The Beresford Puppets
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Ted with Toby dog made for a Punch professor.
SORRY!
Some of the pictures did not come through. Do not know why. Have, hopefully, put them back in.
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Chap.14 Chap.15 Chap16 Chap17Latest News as at
November, 2009The Story is now up to chapter 17
Just had a very interesting Guild council meeting. Actually, it was the venue that was interesting. Thanks to our Archivist, Michael Dixon, with much help from his wife Mar and young Charlotte, we now have a superb new storage for the Guild archives as well as a meeting place.. Although there are still items to be sorted, puppets and model theatres are on display in cabinets and racks, etc.; and books and paper collections are readily available. Very many thanks to Michael and family for an excellent endeavour; the Guild should be proud of both the facility and its archivist.
A very enjoyable mini-fest at Tropiquaria, Watchet, Somerset. Although I am only able to do a simple jig doll routine due to my arthritis it was great to work with Paul Doran who has his Shadowstring Puppet theatre there as well as the other visiting puppeteers. It resulted in a 50% increase in the 'Gate'. Pity so few local puppeteers showed up; The performers came from as far afield as Doncaster and Worthing.
Visits to the house here will have to be put on hold for a while, as will home tuition. I will be moving sometime soon. Not sure when as there is a lot of shuffling to be done. Grand-daughter, Kate moves into son, Chris's house. He moves into a bigger place and I move into a 'Granny flat' with Chris. Most important - It should result in a really good workshop! It will not be far away at Horsehay, Telford.
Skipton was great. Many thanks to Liz and Daniel Lempen who organised a cracking good weekend. It was a pleasure to meet up with old friends; Chris and Meike Geris (Plansjet) and Andras Lenart of Micropodium as well as many other overseas puppeteers and UK friends. Weather was excellent and the young school girls with whom I made jig dolls performed like troopers and were so mature when talking to adults in 'our' Jig Doll barge moored alongside the playing area. The museum exhibition of my puppets was there for nearly three months and was, apparently well received.
So much for retirement. Although I no longer do the school workshops and general shows I try to be involved as much as I can in Guild affairs and give support when or where I can.
"My story, what I wrote" is under way again. The first Seventeen chapters are there for all to see and criticise; new chapters will be added as I find time to get them written and illustrated. My apologies to those without broadband which probably means that the story will be rather slow downloading with all the pictures and sketches but I don't think there is an answer to that problem from my end (If you can get it in your area use Virgin's cable broadband, it is fibre optics and you simply cannot get faster).
When Kath died I felt that it was time to retire gracefully, put my feet up and watch telly but no such luck; there still seem to be plenty of work to do. The mini street organ is coming on nicely, the front figure is finished and beats time nicely to the music. Next job for that is the cart to carry it on.
*Then there is the cooking, washing and other household time wasters but apart from that my time is my own. Kath is probably looking down and tapping her foot as I have now moved all woodcarving, painting and light construction work into the conservatory. Not only is the light in there excellent but it is so much warmer than the workshop (garage). In the cold weather I rush out there, use the band saw or pillar drill and rush back in again!
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