£20,000 tapestry for people

An intricate embroidery inspired by Cannock Chase which has been in the making for six years is finally set to be unveiled and given to the people of the district as a gift.

The 11ft x 6ft artwork has cost more than £20,000 to produce and a dedicated team of 16 volunteers has spent around 10 hours each week working on it since 2001.

Finishing touches are being put to the tapestry and it will be packaged tomorrow ready to be transported to Cannock Chase Council's Civic Centre on Monday where it will go on permanent display.

It will be put in a special glazed cabinet which has been specially picked because it will preserve the colourful fabrics over future years.

An official unveiling ceremony will take place on November 17 and will be attended by Cannock Chase MP Tony Wright, vice-chairman of Chase Art for Public Spaces (CHAPS) Jack Sunley and a representative from the Royal School of Needlework.

A scroll will be presented to Cannock Chase Council chairman Councillor Ray Easton to mark the handing over of the embroidery.

The ribbon will then be cut at 4pm and music will be provided by Great Wyrley Townswomen's Guild.

People will be able to take a look at the tapestry between 4pm and 6.30pm on that day and further viewing days will take place throughout the following week between 10am and 12pm.

Chadsmoor Tapestry Group set about creating it after being approached by MP Mr Wright and Cannock's then town centre manager Moira Bertoni, and asked to produce something for the community. Group chairman Brenda Marshall, of Westcroft near Wolverhampton, said she was extremely proud of everybody's efforts as it had been a long road.

Miss Marshall, aged 71, said: "It features images of Cannock past and present and the flora and fauna of Cannock Chase, and it is really celebrating the area's heritage. It is a three dimensional design and really will have a good impact when people see it. We believe it is something really unique.

"We are expecting a huge amount of interest in this."

The group funded the estimated £9,000 cost of the fabrics for the embroidery itself over the years and a £9,000 lottery grant was secured to pay for the cabinet, launch and marketing costs.

Chadsmoor Tapestry Group meets once a week at Chadsmoor Methodist Church and its members took sections of the embroidery home to work on.

It was the group's third major project and members will now be concentrating on their own individual projects for a while.