Meet the Trustees
The Guild Council is made up of the following people:
Executive Trustees
President Marilyn Lovett
Treasurer Christina McEwen
Head of Division - Marketing Anne Hardcastle
Head of Division - Membership Kathleen Fisher
Head of Division - Museum Jan Rae
Non-executive Trustees Vivien Finch
Andrea Lee
Rosalind Orlowska
Jane Steward
Sheena Wurthman
Executive Trustees
President Marilyn Lovett
Treasurer Christina McEwen
Head of Division - Marketing Anne Hardcastle
Head of Division - Membership Kathleen Fisher
Head of Division - Museum Jan Rae
Non-executive Trustees Vivien Finch
Andrea Lee
Rosalind Orlowska
Jane Steward
Sheena Wurthman
President and Trustee : Marilyn Lovett
e: [email protected]
Marilyn first tried patchwork when living in Naples, but it was not until she lived in the States that she became truly hooked. She joined The Guild in about 1996 and has had such fun ever since.
Marilyn has been an area rep and Coordinator for Region 3. After becoming a Guild Trustee, Marilyn took on the responsibility of Head of Marketing for two years and then in May 2010 she was elected Guild President. She is quick to point out that this doesn't make her a better quilter than anyone else, just someone who is willing to share the “admin doing” part of The Guild. She says she is still a very average quilter.
Marilyn is looking forward to being part of the next step in The Guild’s history and still having fun and making more friends along the way.
Marilyn first tried patchwork when living in Naples, but it was not until she lived in the States that she became truly hooked. She joined The Guild in about 1996 and has had such fun ever since.
Marilyn has been an area rep and Coordinator for Region 3. After becoming a Guild Trustee, Marilyn took on the responsibility of Head of Marketing for two years and then in May 2010 she was elected Guild President. She is quick to point out that this doesn't make her a better quilter than anyone else, just someone who is willing to share the “admin doing” part of The Guild. She says she is still a very average quilter.
Marilyn is looking forward to being part of the next step in The Guild’s history and still having fun and making more friends along the way.
Treasurer: Christina McEwen
e: [email protected]
Tina says she is a passionate though novice quilter and has been interested in patchwork and quilting since she was a girl. She has had an active business and non-executive career and is pleased to be able to offer her experience to The Guild in her new role as Treasurer. Tina hopes that she will still have time to sew as well!
Tina says she is a passionate though novice quilter and has been interested in patchwork and quilting since she was a girl. She has had an active business and non-executive career and is pleased to be able to offer her experience to The Guild in her new role as Treasurer. Tina hopes that she will still have time to sew as well!
Head of Division for Marketing and Trustee: Anne Hardcastle
e: [email protected]
Anne was a founder member of the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild almost 30 years ago and more recently of Loose Thread Quilters. She has been a Quilters' Guild member since 1983-4, acting as Regional Treasurer, then Regional Co-ordinator for Northern Ireland – the smallest of the regions. Anne has seen major landmarks in The Guild’s development; the opening of the H.Q. in Halifax; the establishment of the Festival of Quilts and now the exciting move to the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York.
Now that the day job as a science lecturer in a technical college has drawn to a close (the geometry came in handy for pieced quilts) Anne is free to give more time to The Quilters' Guild, to repay the pleasure that she has had from her membership, and her aim is to travel to more places where she can see patchwork and meet fellow enthusiasts.
Anne was a founder member of the Northern Ireland Patchwork Guild almost 30 years ago and more recently of Loose Thread Quilters. She has been a Quilters' Guild member since 1983-4, acting as Regional Treasurer, then Regional Co-ordinator for Northern Ireland – the smallest of the regions. Anne has seen major landmarks in The Guild’s development; the opening of the H.Q. in Halifax; the establishment of the Festival of Quilts and now the exciting move to the Quilt Museum and Gallery in York.
Now that the day job as a science lecturer in a technical college has drawn to a close (the geometry came in handy for pieced quilts) Anne is free to give more time to The Quilters' Guild, to repay the pleasure that she has had from her membership, and her aim is to travel to more places where she can see patchwork and meet fellow enthusiasts.
Head of Division for Membership and Trustee : Kathleen Fisher
e: [email protected]
Kathleen is a former computer programmer and systems analyst She has also worked as a teacher of computing and a schools fundraiser for National Childrens’ Homes. Volunteer work with The Guild includes roles as Newsletter Editor, Sales Organiser and Co-ordinator of Region 15E.
She joined The Guild in about 1985 but had been quilting for a couple of years before that up in Edinburgh where she lived at the time.
After becoming involved with the St Anthony's Project committee as the Minute Secretary and later as Financial Controller she was persuaded to stand as a General Trustee in May 2008 and stepped up to the position of Head of Division for Operations from January 2009.
In 2010 it was decided to merge the functions of Membership and Operations and from May 2010 Kathleen has acquired another official title as Head of Division for Membership.
Kathleen points out that The Guild's members are its life blood and she would like to see many more quilters joining The Guild to recognise all the work it has done in the past and to support The Guild in the future.
Kathleen is a former computer programmer and systems analyst She has also worked as a teacher of computing and a schools fundraiser for National Childrens’ Homes. Volunteer work with The Guild includes roles as Newsletter Editor, Sales Organiser and Co-ordinator of Region 15E.
She joined The Guild in about 1985 but had been quilting for a couple of years before that up in Edinburgh where she lived at the time.
After becoming involved with the St Anthony's Project committee as the Minute Secretary and later as Financial Controller she was persuaded to stand as a General Trustee in May 2008 and stepped up to the position of Head of Division for Operations from January 2009.
In 2010 it was decided to merge the functions of Membership and Operations and from May 2010 Kathleen has acquired another official title as Head of Division for Membership.
Kathleen points out that The Guild's members are its life blood and she would like to see many more quilters joining The Guild to recognise all the work it has done in the past and to support The Guild in the future.
Head of Division for the Museum and Trustee : Jan Rae
e:[email protected]
Jan's working life was spent in newspapers and publishing. She came to the UK from her home state of Michigan as a visiting journalist, only intending to stay 10 months! Years later, after a career in book publishing, freelance journalism and corporate publishing, she thought she would retire. That never happened. She just changed jobs.
"Quilting is an addiction," says Jan and so it has proved for her. After her first book about the history of British quiltmaking was published, she joined the volunteer arm of The Quilters' Guild as Heritage Officer with a remit to deliver a quilt documentation project in the UK. Five years later, with the documentation and project book completed, she stepped down from office.
A few years later she was recruited once again by The Guild to chair a committee to 1) set up a new Museum; 2) source funding and 3) find a new permanent home for The Guild's collections and its Head Office.
"The opening of St Anthony's Hall, York in June 2008 was a real tribute to all of the many Guild members who worked on this demanding project over the years," she says. "It is amazing what a group of quiltmakers can achieve when they set their sights on an objective. We are very fortunate to be able to operate from such a historic building in York. It gives us a unique opportunity to share our textile collection with a wider public and to have a permanent base for our diverse educational activities."
Jan's working life was spent in newspapers and publishing. She came to the UK from her home state of Michigan as a visiting journalist, only intending to stay 10 months! Years later, after a career in book publishing, freelance journalism and corporate publishing, she thought she would retire. That never happened. She just changed jobs.
"Quilting is an addiction," says Jan and so it has proved for her. After her first book about the history of British quiltmaking was published, she joined the volunteer arm of The Quilters' Guild as Heritage Officer with a remit to deliver a quilt documentation project in the UK. Five years later, with the documentation and project book completed, she stepped down from office.
A few years later she was recruited once again by The Guild to chair a committee to 1) set up a new Museum; 2) source funding and 3) find a new permanent home for The Guild's collections and its Head Office.
"The opening of St Anthony's Hall, York in June 2008 was a real tribute to all of the many Guild members who worked on this demanding project over the years," she says. "It is amazing what a group of quiltmakers can achieve when they set their sights on an objective. We are very fortunate to be able to operate from such a historic building in York. It gives us a unique opportunity to share our textile collection with a wider public and to have a permanent base for our diverse educational activities."
General Trustee : Vivien Finch
Vivien Finch is best known as Editor of The Quilter, a post she held for 17 years, 1989 – 2006. Joining The Quilters’ Guild soon after its formation, she became an Area Representative for Suffolk in 1981 and continued to volunteer as a Rep in North Yorkshire and Derbyshire as her husband’s career moved the family around the country.
She joined the Executive for a year as Education officer in 1988, and then remained on the Executive/Council as a non-voting member throughout most of her editorial tenure. She considers herself a traditional quilt maker, but admires contemporary work and occasionally dabbles in more innovative techniques – with mixed results!
Having served with nine Presidents and participated in all the milestones in the growth of The Guild (the granting of Charitable status, the move to our first office in Dean Clough, the EGM to become a company limited by guarantee, the awarding of Museum status, the launch of the first Festival of Quilts at Lords, London followed by the collaboration with Creative Exhibitions at the NEC) Vivien has gained a sound knowledge of the work and ambitions of The Guild and an understanding of the needs of its members. She is proud to be a Trustee at this time when we have achieved a further milestone – the move to St Anthony’s in York, the fulfilment of The Guild’s dream of a permanent home and a Quilt Museum to house our collections.
She joined the Executive for a year as Education officer in 1988, and then remained on the Executive/Council as a non-voting member throughout most of her editorial tenure. She considers herself a traditional quilt maker, but admires contemporary work and occasionally dabbles in more innovative techniques – with mixed results!
Having served with nine Presidents and participated in all the milestones in the growth of The Guild (the granting of Charitable status, the move to our first office in Dean Clough, the EGM to become a company limited by guarantee, the awarding of Museum status, the launch of the first Festival of Quilts at Lords, London followed by the collaboration with Creative Exhibitions at the NEC) Vivien has gained a sound knowledge of the work and ambitions of The Guild and an understanding of the needs of its members. She is proud to be a Trustee at this time when we have achieved a further milestone – the move to St Anthony’s in York, the fulfilment of The Guild’s dream of a permanent home and a Quilt Museum to house our collections.
General Trustee: Andrea Lee
Andrea has stitched, knitted or embroidered since she was 8 years old. Quilting didn't come until she was living in the USA in the early 70s. She says that now is the time to admit to the fact that she was a "hippie" and hitch hiked around Europe, and cross country USA. This was around the time in the US when there was a push to celebrate the bi-centennial of the founding of the USA. This took the form of reviving all the "old" crafts and P&Q was one of them. She was hooked then and never looked back.
Working on her own, it was a revelation (not a revolution- excuse the pun), to see an article in a Pins & Needles Magazine about Thistle Quilters of Edinburgh who where doing a swap with a group in the US. The article mentioned The Quilters' Guild. Immediately she sent off her subscription, and has been a member since around April 1986.
Andrea is a founder member of Paisley Patchers, which has always maintained a large membership (around 70), and she is happy to say she has also started my own group, Thursday Thimbles, which has been going weekly for 21 years, with around 16/20 members.
Andrea has served on Region 16's committee 3 times and has a C&G certificate in Creative Embroidery (‘cause I knew everything about P&Q - joke ). Finally, she is proud to say she has been published in a book and several magazines. She is looking forward to her time as a Trustee and putting something back to a Guild that she loves.
Working on her own, it was a revelation (not a revolution- excuse the pun), to see an article in a Pins & Needles Magazine about Thistle Quilters of Edinburgh who where doing a swap with a group in the US. The article mentioned The Quilters' Guild. Immediately she sent off her subscription, and has been a member since around April 1986.
Andrea is a founder member of Paisley Patchers, which has always maintained a large membership (around 70), and she is happy to say she has also started my own group, Thursday Thimbles, which has been going weekly for 21 years, with around 16/20 members.
Andrea has served on Region 16's committee 3 times and has a C&G certificate in Creative Embroidery (‘cause I knew everything about P&Q - joke ). Finally, she is proud to say she has been published in a book and several magazines. She is looking forward to her time as a Trustee and putting something back to a Guild that she loves.
General Trustee: Rosalind Orlowska
Rosalind started quilting in 2000 as something to do in the evening and joined The Guild soon after. Ten years on she is still a quilter but with little time to quilt and says she has met many interesting people and made many friends. Her skills as an administrator and organiser have served her well as chairman of her local group, Area Rep for Lincolnshire and Co-ordinator for Region 10 and now as a new General Trustee. Rosalind's hope is that in the next three years she can help The Guild in its work for the membership and meet and make many new friends.
General Trustee : Jane Steward
Jane has always been interested in a wide variety of needlecrafts, but only discovered patchwork in 1976, when she worked out how to make a cot quilt for her future god-daughter’s christening present. It was made of paper-pieced hexagons (what else?), which she learned to do from a book, but she had no idea how to do the quilting. She quilted the backing and wadding together first and then attached that to the quilt top in strategic places. She has been fascinated by all forms of patchwork and quilting ever since.
Jane joined The Quilters’ Guild in April 1980 and many years later did the City & Guilds Part 1 course in Patchwork & Quilting and enjoyed it immensely. She went on to complete the Certificate in Education and teach patchwork at Adult Education classes for a while, which was all a bit of a surprise. She then joined the Region 1 Committee and somehow became Co-ordinator at her first meeting, which was even more of a surprise!
Jane says she has really enjoyed the experience so far and has met an amazing number of friendly people along the way. She is enjoying her role as a non-executive Trustee.
Jane joined The Quilters’ Guild in April 1980 and many years later did the City & Guilds Part 1 course in Patchwork & Quilting and enjoyed it immensely. She went on to complete the Certificate in Education and teach patchwork at Adult Education classes for a while, which was all a bit of a surprise. She then joined the Region 1 Committee and somehow became Co-ordinator at her first meeting, which was even more of a surprise!
Jane says she has really enjoyed the experience so far and has met an amazing number of friendly people along the way. She is enjoying her role as a non-executive Trustee.
General Trustee: Sheena Wurthman
Sheena first became 'hooked'on quilting while teaching in Tennessee for a year.
Back home in Scotland it was hard to find other quilters and so she joined The Quilters Guild in the mid 1980s.
Full-time work as a lecturer in ecology and environmental science left little time for stitching but quilts did appear.
Since retirement they now dominate the work room. The work is getting better and she hopes that City and Guilds will make a step change.
As an ordinary member of The Quilters Guild who attends a local group (Glasgow Gathering) and Area and Regional days she wants to use her experience of committees to help The Guild.
Back home in Scotland it was hard to find other quilters and so she joined The Quilters Guild in the mid 1980s.
Full-time work as a lecturer in ecology and environmental science left little time for stitching but quilts did appear.
Since retirement they now dominate the work room. The work is getting better and she hopes that City and Guilds will make a step change.
As an ordinary member of The Quilters Guild who attends a local group (Glasgow Gathering) and Area and Regional days she wants to use her experience of committees to help The Guild.