We are a group of women who meet on the  fourth Thursday of the month in Pakefield Church Hall, beginning at 2.00pm, unless otherwise stated.

Our aims are:

*  Promoting friendship, support and social activities for women in the local community

*  Raising funds for our charitable causes.

All women are welcome (whether or not you are a wife !)

PAKEFIELD WIVES’ GROUP

We have all experienced the magic of books at a very early age, stories read to us remain with us for ever. Alice in Wonderland, Swallows and Amazon for our generation, Revd. Audrey, Shirley Hughes, Judith Kerr, Michael Morpurgo and many more for the following generations. Julia Donaldson has engaged our great grandchildren with the Gruffalo and Stick Man and says in one of her many poems…”I opened a book and in I went now nobody can find me…” – how true.

At the February meeting, members had their very own award-winning author and illustrator – Mandy Stanley – with over 200 children’s reading and activity books to her credit, many of which were displayed on the table, along with a selection of her illustrated greetings cards. Since childhood, Mandy has loved reading and drawing and, on leaving school, attended Great Yarmouth Art College and learnt about pottery, graphic design and ceramics then on to Notts & Trent University training to be a fashion designer and, using these skills, worked at M&S and Mothercare designing baby clothes.

The start of her business venture was in her parents’ attic with a few paints, paper and a borrowed typewriter but now has her own studio. These skills were put to good use when she married and had children and produced a rag book for them about a bee made of fabric which had to find the place where it lived in the rag book with pockets asking if this was the place until he found his home, a bee hive! Realising her skills may lead to becoming an author and illustrator, she had a very important meeting with Harper & Collins and they publishing one of her first books, Lettice Rabbit. Her books are sold locally in Jarrolds and have also been translated and published abroad, including France and Japan.

Sheila thanked Mandy for an insight into the current world of producing books for children which will form part of their memories. Time prevented us from indulging in reading the books on the table which, like most of the books we have ever read to our children and grandchildren, adults can also enjoy.

Our meeting in April is the 24th and is a talk by Lindy O’Hare – Thorington Theatre