Page 11Page 12
Page 11
BLAZING A TRAILDartmoor DFAS is among the new Societies that have been helped by Jane Sawyer. Inaugurated in 2012, as a result of the drive and experience of the inspirational founder Chairman Muff Dudgeon and committee, it quickly started volunteering activities in order to contribute to the local community. A monthly newsletter for members and those on its waiting list helps to keep everyone up to date.“We are based in a fairly rural area of the South West where opportunities for exposure to the arts are not as plentiful as in larger towns and cities, so early on, the Society wanted to form links with local schools and Colleges,” comments Society Chairman Jo Wymer.As well as innovative Young Arts projects about WW1 and the lichens of Dartmoor developed by Young Arts Representative, Jan Goffey, it has also created fi ve Church Trails in a period of only two years, each one inspiring the creation of another. A number of different members have been involved in leading the projects.In February, a group of children from St Catherine’s School in Launceston, Cornwall, helped to launch its most recent Church Trail – at St Mary Magdalene’s Parish Church. The 16th-century church has many fascinating features, including the remains of a wall tomb in memory of Sir Hugh Piper and his wife Sibella. Sir Hugh was severely injured in the Civil War, but lived on until 1687. The Church Trail was prepared by a former Team Rector, Canon Tim Newcombe, Vice Chairman of Dartmoor DFAS. He believes the popularity of the Trails is down to the fact they are interesting and fun. “Children and adults discover bits and pieces they’ve never seen before, or had seen but hadn’t taken notice of.”There are already plans to create Trails for several other churches in the area. ■Dartmoor DFAS has created 5 Church Trails in 2 yearsand I decided to start another one. And it was such fun. It was suddenly like coming home.”It’s now 19 years since Jane founded High Weald DFAS with help from friends. The Society is still going strong, with a membership of around 300 – and a waiting list. Jane believes the joy of NADFAS is bringing together a diverse group of people who nonetheless have one big thing in common – a love of the arts. “You might have one or two friends who enjoy music or go to art galleries… but to have a whole group there who loves that, it’s just brilliant.” After her time as founder Chairman, Jane went on to other volunteer roles, including Deputy Area Chairman, where she helped to set up Egerton DFAS in an advisory capacity. The village of Egerton had had a new hall built for the millennium and Jane could see the potential for a Society immediately. She felt this so strongly that she even reserved a slot at the hall for a year while trying to fi nd a Chairman – eventually someone on the High Weald DFAS waiting list agreed. In her fi ve years on the NST, Jane has helped it to grow from three to 12 New Society Advisors.“I love setting up new Societies and I love putting people together,” she explains.Traditionally, new Societies have come about thanks to people like Jane offering to become a founder Chairman. However, NADFAS is increasingly taking a proactive approach – actively identifying possible towns and cities, then arranging taster lectures and encouraging people to join the committee. In one example, the NST went to Lincoln and staged a taster lecture in a small theatre. From that, 25 people offered to help start the Society. Lincoln DFAS opened late last year, and already has a waiting list. For Jane, it was a key moment: “That is my fondest memory from the past fi ve years, Lincoln DFAS becoming a reality after being just a twinkle in the eye.” ■ VOLUNTEERINGPhoto by Richard Eaton.THE ART OF GIVING — 11