PW_1_2022

Cultural Corner

Crafty Copper 2021 Neil Hallam , Editor The Crafty Copper craft fair is a spin-off from the Section UK Writers’ SIG. Soon after forming our writers’ support group, we realised that many of our writers had other creative skills too. Cultural VP Sean Hannigan, put together the first Crafty Copper event in 2019, gathering together a selection of our creative members for a weekend at Fox Road. As with so many other things, our planned 2020 event could not go ahead, but we did get together again in October 2021.

T he newly decorated Section UK HQ at Fox Road was once again the venue for our two day craft event, with each of its many rooms hosting a different artistic genre. I was of course there, promoting my own writing, and our Section UK Writers’ SIG. David Lewis brought along his bonsai tree collection, and ran tuition sessions for visitors wanting to try their hand at the ancient oriental art. David (Doz) Hughes, is a multi-talented creative, with interests in writing, painting and photography. This time, Doz showcased his oil paintings, creating a striking demonstration piece on each of the two days. My wife Elaine joined us, passing on some British Sign Language (BSL) skills, as well as raising awareness about communicating with deaf people. Giving her sessions an artistic twist, Elaine focussed on Strictly Come Dancing’s inclusion of a deaf dancer in the 2021 series. EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis and her professional dancing partner Giovanni Pernice began working exchanges of BSL conversation into their dance routines, which Elaine taught to our visitors. Helen Wood, wife of Section UK President Clive, delivered a class in crafting with cardboard. Under Helen’s tuition, the group created three dimensional Christmas cards, in the shape of a gingerbread house. Andy Gregory developed a post-retirement career in professional photography, and brought along a very broad selection of the fantastic music, landscape and portrait photographs he has created over the last few years. Andy also gave lots of hints and tips on equipment choice, and how to make the best of the equipment you have. Steve Bretherton told us about beekeeping, and teaspoons were much in demand for sampling honey straight from the honeycomb. Paul Amoo put a slightly different spin on making retirement as fulfilling as possible, telling us about the many and varied volunteering roles he has taken on since leaving the police.

Thank you to the members who joined our creatives for Crafty Copper. We all had a fabulous weekend, sharing our skills and catching up with friends. When we next run Crafty Copper, we hope to combine it with a bigger craft event, by taking an IPA stall. That way, we will increase our footfall and also gain some valuable publicity for the Association. We are still researching an appropriate event, if readers have any suggestions, please get in touch with Neil at mail@neilhallam.com

Doz Hughes demostrates oil painting

Paul Amoo enjoys a Fulfulling Retirement

Helen Wood teaches crafting

David Lewis creates a bonsai

POLICE WORLD Vol 67 No.1, 2022

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