New Committee

A new style newsletter and a new Committee perhaps reflecting the changes which came about at the well attended AGM on the 3rd March. It proved to be a momentous evening when no less than four members of the Committee formally announced that they were standing down for various personal reasons.

So our first task is to sincerely thank all the retiring members of the Committee:

Marilyn Hughes, our Chairman for the past three years, for her tireless efforts in promoting and driving the Society forward.

Thanks too to Susan Puttick who has been our Secretary during the same period and who has carried out her duties with efficiency and skill.

We also thank Iona Robins for her quiet but invaluable work and support for the Society. Iona has been on the Committee for a good number of years and has always been there when needed.

And last, but not at all least, Ted Hodgkins who has been making a splendid job of editing the Newsletter for the last three years and, despite the efforts of the contributors to thwart him, always got it out on time. Ted also took all the photographs for our website and made the GSA cards.

We understand that all are to continue their membership of the GSA and look forward to seeing them at forthcoming Society events but for now we thank them all for their hard work for the Society and wish them well for the future.

Having so many members of the Committee retire at one time has left us rather depleted and although we will do our best to ensure that the Society continues, there may at times be some hiccups as we learn to cope without some of our more experienced members.

One new member of Committee was proposed and elected at the AGM and we warmly welcome Vivien Tilley.

Before the AGM Marilyn asked Neil Gow if he would like to join the Committee, and since then he has been formally co–opted and will join us when he has recuperated from an operation on his ankle. We wish him a speedy recovery.

The Constitution of the Society allows for a Committee of up to nine including the three officers. This means that we are still two short to make up a full Committee and that includes both a Secretary and an Editor for the Newsletter. We are allowed to co-opt willing members and would urge any member who feels that they can contribute to the running of the GSA to step forward. The Constitution allows for up to three Associate Members to be on the Committee so there is no need to feel that only Full Members can be on the Committee.

Please consider this request carefully. If the work of running the GSA falls on fewer and fewer shoulders eventually there will be no GSA. I for one would like to be at the centenary celebrations of the Society in 2023 but by then I won’t want to be doing the organizing!! And yes the above is true – recently seen Minute Books show that the Society was founded at the latest in 1923. There may have been something before that because the first minute Book starts with a report of an exhibition that year so unless they were far quicker than us at organizing things it there may have been the first stirrings of the Society in 1921 or 1922.

Now from looking back to looking forward.

The programme to the end of this season is set out later in the Newsletter but I would like to draw your attention to the Studio Evening on the 17th May which will start with "Hints and Tips" – no speaker but, as the Old Time Music Hall Chairman used to say, "Chiefly yourselves!!"

Anyone is welcome to talk informally for a few minutes about methods or equipment, which you have found helpful or perhaps raise problems you have. Anything that comes to mind.

After the break, as this GSA season comes to a close, we would like to discuss what you would like to see the Society doing in the future. What sort of Studio Evenings appeal? Do we have too many demos? Could or should the newsletter go by e-mail? Where should we, could we hold exhibitions?

Anything you want to say or ask about the GSA in an informal and friendly way.

The next exhibition will be held in August in conjunction with the Three Choirs Festival so I hope that we will have another good turnout for this high profile event. Please also see Peter’s request for stewards for this exhibition.

Looking further ahead to September if you have a ticket for this Studio Evening please keep it in a safe place – see Elaine's item later in the Newsletter.

Finally – as there will not be another Newsletter until September may we wish all that are going away on holiday safe journeying and enjoy yourself. To those who will be staying closer to home relax, enjoy the summer (some forecasters say it's going to be a scorcher) and do a little painting – it's only six months until the Annual Exhibition and the President’s Cup is up for grabs again!

Best wishes whatever you do,

Robin Peacey - on behalf of the Committee.

WOODCARVING WORKSHOP

In my workshop is a part finished sea-lion - the result of a very enjoyable six hours spent with half a dozen other members at Peter Walwin’s Woodcarving Workshop in March.

A demonstration, the loan of Peter’s tools and the chips were flying as uncertain hands applied sharp steel to unsuspecting lime wood. I think most of us were amazed that from the pre-cut blanks we could actually make something that, rather less than more, resembled the well-crafted originals.

Thanks to Peter’s patience and guidance we had an excellent day and a glimpse into the world of the woodcarvers. There is something very satisfying and therapeutic about carving – thank you Peter.

Robin Peacey

OBITUARIES

Jean Parry Williams 1918 – 2010 It is with regret that I have to write that our former President of the Society, Mrs Jean Parry Williams died peacefully at the age of 92 on the 6thJanuary.

She had always been a keen and talented painter and had been a member of many art societies, in Hampshire and Cumberland and was Chairman of the Andover Society of Artists before she came to live in Painswick. She joined the GSA in 1969 and was a driving force in the Society. When the Gloucester College of Art moved to Cheltenham in the 1980s Jean worked hard with other members to keep the Society afloat. She became President when Lady Nancy Dickinson resigned in 1983. She along with Joyce Bell, Paula Jackson and Mary Hosler began the GSA holidays which have become a regular event in the Art Society’s calendar.

Due to ill health however Jean was unable to attend many of the recent exhibitions and meetings and moved north to Retford to be near her family. In 2007 she resigned from the Presidency of the GSA and the Hon Rupert Bathurst accepted the role.

Many of us will remember her and think of her with great affection and she will be sadly missed.

Rosemary Harvey

Audrey Robbins

With sadness I have to record the death of Audrey Robbins, who died on 26th December 2009. Audrey had only been a full member for a few years but was a gifted artist whose work, frequently based on flowers or plants, was often original and always skillfully executed.

Born in Somerset she and her family settled in the Forest where she pursued her other many other interests including flower arranging and jewellery making. She rose to high office in the flower arranging world and her work was seen throughout the region and recently in Westminster Abbey.

In her working life she was the County Surveyors secretary where with quiet but firm diplomacy she kept both young engineers (like me) and, one suspects, the County Surveyor, on the straight and narrow.

During recent years Audrey fought a long battle with illness but remained cheerful and energetic in all that she did.

She was a good friend and we shall miss her.

Robin Peacey

Peter Bosworth

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Peter Bosworth who recently joined the GSA after retiring as an architect. He was a kind and lovely gentleman who was looking forward to pursuing his love of painting in his retirement and his pictures were always beautifully drawn. Peter became a full member of the GSA in February 2009 and his painting “Westwell Mill” won the President’s Cup at the October Exhibition. Peter very kindly donated the proceeds of the sale of his award-winning picture to GSA funds. He was also a popular member of the Wallsworth Art Group and will be sadly missed.

Elaine Jones

GSA TREASURERS ANNUAL REPORT 2009

The full accounts for the year ended 31st December 2009 were presented at the recent AGM and I append hereunder a brief resume of same.

Income Our total overall income for the year was £4733 (2008 £5156). Subscriptions increased by £207 and a donation of £80 was kindly given by the late Peter Bosworth from the sale of his picture at the annual exhibition. Sales of cards kindly produced for us by Ted Hodgkins raised £95.

Expenditure Total expenses were £5019 (2008 £4074) resulting in excess expenditure for the year of £286 (2008 Excess Income £1082). The deficit is more than covered by accumulated surpluses achieved in previous years, and held in reserve for the continued benefit of members.

Assets Total assets held as at 31.12.09 were £3902.14 (2008 £4187.98)

Any member wanting a copy of the full set of accounts please let me know and I will forward a copy to you.

Terry Aubrey

STEWARDS REQUIRED TO HELP AT GSA EXHIBITIONS

It doesn't seem possible that it is some six months since the last GSA exhibition. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who helped with the stewarding duties and ensured that the exhibition ran smoothly.

The GSA is fortunate in having a core of members who regularly are prepared to volunteer and help out with stewarding. In drawing up the stewarding roster I try to ensure that members will only be required to do one session. However, at the October '09 exhibition I really struggled to find enough stewards to cover all the sessions over the 2 week period of the exhibition and was forced to ask a number of members to steward at more than one session. Quite a number of members who normally volunteer to steward, were unfortunately not available to help.

I hope that the stewarding problems experienced at the last exhibition were a “one off” and that members (particularly if they are exhibiting) will do their bit and volunteer to help out. Without stewards we could not hold the exhibition.

For those who are unfamiliar with stewarding at St John’s Church, there are 2 parking permits for St John’s Lane for stewards to use, and tea/coffee is available in the kitchen at the back of the church.

Peter Morley

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

As usual the work of the new Full Members elected in February was on show at the AGM and we congratulate:

Martyn Dymott, Joan Webb, Colin Spencer, Kenneth Brown, Susan and Keith Gage, Richard Tully, Gwendolen Harris, Frederick Snowden, Rosamund Hellon, and Barry Shuker

on being elected and look forward to seeing more of their work at our exhibitions later in the year.

New members - we have welcomed five new Associate Members since the last Newsletter:

Anne Smith, Valerie Wagner, Libby Drew, Christine le Feuvre and Frederick Snowden (who has since been elected to Full Membership, see above)

We hope that you will find interest, friendship and enjoyment with us for many years.

Resignations – a number of members have decided for various reasons not to renew their membership this year and have formally retired from the Society:

Nancy Feasey, Gillian Boys, Alan Holmes, Paul Peacey, Muriel Rolfe, Lindsey Steele, Linda Twiddy, Alan Ward and Pat Watling.

We wish them all well and thank them for their support and contributions to the Society over the years.

If I have forgotten anyone, my apologies, please let me know.

Robin Peacey

GSA VISITS

Could you arrange an outing for the Society?

This would entail the following:

  1. Find a location and book a visit at a suitable time.
  2. Book a coach with fixed pick-up points.
  3. Calculate the cost.
  4. Arrange for the event to be publicised in the newsletter in good time with booking slips.
  5. Collect payments, and keep a record of finances for the treasurer.
  6. Be willing to answer ‘phone questions.