East Leake Together Banner Group
Annual Report 2005

As usual we started our year with lunch – this time at the Rancliffe Arms in Bunny.

On February 22nd the Methodist Banner was dedicated during one of the inter-church Lent meetings by the Rev. Tony Perry. After this we received a letter from one of the Methodist congregation thanking the Group for a beautiful addition to their Church.

On 30th April we helped with the Tsunami Appeal in East Leake village hall.

In May we had a trip to see the Living Threads embroidery exhibition at Trent College, Long Eaton.

In the summer we were pleased to be part of St Mary’s “Meet the Family” weekend and we exhibited many of the items made over the last 6 years. The altar looked particularly beautiful with 8 burse and chalice veil sets in the liturgical colours.

Much of the year was spent making the large Baptist Banner and a lectern fall for the Catholic Church. The lectern fall is doubled sided, Advent and Lent, and was completed just in time for the start of Advent.

We make small items to sell for charity as large items can only be worked on by a few people at a time. Our Easter stall raised £257 and our Christmas stall raised £160, making a total of £417 for Rainbows Children’s Hospice. We also made up Christmas shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Sadly a much loved member of our group, Margaret Faulkner, died this year, we miss her and remember her with love.

The Baptist Banner was received on January 8th 2006 with a moving service by the Rev. Chris Dakin, and we were rewarded afterwards with a wonderful array of cakes.

We have an enthusiastic membership with members supporting each others’ church activities. We have gained 2 new members this year and we now have our own website. Our next projects are a stole for the Rev. Glynis Hetherington and a processional banner for the Catholic Church to take to Lourdes and Walsingham.

Our work is often described as a Labour of Love – and so it is!

Ann Sharpe January 2006.