Valerie Lampard wins Age Concern Christmas Art Competiton

Margot James held a competition in association with the Age Concern weekly art class, to find the best design for her Christmas Card.

Entrants were asked to paint or draw a picture along the theme of “Christmas in Stourbridge” and Valerie’s painting was a clear winner for the second year running. Specially commended was Betty Hughes for her painting of St Thomas’s Church in the snow.

The Stourbridge Age Concern art class numbers some 25 regular painters all of whom work under the supervision of Barbara Glover. Margot said “Barbara’s work is very impressive, many older people take up painting in their retirement and some, like Valerie Lampard, discover a talent they never knew they had. The class also provides a valuable social network which is so important particularly to those who live alone.”

The winning painting features the listed gates to Mary Stevens Park. The grade II listed gates have been in the news this year and will be the subject of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund in the spring of next year. They are in urgent need of restoration and Valerie’s painting provides a welcome view of how the gates will look after the restoration is complete.

Margot presented Paperway vouchers to the winner and runners up and a cheque for the Elton Centre Appeal fund was presented to Age Concern President Derek Elton and Chairman Ron Dalton.

Photos: Margot makes the presentations at the Age Concern weekly art class