Stitching starts on new twin town tapestry bid

Chairman Michael Betts started the proceedings by referring to the possibility of the real Bayeux tapestry coming to 1066 Country, and hoped this new project would enhance the goodwill, community spirit and excitement in the area and with friends in Battle’s twin town of St Valery-sur-Somme.

As well as Twinning Association members, Michael was very pleased to welcome Battle’s mayor David Furness and several Battle Town Councillors; Kathryn Field, Battle’s East Sussex County Councillor; and Natasha Williams, site manager of Battle Abbey.

The idea for a joint project with the Battle Twinning Association was born over lunch in September last year with Jacques Magnier, chairman of the St Valery-sur- Somme Twinning Association. Each twinning association will take on the task of stitching a section of the Bayeux Tapestry.

In the case of St Valery, this would be the departure of William and his troops from St Valery and Battle would stitch the section depicting their disembarkation in Pevensey.

Local members Joan Betts, Tina White and Suzanne Williams have agreed to take on responsibility for the Battle project. Tina Greene, designer of the Battle Tapestry, made the first stitch and many others added their stitches, after doing some practice runs under Tina and Suzanne Williams’s watchful eyes.

The youngest stitcher was aged five and the oldest celebrated his 90th birthday the previous week.

The St Valery part of the project will be initiated by Tina in St Valery on March 13 at the opening of the exhibition of the Battle Tapestry

Stitching starts in earnest in Battle Library on Thursday, February 15 from 2-4pm and on every Thursday thereafter.