Life and times of St Ives told in storytelling quilt

A COLOURFUL quilt portraying the landmarks of St Ives was unveiled at a ceremony marking the culmination of a pioneering project between a school and a care centre for the elderly.

Children from Eastfield Infant and Nursery School joined forces with residents from the Rheola Care Centre to make the story telling quilt.

“This has been an amazing project,” said Eastfield headteacher Nicola Day. “We very much hope the quilt will go on display at the St Ives Corn Exchange in the autumn so everyone has the chance to see it.”

The quilt was part funded by St Ives Town Council and Cambridgeshire County Council’s family learning programme, but another �1,000 is still needed to pay for the textile patchwork masterpiece.

Everyone involved in the creation of the quilt, children, parents, school staff, and residents from the Rheola Care Centre got together for the grand unveiling event during an assembly in the last week of the school term.

The quilt portrays various buildings in St Ives, including Cromwell’s statue, the chapel on the bridge and also places in Eastfield School, including their willow tunnel and vegetable border.

Local storyteller Marion Leeper has already visited every class in the school, telling tales about places shown on the quilt.

Mrs Day said: “We very much hope to continue the relationship between our school and the Rheola care centre. We feel it has been of great benefit to all concerned.”

nTo make a donation towards the quilt, contact the school on 01480 463958.