The 2024 ORTS summer party was held at wonderful Hilles House near Stroud, Gloucestershire. There were 36 members and friends who arrived, some by train and some by car, several having had rather traumatic journeys due to train cancellations and road closures but within minutes all that had been forgotten as we sat and chatted, with cool drinks in hand, on the terrace looking out over the spectacular view. The food, all supplied by those attending, was well up to the high standard expected of these occasions. The stuffed vine leaves were, of course, from the provider’s own garden.
We moved indoors, to the Great Hall for the Auction. Clive told us that we were sitting on a genuine William Morris carpet, woven at Merton Abbey. It is 72 sq metres and it took 8 men to lift and carry away for cleaning. The Auction offerings ranged from a jacket of early C20 Chinese silk to a rather mysterious piece of black lace, and included a cushion of Kashgai weaving, dates from Jeddah, an Ethiopian muslin shawl, a glass cake or cheese cover and plate, a Bhutanese scarf, some plum pieces of batik, enchanting felt hats from Konya, a Gujarati door hanging and even a Soviet flag and much more beside.
Another triumph for ORTS: thank you all for coming, helping, contributing, buying and making it such a happy occasion.
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