Sandstone Heritage Trust - News
WN39 - Supplementary Flugel - By Kerry Young
20th April 2007
Well, I did say there was something else to come, so let's see what else was in the bag, so to speak...........................
Now there's something different!! This is a hand quilted cover made for a very special person on a very special occasion.
The very special person is none other than our patron and one of the founding members of our society, Garth Beardsley. The special occasion, was his 85th Birthday. This unique (genuinely unique!) masterpiece of quilting was done by Garths Wife, Anita. Goodness only knows how long this would have taken to bring together, or indeed to map out the designs for the areas depicting our home away from home. The four areas with the white background must have been both designed as well as created by Anita. I know enough from my Wifes interest in needle work of many sorts, to realise just how much thought and effort has gone into Anitas present for Garth.
The picture as seen above is not very descriptive, so Let's go in a little closer to see the squares with the Ferrymead interest.......................
The very special person is none other than our patron and one of the founding members of our society, Garth Beardsley. The special occasion, was his 85th Birthday. This unique (genuinely unique!) masterpiece of quilting was done by Garths Wife, Anita. Goodness only knows how long this would have taken to bring together, or indeed to map out the designs for the areas depicting our home away from home. The four areas with the white background must have been both designed as well as created by Anita. I know enough from my Wifes interest in needle work of many sorts, to realise just how much thought and effort has gone into Anitas present for Garth.
The picture as seen above is not very descriptive, so Let's go in a little closer to see the squares with the Ferrymead interest.......................
Our Signalbox with a guest GWR tank engine and nicely restored four wheel goods wagon.
Aha, a locomotive akin to our 'C' beside the water vat.
No introduction needed. Complete with a garden too. I see with a smile that Anita has anticipated the hanging of the platform clock. (Which reminds me, I really must see where we are up to with that!)
The title page as it were. So very handsomely done.
It is my guess that Anita made this artwork without Garths knowledge, so how she accomplished such a fine result and kept it secret at the same time, heaven only knows.
Surely there can be no married man around, who could not be awed by a gift such as this. Let me say too, that Mr and Mrs beardsley are also wonderfully turned out in period costume at times of festival weekends. I wish I could share with you a picture of Garth and Anita on a holiday or Edwardian weekend at Ferrymead. They very much dress for the occasion and they look positively awesome together. It is to my great regret that I cannot share the sight with our readers.
Garths history with the society (and even before its inception) reads like a novel. He and his Wife actually were for some time resident on the site as it then was, in an old house on the property, where they were caretakers of the time. Garth has given much sweat and toil to the society, in the days when laying track the very hard way and gathering the stock and a lot of the track we now have, was the order of the day. I think I am right in saying he has driven every steam locomotive we have, including the 'Kb968' before it was decommisioned and removed for rebuilding. Garth can tell you how the land was built up, from the original level, which was about the bottom of the ashpit in front of the steam shed, to what it is now. When you consider the area we operate in, that is an amazing amount of fill! Prior to the 'Rail 125' event, (Sir Colins masterpiece) Garth worked tirelessly to try to have 'Wd357' able to run under her own steam immediately after a survey, but only missed narrowly because the brakes did not pass inspection on the day, so although it was in steam, it had to travel on tow. It went on to become again the prime motive power for many years with us and too, it also went out on loan for a time. It now rests in the steam shed awaiting an 'A' calss overhaul. This is Garths favourite locomotive. (Mine too, but you never heard me say that!)
So there you have something of the reason for this being shown separately. Long may Garth continue to provide input to our society and long may he enjoy the surroundings and rail stock he fought so long and hard to bring here. It had to be got at the time or lost forever. Well done Garth! (and all the others who worked so hard to begin what we have today.)
I do have one more picture which did not turn out as well as I'd hoped, but I'd like to share it with you just the same.....................
It is my guess that Anita made this artwork without Garths knowledge, so how she accomplished such a fine result and kept it secret at the same time, heaven only knows.
Surely there can be no married man around, who could not be awed by a gift such as this. Let me say too, that Mr and Mrs beardsley are also wonderfully turned out in period costume at times of festival weekends. I wish I could share with you a picture of Garth and Anita on a holiday or Edwardian weekend at Ferrymead. They very much dress for the occasion and they look positively awesome together. It is to my great regret that I cannot share the sight with our readers.
Garths history with the society (and even before its inception) reads like a novel. He and his Wife actually were for some time resident on the site as it then was, in an old house on the property, where they were caretakers of the time. Garth has given much sweat and toil to the society, in the days when laying track the very hard way and gathering the stock and a lot of the track we now have, was the order of the day. I think I am right in saying he has driven every steam locomotive we have, including the 'Kb968' before it was decommisioned and removed for rebuilding. Garth can tell you how the land was built up, from the original level, which was about the bottom of the ashpit in front of the steam shed, to what it is now. When you consider the area we operate in, that is an amazing amount of fill! Prior to the 'Rail 125' event, (Sir Colins masterpiece) Garth worked tirelessly to try to have 'Wd357' able to run under her own steam immediately after a survey, but only missed narrowly because the brakes did not pass inspection on the day, so although it was in steam, it had to travel on tow. It went on to become again the prime motive power for many years with us and too, it also went out on loan for a time. It now rests in the steam shed awaiting an 'A' calss overhaul. This is Garths favourite locomotive. (Mine too, but you never heard me say that!)
So there you have something of the reason for this being shown separately. Long may Garth continue to provide input to our society and long may he enjoy the surroundings and rail stock he fought so long and hard to bring here. It had to be got at the time or lost forever. Well done Garth! (and all the others who worked so hard to begin what we have today.)
I do have one more picture which did not turn out as well as I'd hoped, but I'd like to share it with you just the same.....................
Garth came out bit blurred, which is a real shame, but there's no mistaking the wide smile of Jolly Roger!
Garth mate, I'm so very proud to know you!
Cheers, 'K'.
Garth mate, I'm so very proud to know you!
Cheers, 'K'.