The Tribune

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

Happy hearts make the world a brighter place, and with this belief, members of the Queen Mother's Bahamas Clothing Guild are reaching out beyond the bounds of Government House and into a primary school to get young students interested in learning new skills.

Girls of Columbus Primary School are benefitting from senior members of the guild, who have launched "Happy Hearts", designed to be a group in association with the guild. Members are taking the time to teach the young students crocheting, knitting and sewing garments with the hopes of inspiring future guild members.

In addition to gaining great skills for life, guild members want to pass on their love for helping others by clothing them - something the Queen Mother's Clothing Guild stands for worldwide. The object of the guild is to distribute new clothing, household items or any articles for the sick and needy. It is open to men, women and children of all ages and classes.

The Queen Mother's Clothing Guild started in 1882 when the matron of an London orphanage asked Lady Wolverton if she could provide 24 pairs of hand-knitted socks and 12 jerseys for the children. This gave lady Wolverton the inspiration to start a small guild amongst her friends to provide not less than two garments a year each and help other charities as well. A year later, 460 members had enrolled. In 1885, the Duchess of Teck became the guild's patron and it was renamed the London Needlework Guild in 1889. In 1914, the guild opened its doors wider. It became Queen Mary's London Needlework Guild and supplied the troops with comforts, while not forgetting the sick and needy.

In 1953, the Queen Mother became the royal patron. In 1966, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, took over. By 1986, the name of the guild was changed to Queen Mary's Clothing Guild as this was considered more descriptive of the work of the charity. In 2010, it took the name Queen Mother's Clothing Guild in honour of its former patron

In the Bahamas. under the presidency of Dr Flossie Cooper, the guild has successfully reached the goal of distributing more than 600 garments. The guild has contributed clothing for those impacted by hurricanes, for shut-ins, for the Princess Margaret Hospital and for the Red Cross Society.

Dr Cooper said guild members meet with the students at Columbus Primary every Wednesday, and together they are crocheting tams to help keep heads warm when the cooler months approach.

She is the seventh president of the guild. The third president was Lady Caroline Simmonds, patron of the Ranfurly Home for Children, featured in last week's Face to Face with Felicity column in The Tribune. During that interview, Lady Caroline showed off a charm on a necklace which she keeps close to her heart. On one side of the charm is an engraving of the building of the Ranfurly Home and on the other is engraved: "In appreciation from the associates of the Queen Mary Needlework Guild, London and The Bahamas".

Dr Cooper said the guild boasts outstanding members of society, including Minister Renee Beneby; Esther Carmeta Cooper-McKinney; Ruby Ann Cooper-Darling; Theresa Miller-Williams; Ingrid Higgs; Yvonne Moss, past president of the Crooked Island district; Iris Tynes; Apostle Willamae Braynen; Lady Ingrid Darling; Clarissa Allen; Sandra Philips; Daphne Miller; Nurse Linelle Thompson; Lotta Jackson; Doreen Fernander; Dorcus Cox, and Albertha Demeritte.

This past December, they hosted the Queen Mother's Guild Clothing Exhibition and Honouree Tea Party at Government House, where the group hosts its meetings once per month. During this special event, the guild honoured Gertrude Ferguson, Carolyn Strachan, Naomi Pinder, and Gertrude Demeritte. A special honour, the Trailblazer Award, was presented to Calliope Maillis.