Newsletter July 2026
Dear Beechwood Members,
Please find attached the July Newsletter, slightly early as a lot is happening during the first half of this month. Firstly, a welcome to our new members since January 2026:
David Ashby
Val Barratt
Foram Bhimani
Christine Feather
Bruno Kilshaw
Jill Lamin
Rachel Quarry
Laura Walker-Taylor
We hope you are enjoying the friendly atmosphere of our meetings and find the workshops and demonstrations stimulating if you have attended some of them. To illustrate this, here is a photo of the members attending our very successful workshop given by Tushar Sabale on the 2nd of June:
The next workshop is with Roz Knight on Monday 13th July (morning only). Here is more information from Dinah Kane:
"On Monday 13th July, our own talented art teacher, Roz Knight, will be showing us her techniques for keeping a sketch book. She will bring along her beautiful and multitudinous sketch books to inspire us.
We should each bring about 4 objects to sketch and share with each other and Roz will guide us as to the different ways we can record them. The session runs from 09.30 to 12.30 and is only £18”.
Please sign up with Dinah Kane (dinahkane@icloud.com) tel: see newsletter.
“The following week, on Tuesday 21st July, we will be visiting Chenies Manor to paint ‘en plain air’.
We will meet at the cafe in the grounds at 2 pm, when it opens. All you need is the price of admission (£8), a chair and some painting materials. You can stay till they close at 5 pm and we will meet up at about 4 pm for a ‘show and tell’ at the cafe. There’s no other charge for this, it’s a lovely day out, and lets just hope it doesn't rain! Just let me know if you are coming, but of course, you can turn up at the last minute if you’re not sure.”
Finally let's not forget our annual Summer Garden Party in the beautiful garden of Mike and Dinah. This will take place on the afternoon of the 29th of July if the weather is good, otherwise it will be postponed until the 5th of August. Please bring a picnic, some cutlery, a glass and a chair (and a small table if you wish). Drinks will be provided by Beechwood.
Unfortunately we have some bad news to share for those of you who knew Philip Cooper. His son, Adrian, informed us that he had passed away peacefully last March. He was still attending painting sessions on Wednesday afternoons, enjoying to the end his painting and keeping his illness to himself. He will be missed as a valued long-standing member of the group.
Finally a little reminder that we need a kind soul (or two, to share the task) who could take over opening and closing the hall on wednesdays as Hilary is no longer able to carry this task due to health issues. This would also involve getting the kitchen ready for use, clearing up at the end of the afternoon session as well as sweeping the hall to make sure it is safe and reasonably clean for the young children using it when we leave. Hilary was also opening and closing the hall when we have demonstrations and workshops but this could perhaps be done by one or two of the members attending these sessions.
We do hope that one or several of you will be able to help as your committee members have already got their hands full.
That is all for now.
Kind regards to all,
Cecile (Gallina)
Beechwood Secretary
