A service of thanksgiving for Ann Mary Johnstone (81) was held on 27 June at St Mary's Church. It was conducted by the Rev Helen Barnes and the Rev Margot Hodson. It was an unusual funeral as there was no coffin; instead, Ann Mary was wrapped in a hand-made shroud, decorated with individually crafted flowers and leaves made by fellow members of Haddenham Witchert WI and the Embroiderers' Guilds in Aylesbury and Yorkshire, and assembled by her daughter Cluny. During the service, the Haddenham Recorder Consort, of which Ann Mary had been a member for 21 years, played Vaughan Williams' 'Sweet Day So Cool' and long-standing friend Mary Pritchard read a poem she had written herself.
In a tribute to Ann Mary, the Rev Helen Barnes mentioned that Ann Mary had started training as an occupational therapist in mid-life and taught crafts to disabled people. She was a very creative person and had embroidered the beautiful altar frontal which happened to be in use on the day of the funeral. She was an active member of the Aylesbury Embroiderers' Guild and was chairman at the time of her death. She made greetings cards and marmalade for the WI's Thame Country Market and served on the stall every Tuesday, as well as making cakes for Haddenham Darby and Joan club. She loved ballroom dancing and attended tea dances in Haddenham and Thame (and previously at the Civic Centre in Aylesbury). In addition she was a steward at Haddenham Museum, a regular helper (along with her son Dickon) at Snakemoor local nature reserve work mornings, a stalwart on the Haddenham Horticultural Show committee (as well as a regular exhibitor) and a member of the Witchert Warblers, which sang to raise money for charity. She will be much missed by her children and 5 grandchildren and also by all the organisations to which she devoted so much time and effort.
Display of Embroidery and Textile Art
Those who can appreciate and share some of passion that Ann Mary had for embroidery may be interested to know that the Aylesbury Vale Embroiderers' Guild have organised a Display of Embroidery and Textile Art at Wycombe Library, 5 Eden Place, High Wycombe, HP11 2DH, Tel: 0845 2303232.
This runs from now until 26th September 2012.
The Library Opening Times are: Monday Closed; Tuesday 9.30am to 8pm; Wednesday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm; Sunday 11am to 5pm
The display comprises a variety of embroidery and textile art by members of the Aylesbury Vale Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild. For more information contact Margaret Winstanley, Membership Secretary (Tel: 01296 622551) or email Sue Robinson, sue@hp217ag.freeserve.co.uk
