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Bath Evening DFAS sponsored a two-day sculpture workshop for Year Six at Bathampton Primary School. Artist Lucia Harley led the workshop using willow, wood, fabric and zip wire (pictured). The pupils were asked to express their feelings of moving from primary to secondary school through colour, shape and form, creating an abstract piece of artwork in the process. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience. One commented: “the best bit was Hello Clapham Common, goodbye Folkestone Clapham Common DFAS will be holding its inaugural meeting at 11am on Wednesday March 15, 2017. The lecture programme is already under way and any interest from new members would be very welcome. If anyone in the south west of London would like further information about joining the Society, please telephone Virginia Stevens (Membership Secretary) on 07843 226038. Meanwhile, Folkestone DFAS has closed after 38 years. Despite still having two founder members, it had not been possible to attract a Chairman and fi nding committee members was increasingly diffi cult. The Society donated equipment to other local Societies and made grants; the balance has been given to the Patricia Fay Memorial Fund.Wylye Valley DFAS has sponsored a unique choral experience –between the educated voicesof Salisbury Cathedral choristersand the raw talent of studentsfrom Exeter House, a specialmixed school that believesparticipation in public events hasa signifi cant impact on thestudents’ self-esteem.The Cathedral gave permission to adapt the service while staying true to its intention. So together with the choristers, the Exeter House team unearthed what they thought the original texts were really trying to say; from their unique lyrics music was created under the superb direction of Howard Moody of La Folia, who had the original vision. The service ended with an explosion of spontaneous applause. One chorister was deeply moved by the event as her aunt had attended a special school in an era where students hadn’t been exposed to or enjoyed such freedom – a freedom that inspired and left the congregation and church so much better for the experience. Below: Cathedral choristers and students from Exeter House sang together at Salisbury CathedralWylye Valley sponsors a unique and exhilarating choral experienceTyneside works with hospice on anniversary wall of memoriesBath Evening helps feelings take formTyneside DFAS has been working with the volunteers, patients and staff of St Oswald’s Hospice in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne to make a meaningful artwork for its 30th anniversary.It was funded by the Society, matched by the Patricia Fay Memorial Fund. Patients decided on motifs to symbolise what the community means to them and ceramic artist Simon Terry helped transform the ideas into a mosaic (pictured). Everyone in or associated with St Oswald’s was able to play some part, in an example of an extended community coming together, creating precious memories and having fun doing it.Tucked away in a small corner of Surrey’s commuter belt is a little gem of ecclesiastical history –a manorial chapel belonging tothe Boileau, Maddox and Pollenfamilies over many generationsand also serving the localcommunity. A team of tenmembers of Bookham DFASChurch Recorders beganrecording the church fi ve yearsago and fi nally presented thecompleted Record to the newRector in June.Many interesting facets of the church’s history have come to life through the work of the group’s archivist, Vivien White, a local historian. The Vulgate Bible presented to the church by the Boileau family in 1769 was professionally repaired and is on display at Guildford Cathedral.Bookham Church Recorders help record Surrey manorial chapelworking with willow – it was fun and gave me the chance to do something I wouldn’t normally do.”Meanwhile 90 children from St John’s RC Primary School were the fi rst to try the Church Trail created by Bath Evening DFAS at St John the Evangelist RC Church in the centre of Bath. “The children coming to do the Trails for us are such a joy and it makes all the hard work worthwhile,” commented Kerry Brackenbury from the NADFAS Church Trails Team.70 NADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 2016 www.nadfas.org.ukSOCIETIES NEWS