The following reports give further information on Oxfordshire federation projects
DIAMOND SITE NEWS
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300 plus members and their families took advantage of a unique opportunity to visit the
the Diamond Light Source during construction in 2006. Based at the Harwell Chilton Science campus
in Oxfordshire it is the largest science facility to be built in the UK for 30 years. The building will cover
the size of about five football pitches and will be the home of intense light beams, a thousand billion times
brighter than hospital X-rays. The technology is expected to lead to enormous breakthroughs in the scientific fields
of biotechnology, medicine, engineering and environmental sciences.
Since the WI visit, the Oxford Trust, The Diamond Light Source and the WI have joined
together and with funding from the Wellcome Foundation have planned, designed and produced a huge wall hanging,
known as Designs for Life, for the atrium
of the main building. Shown in the photograph are Lord Lieutenant, Hugo Brunner, and Maureen White,
OFWI Project Leader, showing samples of the designs they considered right at the start of the project.
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Anne Griffiths, a member of Filkins & Broughton Poggs WI and
an expert textile artist, was one of our super-stitchers coordinating the design of the fabric panels
which more than 90 WI members began creating at the end of April. With a team
of Group Leaders, Anne masterminded the making of 30 panels, each 50cm square, which make up
into two huge hangings to be displayed in the atrium of the building. The photo (left)
shows Anne with Claire Dimond of the Diamond Site at the OFWI AGM.
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Shown here is one of the last panels to be completed for the Diamond Site hanging.
It represents the aspergyllus fungus, which is given off by rotting leaves and compost heaps. This
can cause breathing difficulties and asthma in those who are allergic to it. Pictured discussing the
design and putting the finishing touches to the panel are, from the left, Group Leader Jane Probitts
(Stoke Row WI), Jennifer Smith from Greys, Jeanette Creewel from Stoke Row and Elaine Douglas from
Peppard WI.
This is the second panel the Group took on with members from Dunsden, Woodcote, Goring and South
Stoke. Their first one was of a DNA fingerprint, worked in seminal patchwork. Altogether 30 members
helped on these two panels and Jane says they are sorry the project is over. They have enjoyed getting
together and working as a team and "don't know what we are going to do with ourselves now!"
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Also pictured is Joan Creese, Stanton St John WI, adding her few stitches to a panel
at the Federation Weekend at Denman College, where more than 70 members had the chance
to add their bit while they were attending courses there.
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The panels for the 'Design for Life' project are now complete.
OFWI has been greatly privileged to be involved in this project. The photograph
shows some of the OFWI stitchers admiring their panels at Science Oxford where the panels were first
exhibited.
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Inauguration of the Designs for Life art piece at The Diamond Light Source
| Over 150 members of the Federation gathered together at Diamond Light Source
in November 2007 to mark the finale of one of the largest art/science projects in the UK. The innovative science/art collaboration -
called Designs for Life - resulted in the production of 30 textile art panels depicting some of the 'dangerously beautiful'
viruses and diseases such as HIV, breast cancer and Alzheimer's, that are likely to be investigated as part of
biosciences research at the new UK synchrotron facility. The ceremony saw the artwork installed in its final position in the
atrium of the Diamond Light Source building as can be seen here.
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Everyone concerned is justifiably proud of the final result. Isabelle Boscaro-Clarke, Diamond's Head of
Communications says, "Diamond is extremely grateful to all the members of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes
who contributed to this exciting science/art project. The initiative has been a fantastic success and reflects Diamond's
commitment to working with the local community to promote a better understanding of our work."
The photo on the left shows members admiring their work and on the right, Steeple Aston WI members with
their panel which depicted the Foot & Mouth disease.
HM The Queen meets our Super Stitchers
In November 2007 Anne Griffiths, Filkins & Broughton Poggs WI, introduced HM The Queen, to
Pauline Goddard, Federation Chairman, and Pat Clark, Burford & Fulbrook WI. It was a great thrill when several of the
members who had been involved with the design and production of the Designs for Life project
received their silver invitations to the official opening of the synchrotron building. Imagine the delight and excitement
when it was discovered it was to be in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness the Duke of
Edinburgh.
| Anne Griffiths was given the task of explaining the reasoning
behind the panels and introducing our super stitchers to her majesty. The Queen smiled warmly at everyone and spoke to several, with her
Lady in Waiting bringing up the rear, followed by Hugo Brunner the Lord Lieutenant.
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Reassembling in the atrium the Queen and Prince Phillip joined them once again for the official unveiling of
a sculpture. Following this it was outside to watch the Red Devils parachuting down and then champagne and cake cutting,
collecting a commemorative book and, an added bonus, a limousine ride back to the distant car park. A day they will all
treasure for many years to come.
All photos by kind permission of The Diamond Light Source
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OFWI now has a splendid Scrapbook about the making of the Designs for Life panels.
This superb scrapbook was compiled by Valerie Cantrell of Sutton Courtenay WI, ably assisted by
Maureen White of Wolvercote WI. With beautiful photographs of the panels, the story is told of
how the project progressed from a small mention to a very prestigious project, all turned into a
very professional looking scrapbook. The page on Alzheimer's Plaques is pictured.
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