On this occasion of the 150th anniversary of Ella Mary Leather’s birthday, on behalf of Stitched Atlas Folk, I organised an event in Monkland Village Hall to invite people to celebrate her life and achievements. She is relatively unknown outside of folk circles and even in her village of Weobley. I started off thinking it would be a small event but underestimated the desire for it. Kathy Bland helped in discussing it with me early on, alongside Annie Wood and they put me in touch with Rebecca Tully of The Ella Marys, Annie Jones, Leominster Community Choir and The Mummers Boys. Jenny Pipes had previously helped me in an event celebrating The River Lugg in July 2022 at Eaton Barn Community Garden (Save the Lugg : Love the Lugg) so I was very pleased they could take part in celebrating Ella Mary Leather too.
Stitched Atlas Folk would also like to give thanks to Wendy Jancey of Monkland Village Hall, Carol Lewis of Haven Hops, and food and drink purchased from Monkland Cheese Dairy, Peter Cooks Bread, Newton Court Cider and Weobley Brewing Company. On the dark, wet night of the event, Monkland Cheese Dairy also very kindly let us park in their yard as the Farmer’s field we had hoped to use was quite wet. Thanks to Graham and Felix for squeezing cars into the Village Hall car park too. A huge thanks to Bryony and Ben for helping with setting up, food prep, bar work and clearing up. And thanks to Felix for photography on the night. Finally, a huge thanks to all the audience and performers who came along and made it a wonderful evening.
To kick of the entertainments The Ella Marys sang a little ditty they had prepared to gather everyone in after the hop pickers supper.
I then introduced the evening as firstly a celebration of Ella Mary Leather inviting anyone to make a toast with the ribboned wassail cup, and secondly its other purpose to hear the performance of Cold Blows the Wind. This was the folksong and tune collected by Ella Mary Leather and Ralph Vaughan Williams from Gypsy tenor Alfred Price Jones in a Monkland hopyard in 1912. The Ella Marys had been rehearsing this song, keeping the first verse as Ella recorded it and the next their own acapella arrangement of harmonies.
First off, Leominster Community Choir took the stage, introduced and led by Liv, and including a couple of the Stitched Atlas Folk Karen and Annie.
Jenny Pipes danced their wonderful Leominster Knot Dance – a delight to watch
Jenny Pipes then led a dance for everyone at the end …
Thank you to everyone for buying drinks at the bar and making generous
donations towards the costs of the evening. It pretty much covered it leaving out some boxes of drinks left over for next time… Also, a huge thank you for writing your name on the tissue paper – to be stitched on my Monkland page of The Stitched Atlas, bearing witness to this occasion.
All that remains is to say a huge THANK YOU from Stitched Atlas Folk for making this such a memorable occasion. The audience and performers together created a wonderful atmosphere which was the very best tribute to Ella Mary Leather.
The Stitched Atlas 
My mother, Lavender M Jones would have loved to have been present for the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Mary Ella Leather. I remember the hot summers day when we went to Ledbury to celebrate her book on Mary Ella Leather and the Morris dancing in the streets.
I remember meeting Annie Jones once at Bromyard Festival, where my brother now lives. Our mother taught Morris dancing to men in every county in England and in later life wrote many articles and books on Folklore.
With Best Wishes,
Lavender K. Jones
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Dear Lavender K Jones
I was thrilled to receive your comment. I apologise for the delay in replying, we have been working flat out towards the opening of the exhibition of The Stitched Atlas, which was yesterday in Hereford. Annie Jones came along and I remembered your communication! The birthday anniversary event was very special and at it we remembered your mother’s book as part of the introduction to Annie singing. Her book is in the current exhibition too, and the images on the front have inspired some beautiful embroideries by Meg in the final Atlas. I will put up a new blog post with exhibition details later. I know Annie would love to talk to you about your mother’s
book. All very best, Jackie
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Thank you for your email. I would be happy to talk to Annie Jones, however, I live in Brighton, Sussex. I hope to stay with a friend in Worcester this year, and visit my brother in Bromyard, but have made now plans yet. It would be nice to see her and have a natter.
I hope the exhibition is well attended and suggested my brother visits.
With all good wishes,
Lavender Jones
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Hello Lavender,
The exhibition is at The Craft Gallery, Old Mayor’s Parlour, Church Street, Hereford. 11 til 3 pm til 31st January but not Sundays or Mondays. I passed on your message to Annie Jones. She would be very pleased to meet you when you are able to come to Worcester and wondered if you would be happy to communicate by email in the mean time. She has given me her email for you. My university email is jacqueline.morris@stu.mmu.ac.uk if you wanted to contact me there initially.
The exhibition is garnering a lot of interest.
All very best
Jackie
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