Members will have read the testimonial to Viviane in the recent newsletter, written by her good friend Linda Hoddy, and a previous news post on this website which included Viviane’s own description of her textile journey. The committee would also like to acknowledge the important contribution that Viviane made to the development of our group. Today, the day of her funeral, seems a good day to share this.
Viviane was a long-standing member of our group, and had a great influence on our history. The photo in the previous news post shows Viviane with other friends and colleagues who have also made great contributions to our group (left to right: Anne Turner, Viv Scrase, Linda Hoddy, Elaine Blaney and Viviane).
Viviane joined the group many years ago and she became a committee member, then Chairman. She was also our local ‘President’ of the Embroiderers Guild for many years. Viviane was very influential in setting up the Embroiderers Guild Regional Committee, which acted as a communication channel between different groups across our area and organised regional activities. The former ‘Region’ is still going strong (as Stitch Together) and organises things like online courses and summer-schools, so Viviane’s influence extended beyond the end of the Embroiderers Guild. Viviane was always a passionate advocate for the EG, and always encouraged members to think about the positive things that the EG did, for example in preserving the textile collection. At our meeting in November 2018, she gave a talk to members on the history of the Embroiderers Guild, describing the origins of the national organisation and the local branches. Viviane was very disappointed when the national Embroiderers Guild and the local branches ‘parted company’, as she had always believed that the national guild and the local branches were good allies. Despite this, she stayed involved and enthusiastic when we re-formed as the new SCS group.
In 1998 Viviane was asked to stitch a new pennent for the Worthing Mayoral car and in 1999 she was asked to stitch a new flag for the car, both of which she did on behalf of the Embroiderers Guild. The photos here show the Mayor thanking Viviane for her work, a newspaper article, and the pennant.
Viviane organised and oversaw the creation of the Worthing Hospital embroidered panel, which I believe can still be seen in the hospital today. The collaboration and camaraderie that was created by making the panel turned into a long-term group, which became the Thursday workshop which is still going strong. We are hoping that Cobi can share details with the group of how it was designed and made.
Viviane was an accomplished embroiderer, who combined traditional skills with more contemporary approaches. It would be nice to show some of her work here, so if anyone has any photos they could send us that would be much appreciated.