo club. These could include:
For more details, go to http://projectgaumont.co.uk/
|
||||
20 November 2009 An excellent South West Area Study Day heard lectures from Christopher Lloyd, NADFAS President and former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures and enjoyed lunch in the comfortable surroundings of Exeter Golf and Country Club: - |
||||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
23 October 2009 The Autumn Meeting at Fingle Glen welcomed society chairmen and many other society committee members. There were more than 50 people to hear interesting talks from Liz Knox, a NADFAS Trustee and Katherine Hill, NADFAS Education Manager. From 12.45 until after 2 pm, there was the opportunity to relax and meet each other over a delicious buffet lunch. Here are a few photographs that give a flavour of the occasion: - |
||||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
24 March 2009 Interesting footnote to our 40th Anniversary event last year
7 March 2009 South West Area Spring Meeting at Fingle Glen Presentation of a Leach Pottery Bowl to the retiring chairman, Angela Gilbert by her successor, Michael Jeans-Jakobsson,
|
||||
|
17 October 2008 Visit to Greenway House 22 members of the area consisting mainly of Society Chairmen & Heritage Volunteer Representatives enjoyed a day looking inside the restored house (with hard hats on!) and also the conservation work on the artefacts being undertaken by volunteers inside the portacabin. Some societies were hopefully inspired to start their own heritage volunteer programme in their own area and local societies to offer volunteers to Greenway in the future. |
||||
 |
 |
|||
| Half the group outside Greenway House. Most had taken off their hats to hand to the other group. In the centre Robyn Brown, NT Property Manager who showed us round. |
The second group donning their hard hats and jackets |
|||
17 July 2008 Cothay Re-visited |
|
A "gaggle" of Nadfas SW Area Society Chairmen were invited to a special garden party at Cothay Manor near Wellington in Somerset on the 17th July. This was being filmed as part of a new channel 4 documentary called "Country House Rescue" which will follow the fortunes of stately British homes as the owners seek to diversify and raise the revenue they need to survive the 21st century. Apart from potential tours from Nadfas groups, it is expected that local societies will arrange study days there and also encourage potential heritage volunteer projects. |
 |
|
Pictured as well as two actresses in costume were from second left: Mrs Shirley Purves, Chairman of Sidmouth DFAS; Mrs Angela Gilbert, Nadfas SW Area Chairman, Mrs Sue Herniman, Chairman of Tiverton DFAS, Mrs Monica Collinson, Mr Alan Collinson, Chairman of North Somerset DFAS, Patricia Davies-Gilbert, Neroche DFAS member and heritage volunteer, also Somerset Gardens Scheme; Mrs Caroyn Davies, Chairman of Exe DFAS NB Please note Carolyn's discarded hat on the dog statue! The documentary series is set to be shown on TV late this autumn (probably October) on Sunday evenings, where you may well see some of the above! |
|
|
|
June 2008 Area Tour to Derbyshire Thirty five members, spread from as far afield as Falmouth in the West and and Bude in the North, all from the South West area enjoyed five days in Derbyshire visiting the contrasting properties of Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Eyam Hall, Hardwick Hall and Shugborough on the way home. The scenery was spectacular, and the Blue Guide even showed everyone where to buy the original Bakewell puddings in Bakewell! |
|
Chatsworth |
|||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Chatsworth |
Lady with the veil |
Chatworth's Lupin Garden | Emperor fountain |
|
Haddon Hall |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
Nadfas SW Area Group at Haddon Hall |
C15 Fresco of St Nicholas calming the storm (chapel) |
Haddon Hall Garden outside the Long Gallery |
|
Eyam Hall & Hardwick Hall |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
Eyam Hall Knot Garden |
Hardwick Hall |
Hardwick Hall herb garden |
|
May 2008 Nadfas South West Area Event An exciting event to mark the 40th Anniversary of Nadfas 2008 was organised. It was held on May Day (May 1st) 2008 at Exmouth Pavilion. 300 Nadfas members, friends and non members attended for a morning of Antiques Evaluation with Lars Tharp and Jon Baddeley from the BBC Antiques Roadshow, together with Gale Glynn, an English heraldic silver expert, also Tim Kent, a well known author on silver and four experts from Bearne's, being Richard Bearne, Martin Scadgell, Andrew Thomas and Diana Wilkinson. |
|||
|
Evaluations took place in the morning |
|||
 |
|
|
|
|
Martin Scadgell, Bearne's Picture Expert giving an appraisal |
|
Gale Glynn, Silver Expert with Tim Kent (right) examining a piece of silver brought in |
Jon Baddeley examining a small collector's item. |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Christopher Lloyd, Nadfas President, gave an opinion on one picture brought in showing Hampton Court. |
Lars Tharp examining a Chinese Decorated Bowl made in Japan |
Diana Wilkinson of Bearne's (on the right) giving advice on pieces of jewellery brought in |
|
|
The event was opened by Christopher Lloyd, CVO, the President of Nadfas, an expert who was Assistant Keeper (Department of Western Art) at the Ashmolean Museum Oxford, and Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures from 1988 until 2005. |
 |
||
|
He also cut the Celebration Cake, which was made by students from South Devon College, Paignton as part of their Patisserie Course, with the help of tutor, chef Carol Schnegg. |
||
 |
 |
 |
| Patisserie Students with Carol Schnegg put the finishing touches on the Nadfas Anniversary cake | Christopher Lloyd, President of Nadfas cuts the anniversary cake at the event. |
The Anniversary Cake |
|
A Medley Study afternoon followed the buffet lunch, the experts wandering around the tables of attendees and talking about some exciting objects of interest that had been brought in. Lars Tharp found an early Tureen from the Bow factory, while Jon Baddeley found the only example of Scrimshaw from the second voyage of Darwin's Beagle. |
||
|
The Study Afternoon |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
The Study Afternoon was enjoyed by all! |
Gale Glynn gave an interesting talk |
Lars Tharp kept his audience interested and amused |
 |
||
|
Gale Glynn, Silver Expert; Jon Baddeley, Collectables Expert; Angela Gilbert, SW Area Chairman; Diana Wilkinson, Bearne's; Tim Kent, Silver Expert |
||
|
The Pavilion Foyer |
||
 |
 |
|
|
Church Recording boards with a church record displayed |
Society Information and Young Arts Boards with Michael Jeans-Jakobsson, SW Area Vice-Chairman |
South West Area Projects |
|
The foyer was transformed with boards representing all the Volunteer activities within the area and also a Societies Board, for the benefit of members and non members. The latter were given a pack with information about Nadfas, a current copy of the Review and Volunteering supplement. It is hoped that many of the thirty non members will have decided to join. The surplus from the event supported art work for the new guide book at the restored Leach Pottery (see below) at St. Ives in Cornwall. |
||
|
January 2008 Nadfas South West Area Project supports Refurbished Leach Pottery at St Ives, Cornwall A cheque for £1,000 was presented on behalf of Nadfas and Nadfas South West Area by Mrs Angela Gilbert, Nadfas SW Area Chairman to the Leach Pottery to support art work for a new guide book. The pottery is to re-open in March after major refurbishment. £500 from the South West Area (underwritten by Nadfas) was raised from profits from the 40th Anniversary Antiques event on May 1st. Jack Doherty has been appointed as the Potter in Residence, and has been preparing the porcelain clay for throwing pots ready for the re-opening of the Pottery. He was persuaded to throw the historic first pot on 22 January 2008, after a thirty year gap in the Pottery's production. |
||
|
|
|
|
|
Jack Doherty throws the first pot |
The pot starts to take shape |
Ready for firing in the new kiln |
|
|
|
|
|
Part of The Old Leach Pottery buildings |
The new buildings blend in well with the old |
Jack Doherty accepting the cheque in front of the old kilns from Mrs Angela Gilbert, SW Area Chairman |
Website design: Michael Jeans-Jakobsson © 2012 NADFAS SW Area Committee
