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Royal Leamington Spa volunteers are praised for their dedicationSherborne art project adds colour to a peaceful retreatSherborne DFAS Young Arts has supported Sherborne Abbey Primary School’s development of its courtyard sensory garden. Members were impressed when they visited the garden and understood the need for a space that allowed quiet contemplation. Once the Society had agreed to support the project, Committee member Joan Biles wished to emphasize the importance of teaching children the different stages of ceramics. Each child created their own ceramic ‘pebble’, which they then glazed. Finished pebbles were positioned around the water feature in the garden. Mounted on the adjacent wall is a spiral mosaic made by the younger pupils using brightly coloured tiles. This inspiring garden, complete with willow and metal sculptures, was offi cially opened by the Bishop of Sherborne.Below: Children created and glazed a ‘pebble’ for the sensory garden in SherborneNorth Yorkshire & South Durham stick to drawing for railway weekendThe proud railway history of Darlington was remembered with a giant drawing weekend in the Railway Museum, part of The Big Draw Festival in October.Led by artist Rita Smith, Young Arts Representative of North Yorkshire & South Durham DFAS, The Big Draw steamed into the town’s Head of Steam railway museum where visitors of all ages added their sketches and designs to rolls of paper stretching the length of the station’s platforms.Crayons taped to long sticks helped people to make bold expressive marks on the long drawing surfaces and also enabled participants in wheelchairs to easily take part in the fun.Rita also organised a study day at the Bowes Museum, where she helped participants engage with the wonderful collections by drawing.Below: A drawing event at Darlington’s railway museumCranleigh Trail launch is true to typePupils from local primary schools helped to launch a Church Trail at St Nicolas Church, Cranleigh, in October.Members of the team from Cranleigh DFAS were there with Chairman Pat Butler to present the fi nished Trail to the Rector. Trustee Denise Topolski and Head of Church Trails June Graveson also came for the occasion. When the children were asked if they knew what a font was, the response was “for baptisms”. June commmented that in this computer age, she often hears instead the words “Times Roman or Arial”!Above: Georgie Hendy, the church’s Youth Minister, with three of the children from Cranleigh Primary SchoolA group of Heritage Volunteers from Royal Leamington Spa DFAS have won a prestigious regional award thanks their hard work and dedication.The group were shortlisted against volunteers from Birmingham Museum, Lapworth Museum of Geology and Museums Worcestershire for the Special Award: Collections at the West Midlands Museum Volunteer Awards.The Special Award: Collections nomination is for an individual or team who have introduced an innovative project. Jeff Watkin, Heritage & Arts Manager for Warwick District Council, said: “For over a decade the NADFAS volunteers have helped look after the collections of Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum. The work they have carried out is not glamorous, but it is essential if we are to preserve the collections for future generations. I am delighted that it has now been recognised by this Special Award, which is richly deserved after so many years of selfl ess effort.” Above: Heritage Volunteers from Royal Leamington Spa DFAS at the awards ceremony 62 NADFAS REVIEW / SPRING 2017 www.nadfas.org.ukSOCIETIES NEWS