WD50+

18th August 2011

Good News!! The Club has won and award from the Big Lottery Fund (Awards for All) that will pay for the hire of
the hall and Instructor Fees for a year, plus a little bit over for purchase of new equipment and some advertising.
We are very grateful and hope that more people will come along on Fridays to take part and enjoy the Club
activities.

Our excellent Instructor in Clare Smith, takes a great interest in us all and is very good at adapting where
necessary the exercises to meet individual needs and abilities, and at the same time, Clare encourages us all to
do that little bit more, so that at the end of a session, we feel we really have achieved something! Then it’s time
for a nice cup of tea and a biscuit!
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On the social front, we had an afternoon Outing to the Gibberd Garden in Sheering very recently that everyone
enjoyed. Despite a showery beginning, we were shown around the parts of the garden nearest the house and
admired the many varied and beautiful sculptures set amongst the lawns and shrubs. The Gibberd Garden
featured in the BBC Series `Hidden Gardens’ a few years ago and remains a favourite with Chris Beardsall and Jo
Swift (from Garden’s World). The GG Trust have made enormous improvements since they took over running the
Garden some 15 years ago, and quite recently were able to open part of the house, restored with many of the
original furnishings, as it was when Sir Frederick Gibberd lived there with his family. Our Guide, Jenny, was very
informative and included a brief history of the Garden and the life of Sir Frederick Gibberd, architect of Harlow
New Town. He also designed the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool – affectionately known as `Paddy’s
Wigwam’ – and was himself a graduate of Liverpool University. He was also a great collector of water colour
paintings by young British artists, and these are now housed in the Gibberd Gallery in Harlow (by the Water
Gardens). Well worth a visit.

The sun came out as we were in the Café enjoying delicious scones with cream and jam and lots of cups of tea,
and we were able to see more of the garden bathed in glorious sunshine. Sir Frederick was a great recycler, and
acquired a number of bits of buildings that were being demolished and re-housed them in just the right spot in his
garden. Often he created areas in the garden to set off sculptures in the best way – a notable one being
`Lucinda’ a lovely young girl, sparkling white amongst the greenery all around her – and Queen Victoria looking
suitably `amused’ from her spot on a wall made using lots of wine bottles – another recycling idea! There is also
a lovely Fort on a mound surrounded by a moat, complete with drawbridge, that Sir Frederick designed for his
children. Just great for children to play on – and us oldies too! It was a good afternoon out, so we are looking
forward to the next trip.

We are a friendly crowd and welcome new members, so do contact me (01277 899504) or June Phipps (01277
899942) if you would like to come and see for yourself – every Friday, 1.45 – 3.0pm approximately, with a
friendly cuppa afterwards – outside on the patio if it’s nice weather. Trial session Free!

Patti Nicholson,
Chair, WD50+ Club