December and January have been busy months for the History Society Committee.
Our Savoury Supper was well-attended and delicious food prepared by the committee was followed by a talk on a famous local artist, Mary Beale. Jenny Barley, a member of the committee, had researched Mary’s life and it was an astonishing story. Born in Barrow in 1633 to Dorothy and John Craddock, she was encouraged to paint by her father. At that time Bury St Edmunds had a flourishing community of artists from whom Mary was able to learn and she became one of the few people of her time to make a living as a successful portrait painter, supported by her husband, Charles, and eventually they had a studio in Covent Garden.
Later this year, Moyses Hall Museum will be putting several of her portraits on display as part of a wider exhibition.
We heard on the morning of our January meeting that the speaker had Covid so a last minute talk by the History Recorder and a quiz prepared by the secretary entertained the members.
Next month’s meeting in The Lost Windmills of Cherry Hinton with Michelle Bullivant. This is on Tuesday 20th February at 7.30 in the WI Hall and all are welcome.
Dorothy Anderson