A CRAFT club in Basingstoke  is celebrating 25 years since it was founded. 

Basingstoke Creative Stitchers celebrated its silver anniversary in style, with some founder members as special guests.

Christine Mullard and the Revd Pat Palmer were at the very first meeting in 1997. Two more founder members, Sue Oakman and Sue Smith are still members of the group.

Originally called Basingstoke Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild, the group became independent in 2021 following the Embroiderers’ Guild decision to change their business model which included removal of all branches. 

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Since then, Basingstoke Creative Stitchers has gone from strength to strength with a successful silver anniversary exhibition at Whitchurch Silk Mill earlier this year, an increasing membership and an exciting future programme of specialist speakers and workshops covering all sorts of needlework techniques from traditional embroidery to working in mixed media. 

Next month, there is a special visit to the company that makes the Strictly Come Dancing costumes.

Olwyn Pearson, chairman of Basingstoke Creative Stitchers said: “It’s wonderful to be leading such a lively and vibrant group and I’m looking forward to the next 25 years”.

The Group meets on the fourth Thursday in the month at Popley Fields Community Centre. Visitors are always welcome and for further information contact Olwyn Pearson on darlingtonejp@hotmail.com.

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