350 enjoy 2 days of quilting heaven

Market Square Quilters Exhibition at Newbury College on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

Newbury College proved a perfect space for Market Square Quilters to hold an exhibition of quilts, as the area in The Street is so light and spacious and the staff were so accommodating, said quilter Caroline Ward.

The exhibition was opened by the college principal Iain Wolloff, who stressed the importance of passing on practical skills and enthusiasm to a younger generation.

The MSQ sub-committee who masterminded the event was led by Geraldine Priest for whom all the worry and sleepless nights were worth it to see such a successful event.

Three-hundred-and-fifty visitors went to see the quilts over the weekend. There were 105 quilts on display as well as many other wallhangings, cushions, table runners and Christmas crafts.

A raffle was held for which the main prize was a double bed quilt, won by Maureen Slade and the second prize a snakes and ladders playmat won by P Lawrence of Newbury.

More than £1,000 was raised through the raffle and this is to be donated to Time to Talk, a local charity offering counselling and advice to young people in the area.

The group meet once a month in St Francis de Sales parish hall in Wash Common.

If you missed the exhibition the quilts can be viewed on the group website www.marketsquarequilters.co.uk