Exhibit of eight decades of embroidery experience

AN EMBROIDERY exhibition was held at Mandale House Care Home – showcasing work from a resident with over 80 years’ experience with a needle.

The event took place at Mandale House Care Home, in Thornaby, near Middlesbrough, where 89-year-old resident Mavis Thomas displayed her artwork.

Mavis was only five-years-old when her grandmother bought her first pair of knitting needles and she was winning embroidery and cross stitch competitions by the time she was 19.

In the seven decades since, she has often been commissioned to do needlework, which includes complex designs such as street scenes and landmarks, portraits of ballet dancers and children.

After moving into Mandale House Care Home at the end of 2018, staff asked Mavis if they could hold an exhibition of her embroidery, hanging them in a recently redecorated hallway.

Thornaby Town Council Mayor Cllr Steve Walmsley a The opening of the EMBROIDERY exhibition at Mandale House Care Home nd Mayoress Sheila Walmsley were among the guests at the exhibition, which also included family, friends, residents and staff at the home.

Mayoress Walmsley knows Mavis and her daughter Brenda Burton from Thornaby Methodist Church and they enjoyed catching up on shared acquaintances and family members at the event.

Fellow residents also enjoyed viewing Mavis’s artworks before afternoon tea with the visiting dignitaries and other guests.

Mavis said: “Thank you so much to everyone who organised this. I’ve had a lovely day.”

Louise Clements, home manager at Mandale House Care Home, said:

“Mavis’s artworks are stunning and unique. When she moved into the home around six months ago, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to showcase her embroidery after carrying out refurbishments. The exhibition was a huge success and we’re delighted the Mayor and Mayoress could join us and officially open the event. All our residents agreed that it’s great to have Mavis’s work on display and they are now lining one of our corridors.”