Congratulations Christine!

Our dear friend, Christine recently entered three classes in the Handicraft Section 

at the annual Milton Produce Show.

A Knitted Item - Christine produced a covered coat hanger for this class, which was created by adding wadding to the coat hanger, then double knitted wool as a cover, with lace knitted in at the same time.

A Greetings Card - This entry featured an applique of “Tea Bag Folding” style of paper, mounted on a card which Christine then added a star and other decorations in each corner and lettering to form the words “Happy Birthday”.

Any Other Handicraft - Christine entered “Foxy” which was made out of fur fabric, mounted on a covered wire frame and stuffed with acrylic fibre.

For her efforts Christine was awarded 

“Best in Category - Handicrafts”

So, congratulations from all of us Christine, it is wonderful for your beautiful work to be recognised in this way.

“My mother put a needle in my hand when I was aged 6 or 7” was the reply when Carol asked how long Christine had been interested in creating handicrafts. She has no particular favourite type of craft, just “delves into all sorts!”

You may not be aware that Christine started her working life in 1957 in the secretarial service within the Home Help Team of the Public Health Department of Cambridgeshire County Council. Then in 1960, she became Assistant Organiser of the team, rising to Deputy Organiser and finally in 1976 she was promoted to the position of Senior Organiser of Home Help for Cambridge City. Later, the department went through some management changes and eventually came under the wing of Social Services but Christine remained in her senior position until 1991 and then became the city’s Community Care Coordinator in 1992, a role which she enjoyed until her retirement in 1999.

After serious illness earlier in her life, Christine attended The Mackenzie School of Music and Dramatic Art, which encouraged it’s pupils to rebuild confidence after a break from school. The school was founded by Emily Lewis who converted her sitting room for classes. The children were always encouraged to perform to each other at the end of classes and also publicly. When standing on the stage of the Main Hall at the Guildhall, they were expected to project their singing or poetry reading voices to the back of the hall! While at the school, Christine won The Marlowe Society Cup for Elocution at The Cambridge Music Festival. Some classes were also held in the hall at the end of Covent Garden, off Mill Road in Cambridge and Christine recalls thinking that "this is a really large hall at the end of a very long road!"

Christine is also quite a talented artist and still enjoys attending art classes provided by U3A in Cambridge. She lives with her sister, Helen, and has two close cousins who also live nearby with their families. During the evening, you might find them viewing an assortment of  history and geography programmes on tv, and their absolute favourite show “Strictly Come Dancing”, while Christine exercises nimble fingers, creating lovely craft items to lively dance music!

Here is Christine with her winner’s cup and three entries 
and examples of some of her other work which she often sells at local craft fairs.

Knitted Christmas Trees

Cross stitch tapestry and a birthday card, both winning first prize at Milton Produce Show in 2011

Mr Policeman - A glove puppet which Christine created as Milton WI's chosen entry
at the 2012 Group Meeting at Landbeach!