www.nadfas.org.ukNADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2010 61Glaven Valley and King's LynnHeritage Volunteers (pictured leftand below) have been workinghard on a textile project atRaynham Hall, Norfolk. Here theyare helping to conserve ten 18th-century high-backed upholsteredchairs. The original silk damaskfabric is damaged - leavingstuffing exposed and threadshanging loose. The Volunteers'painstaking work involves insertingnew fabric, repairing loose threadsand adding a layer of fine net.Although the process is slow,the result is an impressivetransformation of the chairs totheir former glory.Heritage Volunteersrestore 18th-centuryupholsterySOCIETIES/AREAS NEWSCultural city tripfor West MerciaA party from West Mercia Area (which includedmembers from 10 Societies) enjoyed awonderful trip to Istanbul in March. The visitfollowed four study days on Byzantine Art withJane Angelini last autumn. The group found Istanbul to be a city ofspring flowers, with millions of tulips andpolyanthus. Highlights of the trip included theBlue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palaceand the Church of St Saviour in Chora. A boattrip on the Bosphorus and visits to the GrandBazaar completed a memorable week. They are seen here (left) on the roof terrace oftheir hotel,against the backdrop ofthe BlueMosque (indeed, many were awoken eachmorning at 5am by the call to prayer!).Paddy Bushell and Midhurst DFASChairman Sue Ryan presented thecompleted Church Record of the beautifulSussex church, St James, Selham, to thepriest in charge, Derek Welsman, inFebruary. The Church Recording groupconsists of a dozen individuals whometiculously recorded all details of thechurch.The Church Recorders have spent the last two years working on the Record of thisancient church, which is reputed to be lateSaxon, and is of considerable interest. TheRecord has been put into safe keeping, butcan be seen on request.Pictured are Derek Welsman, PaddyBushell and Sue RyanMidhurst team presents finished Record

62NADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2010www.nadfas.org.ukSOCIETIES/AREAS NEWSHeritage Volunteers from East and West Surrey Areas recently completeda major project to archive and re-house the local Shere Museum'scollection of more than 5,000 artefacts, To celebrate their success, WeyValley DFAS hosted a presentation by the West Surrey Area Chairman,Denise Topolski, to Sheila Jones, a professional archivist who had lenther expertise to the project. Sheila's work was also recognised when she was nominated as a "community hero" by local newspaper theSurrey Advertiser. Surrey Heritage Volunteers'complete museum project ?REIGATE DFASReigate DFAS marked its 25thanniversary with a receptionat Reigate Town Hall on 25March. The Mayor recountedthe history of the Town Hall -a fine art deco building - andmembers viewed thepaintings there.?BLOCKLEY DFASBlockley DFAS marked its25th anniversary with a Tudor-themed celebration at theDormy House Hotel. Membersenjoyed music and dancingfrom the era before tuckinginto champagne and cake. ?PORTSDOWN DFASPortsdown DFAS celebrated25 years with a lunch, joinedby a guest speaker, BargainHunt's Tim Wannacott ANNIVERSARIESA day ofopera forWilmslowDFAS A trip to the opera will never be thesame again for the Wilmslow DFASmembers who enjoyed afascinating study day on thesubject in March. The event wasled by NADFAS-accredited lecturerDaniel Snowman -as a pastchairman of the LondonPhilharmonic Choir he was anexcellent choice for the task.Daniel guided members on aninformative and entertainingjourney through the history ofopera, from Monteverdi to thepresent day. Members heard aboutthe social and cultural changesthat have influenced the art formand its audiences. The East Midlands Area has a new Young Arts project as aresult of obtaining a facsimile copy of an illuminatedmanuscript from the Middle Ages. The Luttrell Psalteris oneof the finest treasures of the British Library. It wascommissioned by Sir Geoffrey Luttrell, lord of the manor ofIrnham, Lincolnshire (1276-1345). It contains magnificentillustrations of the Psalms, fascinating images of monstersand beasts, as well as scenes of everyday medieval rural life.In 2006 the Folio Society, together with the British Library,produced a complete facsimile edition of this beautifulmedieval manuscript and, thanks to its generosity, the EastMidlands Area now has a copy of this magnificent book. Thevillage of Irnham is right at the heart of the Area, so it isparticularly relevant to local schools and it is hoped thatmany pupils will benefit from and be inspired by thiswonderful book. The Area would like to thank Mr WhitlockBlundell, at the Folio Society, for making it possible.Pictured right:Local school children looking at the Luttrell Psalter with a display of their work in the background.East Midlands pupilsilluminated by medieval gift