Mary Ward Centre at Bloomsbury Festival
Come along to Russell Square on Sat 22 Oct 10:00-18:00 Sun 23 Oct 11:00-17:00 to see an exhibition of artworks created for the Bangladeshi mela in Mary Ward Centre classes. Click on thelink for more info. http://www.bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/event/id/81
And why not try your hand at creating your own panel at a free workshop on Sat 22 Oct 12:00-16:00 at Russell Square. Click on the link for more info. http://www.bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/event/id/73
Camden in Bloom 2011
Once again the beautiful floral displays at the front of the Centre in Queen Square have won a prize in the ‘Camden in Bloom’ competition. Our window boxes were at their best at just the right time for the judges to appreciate the colourful flowers, and we were delighted to take second prize in the ‘Best business entrance’ category. The photo below shows Ceri Williams, Principal, and Mary Ward Settlement Trustee Mehul Shah accepting the award from the Mayor of Camden at a presentation ceremony.
Mary Ward Centre ESOL outreach classes get together with the British Museum for the Omani Jewellery exhibition!
Late May saw the culmination of an ESOL outreach project with the British Museum. Three classes Entry 1, Entry 2 and Entry 3 respectively visited the Omani Jewellery exhibition at the British Museum. The groups were led by Janine Marsh who both teaches and coordinates ESOL trips to the British Museum. The visits were all followed by a class visit in which the students designed their own ‘silver’ boxed necklaces based on the original Omani necklaces displayed in the exhibition. The original boxed necklaces held the Qur’an – the ESOL students wrote their own personal messages. The trip was taken to promote participation in the community and encourage students to enjoy a visit of cultural interest at the British Museum. All students thoroughly enjoyed both the exhibition and the making of their own boxed necklaces!
The Entry 1 class arrive at the British Museum Omani Jewellery exhibition
Som Omani exhibits that the students were allowed to see before the exhibition!
Bi-Hua wears a ‘lihaf’
Motasshin wears a ‘tabouche’
Hadi’s technique for plaiting the cord to suspend the box from the neck
Some examples of the original Omani necklaces which gave inspiration to the project.
Helen (Entry 2) designs the cover of the box
Astreia – Entry 3 class
Some of the finished products!
Michael Rosen, poet, children’s author and broadcaster, visits students on an ESOL class at the Centre
Michael Rosen Visit
Last week, we had the joy and the honour to entertain Michael Rosen, the best known figure in the children’s book world. We welcomed him with a little “bring and share” party. While nibbling food prepared in different ways by students from different backgrounds (ESDL Level 2), we enjoyed Michael performing his latest poem “In pursuit of the woman in the feathered hat”. The poem has an 8-beat rhythm. Michael Rosen seems to be a very kind man, outspoken and easy going. He answered our questions about his personal life, his family, and his studies….with simplicity and without any sign of pretension.
We really enjoyed this short moment with him and ended it by taking some nice photos as a souvenir…
Canh Vo Thi
Last month we had the privilege to have Mr Michael Rosen once more at Mary Ward Centre. Furthermore we all enjoyed his presence and knowledge. We had a little lunch prepared for him and we chatted, laughed and listened to one of his poems. He was open with us in a way that he told us things about his private life. He was cool and I was grateful to have him at our school. He is an exceptional person, well mannered, courteous, respectful, refined and cultured. Sometimes it is difficult to find a person so righteous with the ability to entertain and create for the benefit of others, especially children. That is why Mr Michael Rosen will always be welcome at Mary Ward Centre and will have a place in my memory.
Luis Fernando Arias Puerta
Mary Ward Settlement and Legal Centre trustees raise money for Mary Ward Legal Centre and their new home at 10 Great Turnstile!
Trustees and supporters walked 10 km for the Legal Centre in the London Legal Walk after work on 16 May.
The trustee' previous London Legal Support Trust walk in February raised £4,807 including gift aid.
They have already raised over £2964 from this walk and aim to equal their success in February.
Their fundraising page remains open for two months.
Click on the link below to make your contribution to help them meet their target. Thank you!
Back row: Robert Westlake and Elizabeth Sinclair-House, supporters; Ceri Williams, Warden Mary Ward Settlement and Legal Centre trustee Front row: Judith Barber, Settlement trustee, Marit Mohn and Maya de Souza, Legal Centre trustees
Our walkers at the finish line at the Law Society
FUNDRAISING EVENING FOR MARY WARD LEGAL CENTRE
Cherie Booth QC spoke warmly about the service offered by the Mary Ward Legal Centre at a fundraising evening on 14th May.
The ‘invitation only’ event was kindly hosted by Matrix Chambers, and was attended by Mary Ward Trustees, friends and supporters of the Legal Centre. An auction, managed by broadcaster Liz Barclay, raised in excess of £2,000 – lots included a gold and diamond necklace, a week’s holiday accommodation in France and a course at Mary Ward Centre which proved to be very popular with bidders.
Funds raised will go towards the refurbishment of 10 Great Turnstile, and assist the Legal Centre in its move to the new building in June this year.
Cherie Booth QC chats to MWLC Trustee Peter Vlachos before formally welcoming everyone
Ceri Williams, Principal of Mary Ward Centre, Cherie Booth QC, Rabinder Singh, MWLC Trustee and Margie Butler, MWLC CEO
Diana Good, Chair of the Mary Ward Settlement Board and MWLC Trustee thanks Cherie Booth for her participation in the evening
Rabinder Singh and Rebecca Hilsenrathe, both Trustees of the MWLC
Lindsay Scott, Chief Executive, Matrix Chambers, and Margie Butler, MWLC CEO
The evening was well attended!
Broadcaster Liz Barclay starts the auction
Signed copies of books by Cherie Booth and Tony Blair helped boost the fundraising
Prospective bidders check the auction details
MARY WARD STUDENTS WIN PRIZES AT NEW DRAWING EXHIBITION
Mary Ward students were among six presented with prizes by celebrated artist Maggi Hambling CBE at the launch of the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Drawing Exhibition, at Morley Gallery. Over 211 drawings were submitted to the exhibition by London’s adult learners, and of these, 110 of the very best entries have been chosen for display by a distinguished panel of judges.
Of the six entries selected for special prizes totalling over £2,000, two Mary Ward students were honoured for their work. Deborah Robins was a joint winner in the hotly-contested Drawing from Observation category. Harry Bridgman was highly commended for his entry ‘Self portrait’. Visitors to the exhibition will still have the opportunity to nominate their favourite drawing for the People’s Prize, an award of £200 which will be presented to the exhibitor with the most votes at the end of the exhibition.
The Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Drawing Exhibition, which runs from 11 May to 11 June, aims to promote the importance of drawing and learning throughout adult life.
As Deborah Robins, joint winner of the Drawing from Observation category says: “I originally studied life drawing as part of my degree, and after 30 years decided I wanted to get back into it. I think as an adult you take learning seriously, as you understand that time is short. Taking the course has given me the beginnings of a new career just when I needed it and has really boosted my confidence – I’ve really benefited from the strong structure and the encouragement of my tutor and fellow students. I don’t think I would have got back into drawing otherwise. I now feel that drawing is something I can do, and be in control of to a certain extent. It’s a very emotional experience for me, and can make me feel elated.”
Stillness
Harry Bridgeman said of his work: “I signed up to the over 60’s art class on the recommendation of the tutor and fellow students from my previous colour class. I like the warm and inclusive environment of the Mary Ward Centre, and am enjoying the variety of media and approaches to art. The feedback I receive is encouraging and stretching, and teaches me to look differently at what I’m doing. When I’m drawing I love how my hands, body and mind become at one with the medium. During the process I’m hyper-aware of what I’m creating and afterwards I’m drained and exhilarated. My drawing for the exhibition is a 30-minute self-portrait created in class last December. I love using charcoal. I like its physicality – it seems to be part of my hand. When the dust is flying it’s as if I’m uncovering the image.”
Self Portrait
Mary Ward Students & Tutor Meet Princess Anne - 5 April 2011
Mary Ward students and tutor meeting Princess Anne at the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE)90th Anniversary Conference - "Learning from the past to shape the future" on Tuesday 5 April 2011.
Students Momotaz Jamal, Julika Miah and tutor Zoe Skinner joined students and tutors from City Lit to discuss their experience of teaching and learning with Princess Anne, who is Patron of NIACE.
Left to right: Princess Anne, Carol Taylor, Deputy Director of NIACE, Momotaz, Julika and Zoe
Mary Ward students and City Lit students with Princess Anne
Visit of Michael Rosen and Word of Mouth team to Mary Ward Centre ESOL class - 11 March 2011
Michael Rosen, poet and presenter of Radio 4's Word of Mouth programme visited Mary Ward Centre on 11 March 2011 and met Jane Daly, MWC ESOL teacher and interviewed some of her students. They will feature in the next "Word of Mouth" programme about planned restrictions to ESOL concessions to those on "active" benefits which will make it harder to study ESOL for many, especially women.
The programme was broadcast on 22 March at 4pm and repeated on 28 March at 11pm. Click on here for more details.
The interviews here in the Centre with ESOL students were followed by a recording at Broadcasting House of a studio discussion chaired by Michael, with a panel consisting of Ceri Williams, Principal Mary Ward Centre; John Eversley, City Uni; Sarah Mulley, IPPR and Douglas Murray, Centre for Social Cohesion.
The date of the first transmission was timely as it precedes the national day of action about this issue on 24 March by Action for ESOL http://actionforesol.org/ which some of our students and tutors have been involved in, and for which support is requested.
Michael taught the students a poem after the recording and they are inviting him back for more poetry. See below for pictures of Michael and students, with Jane Daly, teacher, and Ceri Williams, Principal.
Mary Ward Centre Lecturer Speaking At European Congress of Psychology
Mary Ward Centre Psychology lecturer Anna Campbell will be speaking at the twelfth European Congress of Psychology convening in Istanbul in July this year. The conference attracts delegates from across Europe and she will be speaking at the teaching and learning strand of the conference (Europlat).
'I was really pleased to hear that both papers I am involved in writing have been accepted' Anna said. 'I attended the conference last year and was impressed at the breadth of issues discussed.'
As well as her work at the Mary Ward Centre, Anna also works at City University London and has worked with a colleague there to write the papers. She is lead author on the paper entitled ‘Using technology to innovate in Psychology Higher Education in a UK
university: a case study’ and is second author on the paper entitled ‘Student feedback and online marking in an undergraduate psychology
programme: a case study’.
WALK THE THAMES sponsored walk 19-20 February
Ceri Williams, Principal and Warden, Settlement trustees Elvia and Caro, Mary Ward Centre tutor Debbie Lewis, friends and family and a team of walkers from Linklaters all walked in the London Legal Trust sponsored walk on 19-20 February to raise money for the refurbishment of Dolphin Court and for the Mary Ward Legal Centre.
MANY THANKS to all those who sponsored the walkers. If you haven’t donated yet, it’s not too late - please click on the link below. The fundraising page will remain open until the end of March 2011. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MaryWardLegalCentre.
See below for pictures from the walk.
Ready for the off!
Dreary weather, but still a smile from Caro (Trustee)
Julie Light, friend of MW – yes, this was the Thames Walk, although it looks like a countryside ramble!
Debbie Lewis (MWC Tutor), Marianne Fenney, Ceri Williams (Principal & Warden) – well protected from the elements
Elvia Carvalho, trustee, flanked by her supporters Fatima and Eleanor, with Ceri Williams at a well deserved lunch
Very welcome refreshment for Bob Nightingale of London Legal Trust, Debbie, Caro, Julie, Ceri and Marianne .
Mary Ward Settlement Complete The Purchase Of Dolphin Court
Mary Ward Settlement completed the purchase of Dolphin Court, 10-11, Great Turnstile, WC1 on 3 December 2010. The building will provide a new home for the Mary Ward Legal Centre and some additional adult education classroom and studio space for Mary Ward Centre.
Work has begun on the refurbishment of the building and we aim for occupation by July 2011. The Settlement and Legal Centre are still fundraising for much needed donations to help us decorate, furnish and equip the new building.
Please click on this link to see how you can help.
The Mary Ward Legal Centre Annual Lecture
The Mary Ward Legal Centre Annual Lecture, held on 9th November 2010, was delivered to a packed auditorium by Baroness Helena Kennedy, who spoke about Access to Legal Aid and the difficulties that will be faced by both lawyers and clients when proposed changes to funding come into force.
The event promoted the work of the Mary Ward Settlement and Legal Centre and helped raise funds for the refurbishment of our new building, Dolphin Court.
Everyone was delighted when, after the lecture, the Wig and Pen Prize 2010 was presented by The City of London Law Society and the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society to Sally Gill. The award recognises pro bono work undertaken by a young solicitor in the Societies' catchment areas, and Sally won the award for her work at the Mary Ward Legal Centre.
The evening was generously hosted by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP.
The packed auditorium – it was a very popular lecture.
Baroness Helena Kennedy
The presentation of the Wig and Pen Award:
(left to right) David McIntosh QC, Chairman of The City of London Law Society,
Sally Gill, Baroness Helena Kennedy and
Peter Adams, The City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society
Bloomsbury Festival 22 – 24 October 2010
The Mary Ward Centre took part in Bloomsbury Festival all weekend. On Friday evening we joined in the procession with parents and children from Netley, St Aloysius and Argyle primary schools with lanterns made in Mary Ward Centre classes at the schools.
On the Saturday we supported the South Asian Festival at SOAS. We were able to showcase artworks created with the local community for the Camden Bangladesh Mela. The exhibition displayed works spanning over 10 years, including various wall hangings and backdrops, The Nouka- a traditional fishing boat partly made from recycled materials. Bangla Ghor- A rural house made using mixed media textile techniques. Ricksha Fusion- A rickshaw decorated by fusing different art concepts. Alongside the exhibition we also ran free craft workshops in paper jewellery and flower making which were very popular with the public and attracted hundreds of visitors over the whole weekend.
On Sunday the festival continued at Russell Square where we set up a marquee, ran workshops and our very own Veronica Ashcroft demonstrated the beautiful Tai Chi Sword form and popular Beijing 24 form.
Mary Ward Student Receives art award
Mary Ward Centre student Muriel Morris Jones has received an award at the V&A for her sculpture, "In the beginning finding a voice".
Food Chain Land Draw, Mile End Park - original idea by artist and Mary Ward tutor, Abigail Downer, produced together with the ScapeSpace Events Team
The event involved drawing a 28 metre frog, 15 metre dragonfly and 10 metre spider into the landscape of Mile End Park. The image was completed by 300 people visiting the park, including several Mary Ward students, and materials used included lentils, rice, beans, soil, flowers, straw and other organic matter that would re-integrate naturally back into the park. A photo montage of the frog was then compiled by photographer Mischa Haller. More details of the project can be found at www.mischaphoto.com/scapespace.html
Look out for the billboards:
Junction of Cambridge Heath Road and Hackney Rd, Tower Hamlets, London from 11/10/10 to 24/10/10.
Junction of Bethnal Green Road and Cambridge Heath Road, Tower Hamlets London from 25/10/10 to 7/11/10.
Mary Ward Tutor Ciara Healy's work now featured in Victorian Shopping Experience: The Secret Arcade
This enchanting shopping concept show cases the best of British interior, textile, fashion, perfume and art design and has been featured in Marie Claire Magazine among others.
A cycle rickshaw reconstructed in Mary Ward Centre classes by Camden community centres and schools drew crowds of people at Sunday’s Camden Bangladesh Mela in Regent’s Park. Thousands of people gathered in the park on Sunday 4 July for a celebration of Bangladeshi culture.
The cycle rickshaw was one of a pair shipped specially from Bangladesh to the Mary Ward Centre in Bloomsbury where it was dismantled and the parts dispersed among seven community centres in Camden. Each centre then reconstructed their rickshaw pieces, decorating the parts with artwork depicting London, Dhaka and British and Bangladeshi culture, supported by a Mary Ward tutor. 70 people from Camden took part in the project. The other rickshaw has been left intact as built in Bangladesh.
In Fitzrovia, a group of women led by Samina Dewan and Mary Ward tutor Zoe Wilson-Dutton did weekly workshops at the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre to paint, decorate and embroider floral designs and scenery from Britain and Bangladesh onto the rickshaw.
Mary Ward Centre At Treasure - Jewellery Show
Students of the Mary Ward Centre jewellery class recently exhibited at Treasure, Victoria House as part of London Jewellery Week 2010.
The students working with tutor Kelvin Birk have produced items of jewellery and other collectable pieces.
This collection of unique pieces illustrates the student's collective imaginative flair and passion for jewellery making.
Click on the images below for a full size view.
Mary Ward Centre on BBC Radio London
Mary Ward Centre featured on Radio London's drive time programme on 13th May. As usual, our students have done us proud. If you'd like to listen, click on link below for the interviews on Eddie Nestor's Drive Time programme. (Intro item on adult learning from Rachel Thompson of NIACE on their recent survey showing increase in participation, then their reporter Louise doing a description of our Centre then interviews with stained glass and other MWC students. Then interview with Mary Ward Centre Principal Ceri Williams talking about adult education and its benefits, and several of our student talking about the courses available at the Mary Ward Centre. One of the station's reporters spent some time here and was clearly impressed by the Centre and our students.
Mary Ward Settlement & Legal Centre Fundraising Walk
WE DID IT! On 20 and 21 February trustees of the Mary Ward Settlement and Legal Centre walked the Thames River Path from the Thames Barrier to Hampton Court. Some walked 20 miles on the first day, some 22 miles on the second day, and some the full 42 miles to raise money for the Mary Ward Legal Centre. The Justgiving pages below will stay open for another few weeks. Please help the Mary Ward Legal Centre raise funds to help it continue providing its free legal service to people across London who otherwise could not afford to access advice. Please donate via my page http://www.justgiving.com/Ceri-Williams (Ceri walked the 22 miles on the second day) or through our trustees page http://www.justgiving.com/Mary-Ward-Legal-Centre (Several of the Mary Ward Settlement trustees and some friends walked the full 42 miles over the two days).
Day 1 - Thames Barrier
Mary Ward Settlement Trustees Mehul Shah, Karen Blake, Diana Good, Caro Millington and friends and partners
Day 2 - Richmond - nearly there!
Settlement Trustees - Diana Good (Chair) and Mehul Shah, Principal and Warden - Ceri Williams, Friend - Alexander Good.
Click on the images above for a full-size version
Camden Bangladesh Mela Networking Event – Committee Members
As one of the Committee Members, the Mary Ward Centre was involved in helping to plan and host a Networking Event on 20th January, alongside other Members of the Camden Bangladesh Mela. The evening focused on generating awareness of the Mela’s activities and the benefits it brings to the local and wider communities. It was also an event to raise funds through sponsorship and other involvements. For more details on the Camden Bangladesh Mela visit www.camdenbangladeshmela.org
Click on the image above for a full-size version
Corot to Monet: A Fresh Look at Landscape from the Collection
Mary Ward Over 60’s students and tutor Alison Shipton took part & have work in exhibition.
8 July - 20 September 2009
A ScapeSpace Event, Land Draw at Woodmill, Southampton. September 2009
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wild Life trust are working with artist Abigail Downer on The Itchen Navigation Arts Project during the course of 2009 and 2010.
The event in September brought together artists and collaborators from many disciplines - music, dance, film/photography to create "Total Artwork" as well as the hands of 400 local participants. A dance troupe from Houndsdown Secondary School performed a dance piece under the direction of WiseMoves Dance Ltd in response to a specially composed score by Dale Sumner and the designs of the lead artist.
The Arts Programme is part of the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail a lottery funded conservation project in Hampshire.
The aim of the project is to preserve the Itchen Navigation for future generations and celebrate the outstanding wildlife and history of the internationally renowned chalk river system.
The ScapeSpace Event Team are Abigail Downer, Dan Wheale, Rosie Woods, Sarah Bayes and Hubert Kopec - all have Mary Ward Connections. There has also been the opportunity for Mary Ward students to work alongside the team on previous projects.
Images credited to Rod Varley
Proud students from the Community Outreach Programme, see their creative work on permanent display at the British Museum
Proud Camden students saw their work hanging in the British Museum's staff restaurant at a celebration event attended by the Mayor, Cllr Omar Faruque Ansari.
The textile banner, made by the students during a series of classes held in the Museum, is a product of a unique partnership between the Museum, Coram and the Mary Ward Adult Education Centre in Queen Square. Students were given access to the Museum's unparalleled textile collection from around the world, and used techniques and designs stimulated by the input from curators. John Orna-Ornstein, Head of London and National Programmes, said, "The British Museum is a national and international institution, but we also want to be a local museum. This partnership, following closely on the Mela Arts display in the Great Court in July, is helping us be part of Camden’s community.”
Ceri Williams, Principal of the Mary Ward Centre, said "We are so proud to see students' work holding its own in this environment. We're looking forward to see the product of the next class we're planning with the Museum".
Click on each image for a full-size view.
Finding work via The Mary Ward Centre - Community Interpreting and Translation courses, Employment Fair
On 29th March The Mary Ward Centre hosted an Interpreting recruitment fair at which community linguists - graduates of the Community Interpreting and Translation courses from Mary Ward Centre and its partners came along to meet and sign up with interpreting agencies. Nearly 60 Interpreters met with 14 employers who between them work across the length and breadth of Britain.
Mary Ward Staff Member's Film on Channel 4
Mary Ward Centre Evening reception worker and film maker/writer Dewi Bruce-Konuah's film "Raising Baby Rio" was on Channel 4.
For three days from 3rd – 5th July 2009 students from Mary Ward Centre outreach classes displayed their work in the Great Court of the British Museum as part of the Mela Arts Exhibition. See below for more about the Mela Arts project.
Click on each image for a full-size view.
Mela Arts Cultural Event, British Museum
On the Saturday of the Mela Arts exhibition there was a family arts celebration.
Following the production of the Bangla Ghor and Nouka in previous years, this year’s Mela Arts project was Sonar Bangla. Bangladesh is known as Sonar Bangla, Golden Bengal, because of the richness of her land that takes on golden hue when the rice crop is ready for harvesting.
The Mary Ward Centre, with support from Awards for All and the British Museum, has been working with a number of community groups and organisations in Camden, designing and making artwork that has come together to create a Map of Bangladesh for the ‘Sonar Bangla’ project. Groups involved parents from St Alban’s Primary School and Christopher Hatton Primary School, Women from Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, Bengali Workers Association and Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre and also men from Kings Cross Bengali Men’s Project.
Over 100 people have been involved in its making, experiencing the whole design process starting with discussing ideas, sharing memories and stories, gathering visual research, developing design ideas and making the final map and three dimensional models. The aim of the project has been to take participants on a journey through “Golden Bangladesh” exploring the themes of transport, agriculture, factories, landscape, rivers, sea, city & village life, food, flora and fauna, National Monuments, animals and the people of Bangladesh. The Project has brought together from different communities and cultures
The map is beautifully illustrative. It combines highly decorative mosques, ornate rickshaws, lovingly made animals, samples of food, transport, plants and so very much more. Everything incorporated into the Sonar Bangla demonstrates unique skill and variety involving print making, appliqué and embroidery, model making, construction and collage techniques. Some students gathered inspiration from a visit to Pollocks Toy Museum; Workshops were arranged for families, to encourage as many people as possible to join in and share the experience.
The Sonar Bangla Project has been highly successful in the build up to the 2009 Camden Mela. We are delighted that with the support from Awards for All the Mary Ward Centre, a College for Adult Education, has been able to involve in excess of 100 participants develop their artistic and creative skills in such a unique and positive way. The Sonar Bangla is art work with many dimensions that has been produced to a high standard and with the support from the British Museum we are all so very proud to see it exhibited in the Great Court.
Maddy Fisk, Community Education Outreach Co-ordinator
The Mary Ward Centre, Adult Education College
Pictures from the Mela Arts Cultural Event
Click on each image for a full-size view.
Camden Bangladeshi Mela, Regents Park
On Sunday 5th July members of Mary Ward Centre staff and students were involved in supporting the day.
Click on each image for a full-size view.
'Camden in Bloom' Competition
The flower displays at the front of the Centre are beautiful this year, and we are not alone in thinking so. We are delighted to have won second prize in the ‘Camden in Bloom’ competition. The award was presented by the Mayor at a ceremony on 13th July. Special thanks go to our gardener, Ben Emslie, who has produced such a lovely display.
Click on the images below for a full size view.
Mary Ward Student Receives Bursary Fund
This year Hubert received the Helena Kennnedy Foundation bursary fund. The trustee recognised the students' difficult circumstances and were moved and inspired by the commitment and dedication he showed in continuing his education. Trustees also appreciated the tremendous support that the college has given to Hubert.
Jewellery Exhibition
Pictures from the Jewellery Exhibition private view
June 11 2009
52 Lambs Conduit St
Exhibition continues till 14th June
Click on each picture for a full size view.
Mary Ward Players Newspaper Review
The Mary Ward Player's recent production has been reviewed by the Lymington Times.
A group of Finnish adult educators and English students from Seinäjoki visited the Centre on April 24th. Their Centre is similar in size to the Mary Ward Centre but receives a higher subsidy from the national and local government. The group left us with some great pictures of buildings in their home town, some of which were designed by the architect Alvar Aalto, and copies of essays the students had written on their early experiences of education in Finland. See below for picture of the group and letter from the visit organiser. If any Mary Ward students have a particular interest in following up this Finnish connection, do contact Ceri.
Click on Image for a Full Size Version
Special Lunch held for 40 Year's Service
On 22nd March a special lunch was held at the Centre to celebrate Peter del Tufo’s 40 years’ service to the Mary Ward Settlement. We are delighted that Peter remains as a much respected member of the Board of Trustees, but we could not let such a milestone go by without thanking him for his dedication and all his work for us. The lunch was attended by present and past staff, trustees and friends of the Centre.
Click on any image for a Full Size Version
Mary Ward Tutor's Exhibiting her work
Carolyn Curtis our Advanced Painting and Visual poetry tutor is exhibiting work in the 491 Gallery Leytonstone (491 Grove Green Road, E11 4AA) opening Wednesday 17 February from 6-9pm.
Mary Ward Staff Member Sandra Breen collects her MBE from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace
Sandra Breen, PA to the Vice Principal - Curriculum & Quality received her MBE at Buckingham Palace from Prince Charles. See below for photos of the occasion.
Sandra with her MBE
(From Left) Maddy Fisk, Community Education Outreach; Paula Suen, Crèche and Reception Assistant; Marc Breen, Visual Arts Tutor; Suzanna Jackson, Vice Principal - Curriculum & Quality; Ceri Williams, Principal and Warden; Sandra Breen, PA to Vice Principal - Curriculum & Quality; Eileen Lyttle, Special Needs Co-ordinator; Eileen's Partner Jimmy & Sandra's Partner David.
Sandra with her MBE
Sandra & her Partner David
Marc Breen, Visual Arts Tutor; Maddy Fisk, Community Education Outreach; Sandra Breen, PA to Vice Principal - Curriculum & Quality; Sandra's Partner David.
Visit from Sion Simon MP, parliamentary under secretary for further education
On Monday 17th Dec 2008, Mary Ward Centre was pleased to host this visit of the recently appointed minister. After a tour of the Centre and meeting with Principal Ceri Williams and Vice Principal Suzanna Jackson, he visited the Bangla Ghor exhibition at the British Museum and a Mary Ward Centre textiles class. We made the case to him of the importance of a cost of living increase and protection of government funding for the type of non accredited adult learning that we offer, in particular for our outreach work.
Sion Simon MP & Ceri Williams, Principal of MWC
Sion Simon MP & Ceri Williams, Principal of MWC
Mary Ward Singers on BBC Radio 4
Students in a Mary Ward Centre singing class were interviewed for a Radio 4 programme, Questions Questions about women's voices. The voice coach from the X factor visited the class and spoke with students. The programme went out on Thursday 6th November at 3pm.
Reopening of the former Mary Ward Youth Club, Coram's Fields
Saturday 27 Sept 2008
Janet Trevelyan, Mary Ward's daughter, led the campaign to open Coram's Fields Playground in the 1930s. There has always been a strong link between Mary Ward Centre and Coram's Fields and the Principal of Mary Ward serves on the Council of Management of Coram's Fields today.
In the 1950s Mary Ward Settlement funded and built a youth club in Coram's Fields Playground and was responsible for the running of it until 2000 when it was formally handed back to the trustees of Coram's Fields. Recent fundraising, including a small grant from Mary Ward Settlement, has enabled Coram's Fields to extensively refurbish the premises. Several generations of principals and trustees of Mary Ward attended the opening ceremony on 27 th September where Frank Dobson, MP, Chair of the Coram's Fields Board, formally opened the new club. Young people currently using the club showed us round the new facilities.
1. Frank Dobson MP, Chair of Coram's Fields Board, formally opens the refurbished youth club and remembers Hugh Webster, Mary Ward Youth Club leader for many years.
Left to right: Ceri Williams, Principal and Warden – Mary Ward Centre and Settlement; Joyce Hindess, long standing member of Mary Ward Settlement and former trustee; Bill Kitney, former Principal and Warden; Frank Dobson MP
2. Several generations of Mary Ward trustees and principals on the Hugh Webster memorial bench.
Left to right - Back row: Bill Kitney; Peter del Tufo – former treasurer Mary Ward Youth Club from 1967, currently Chair Mary Ward Settlement; Patrick Freestone, former Principal and Warden Mary Ward
Front row: Ceri Williams, current Principal and Warden; Gloria Sachs, current trustee Mary Ward Settlement and former Chair, Mary Ward Youth Centre; Joyce Hindess
Far left: Ianthe del Tufo
3.
4. Principal/Wardens of Mary Ward Settlement
Bill Kitney (Principal 1971- 1978), Ceri Williams (Current Principal since 2006), Patrick Freestone (Principal 1986 – 2006)
5.
Mary Ward Student wins V&A competition
Mary Ward student Kelly Harcus was a winner in the V&A Inspired By competition this year.Click the links below for more details:
In July, the Centre collaborated with the City Lit, Working Men's College, Westminster Kingsway College, and Westminster Adult Education to stage an Adult Learning Fair, entitled Learning in London. This was the first time that the Centre had worked collaboratively with partner colleges on such a venture. The aim was to celebrate the rich and various opportunities there are for adult learning in Central London, and to promote the many courses offered by different colleges and other learning providers. The event took place at Bloomsbury Baptist Church, and was attended by a large number of adult learning providers large and small, including Birkbeck and the Open University as well as the main organisers.
The Mayor of Westminster opened the event, and the photo shows her visiting the Mary Ward Centre stand, being received by our Student Services Manager, Madeleine Page. We were pleased that Veronica Ashcroft, our Tai Chi tutor, and Pascalle Edwards, our Belly Dancing tutor were able to attend the event, demonstrating their subjects and promoting their courses to visitors. The photo shows Veronica with Dave Green, one of of Student Services staff, demonstrating Tai Chi. Students and tutors from the City Lit also provided musical and drama performances.
For a first event, the Fair attracted considerable interest from visitors, and it is hoped that the Fair will run again next year, at a different venue to attract an even greater number of visitors.
2008 Queen Square Fair
See below for a collection of photos from the 2008 Queen Square Fair
Celebration of student achievement/Tea with Tony Benn
Here are a selection of photos from the Celebration of student achievement and Tea with Tony Benn event that took place on Sunday 18 May 2008.
