ALL ABOUT THE ISIS LACEMAKERS

How it all began

In September 1978 Christine Lardner began an evening class for beginners in lacemaking at Milham Ford School in Oxford. Although she specified a maximum of 15 students, the organizers, keen to gain extra revenue had enrolled 18! To be faced with 18 beginners when teaching lacemaking for the first time was a daunting prospect, but soon the students became proficient and hooked on lacemaking. Most returned for the second year, plus a few more until there were 24 in the class, which was now mixed ability, Torchon, Bedfordshire and Bucks Point Ground. Tutor and students began travelling to local lace days and soon decided that they would like to run their own. First a name for the group must be chosen. Eventually Isis Lacemakers was settled upon, Isis being the local name for the River Thames on its passage through the city.

In 1985 we decided that the evening class system was no longer suitable for our needs and so we formed a self help group which could meet all year round. The first meeting was in April 1985 and continues to this day meeting two evenings a month, and five Saturdays a year.

The first Isis Lace Day was held in a small hall in October 1983. About 100 lacemakers crowded into the hall, to spend their money at the sales tables, listen to the talk, drink tea and sample homemade cakes. The day was a success and even made a small profit, allowing us to confidently plan for our next Lace Day.

Lace Days have been held each October since 1983, and are now held at Exeter Hall in Kidlington, just north of Oxford city. Exeter Hall has a large and a small hall allowing us to cater for around 200 lacemakers. Tickets are usually sold out about a month before the event. Of course there are a selection of lacemaking suppliers attending to cover all needs, and a lace-related talk in the afternoon. There is a huge raffle for charity and a competition open to all, with inscribed bobbins as prizes.

Included in the ticket price are morning tea/coffee and biscuits, lunchtime tea/coffee and afternoon tea/coffee and homemade cakes. Lunch consists of quiche, various salads and roll, followed by fresh fruit. Lunch must be ordered with your ticket, alternatively you may bring a packed lunch or go out for lunch, Exeter Hall is next to a busy shopping centre and market.

When it became clear that more lacemakers wanted to attend our Lace Days than we had space for we decided that a Lace Fair would be a useful addition to the lacemaking calendar. The first was held in April 1989 and was such a success that a Lace Fair has been held each spring (March or April) ever since.

The Lace Fair is also held at Exeter Hall, Kidlington. The Fair is open to all, tickets are purchased at the door. Both halls are filled with lace and lace-related suppliers. There is a massive tombola for charity. Light refreshments are available all day.

Marion Welch was a founder member of the Isis Lacemakers and a committee member until she died, tragically early at only 56. She is well remembered by those attending our Lace Days as she always organized the raffle and so helped raise hundreds of pounds for charity. When she died, the group wanted to mark her life in some way and so the Marion Welch Trophy was born. The trophy is a pewter model of a lacemaker and is held for a year by the Isis member who produces the highest placed piece of lace in our annual competition. The holder also receives a bone bobbin inscribed Marion Welch Trophy to keep.

Over the years the Isis Lacemakers have raised many thousands of pounds for charity by holding raffles and tombolas. At each event we try to support a local and a national charity.

The Isis Lacemakers is a very busy, friendly group, our current membership is about 35. We enjoy demonstrating lacemaking at various local craft fairs, shows and fetes etc.

Our evening meetings are mainly for lace and chat, including a refreshment break and small raffle. Three times a year we invite a supplier to attend to allow us to stock up on essentials. Our Saturday members days allow for a longer period of lacemaking, away from the usual weekend chores of shopping and housework.

Each year we have a post-Christmas meal, at the end of January, as most lacemakers are too busy near Christmas. Members always receive a Christmas gift from the group at the Christmas party, which is held in the first week of December.

Another date in our calendar is a coach trip to the NEC for the annual Lacemakers Christmas Fair.

From the beginning of 2002 we are moving our evening and Saturday meetings to a new venue, St Nicholas Church Hall, Elsfield Road, Old Marston, Oxford. We are also changing our evening and will now meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 7-9pm. Our Saturday members days will be 10am-4pm (see calendar for more details).

We always welcome new members.

Visitors are always welcome, and if they decide to join subscriptions are currently £12.50 per annum. This includes all Tuesday and Saturday meetings, free entrance to the Lace Day and Lace Fair, a Christmas present from the group, a subsidised trip to the NEC Lacemakers Christmas Fair, and usually a subsidised post-Christmas meal. Evening refreshments and raffle cost 20p, tea and coffee at Saturday meetings is free.