North Mundham – many, many thanks

Our Advanced Members’ Exhibition returned to North Mundham with style and humour last weekend, and many many thanks are due to everyone who made it once again so successful.

Sarah Nichol and all the catering volunteers kept us fed and watered, and Chris Worsley and her SWAT team made an excellent job of the Saturday evening catering. Mike Harris with Andy Dulson and Brian ‘The Van’ Muir with all the strong arm team had us set up and cleared away brilliantly, while the Dynamic Preece Duo – Margret and Caroline – did wonders with the Print Raffle. Not many visitors slipped in past Lynne Owen and Carmel Lynch on the tombola table, and Jeff Owen and John Bradshaw ran a wonderful changing schedule of AVs, both moving and amusing including a special tribute to Graham Sergeant. Jeff of course also does all the background technical magic with the PDI show, and Viven Ruddock looked after all the publicity. Given our three year break and an almost completely new cast it all ran very smoothly and many grateful thanks to the team and to all the volunteers and helpers.

Of course the success of the exhibition depends too on the exhibitors, all 33 of you this year and there was a fine variety of exhibits with a good number of newer members taking part for the first time. The opportunity this provides to see more creative work, to admire other members’ work and the chance simply to sit and chat is special. The part everyone plays and the sense of camaraderie goes a long way in making this such an enjoyable and well regarded exhibition. With sudden ill health for some exhibitors, others swiftly rallied round to collect, set up and return their exhibits, and all those donations of prints, of cakes, of tombola prizes and of time are much appreciated. It was good to be back with a strong base to pick up again post-pandemic – congratulations and thanks all round.

The featured image is by Lorna Brown