We shall start with the photo titled "Displaying their pictures" and we will give you the names of the Redbridge group members shown in the photo, they are, starting from the furthest left : K. Daniels, H. Pedder, F. James, Mrs A. Stanbury, (I'm afraid that none of our present day members can remember the next chap's name, if any visitor to this site can put a name to the face would they let us know by using the e-mail link on our 'contact us' page so that we can update our records and give the proper acknowledgements to this award winner) the rest of the members shown in the photo are L. Garlick, F. Root, and lastly, J. Tekell.

The next photo that requires a little more information is the one titled "Trophy winners". The group members shown here are from furthest left: Alf Murtell, D. Austin, Mrs P. Austin, Mrs. Q. Weatherburn.

The next one is "Derek and Alf". This photo is of the Redbridge marquetry group's stand at a major exhibition in the early 1980's. It shows Derek Austin and Alf Murtell demonstrating marquetry techniques to the visitors at the mentioned exhibition. I'm told that the photographer had to wait hours for a short break in the stream of visitors to the stand before he could take the picture because the marquetry demonstration proved so popular with the visitors to the exhibition!

The next photo for mention is the one titled "Best in class". The reason for highlighting this photo is that, although it shows our Horrie Pedder receiving an award, it is, that the person presenting the award is none other than the infamous Charlie Good who was one of the most respected marquetarians there has ever been, his name is usually mentioned in respectful hushed tones!!

Next "Teaching the youngsters". This photo is of our President Alf Murtell teaching marquetry to the children at the Doctor Barnado's home in Greater London. Alf said that you had to be careful when teaching the youngsters because of the very sharp cutting tools used for marquetry, but because of Alf's good teaching techniques I'm pleased to say there were no cut fingers or anything else, and the children did produce some surprisingly wonderful pictures. It's nice to see such enthusiasm for the difficult art of marquetry in these young folk. Well done Alf.

The Guv'ners shows the historically important members of the Redbridge marquetry group agreeing upon an important point of view (what it was I'm afraid I haven't the foggiest idea, but I'm sure Alf Murtell will be able to tell me, so I'll let you know as soon as I've consulted Alf). However, you must admit that they are a Majestic looking bunch !!! Excellent News: Alf has now told me of the significance of this photo - it shows the cutting of the cake at the 20th anniversary of the Redbridge group in April 1999. Derek Austin and his wife Pat came up specially from their home in Wales to celebrate this important milestone in the Redbridge group history. Derek was a previous Chairman of our group.

The Group. This photo dates from 1997 and shows the popularity of marquetry in the Redbridge area. We have had so many enthusiasts for marquetry join our group since then that we eventually had to change our rooms up to the present day ones in order to accommodate the current band of marquetarians that go to make up the Redbridge Marquetry Group of today.

The three Andrew Walker photos were taken in the autumn of 1992 at one of our group meetings at Redbridge when Marquetry Society official Ernie Maxey personally presented Andrew with the cups and awards for coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd in his class at that years National Exhibition. As the saying goes "Andrew swept the board" a really astonishing achievement. Now as that sort of result is something all us seasoned marquetarians can only dream of, for a young lad to have managed the feat really shows some remarkable talent. Unfortunately, his Dad tells me, Andrews not doing marquetry at the moment because of his studies, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that once he's finished his studies and achieved his qualifications he'll once again find the time to be able to take up his scalpel and help the Redbridge group win loads of cups and awards once again, so, come on Dad, as soon as he's qualified, twist Andrew's arm a little for us!!!

Andrew's Dad Dave shows how to do some of the cutting techniques he taught Andrew, to some other up and coming members of the Redbridge Marquetry group, although I think it would be safe to say that Bill Kober who is sitting on Dave's left is already very well acquainted with most cutting techniques as he has won dozens of awards in his own right over the years. Dave tells me that Andrew started making marquetry pictures when he was 7 years old and that his talent for the art blossomed when the family went to stay at Derek and Pat Austin's Hotel in Wales where Derek gives marquetry lessons in the Hotel's own workshops. I wonder if Trust House Fortes offer such useful classes when you stay at their hotels?

Alan Mansfield won the first place in group one at the 1997 National exhibition with his first proper marquetry picture, which was a double portrait of Tony Hancock and Sid James in an original design made after reference to "loads of" photos and films of Sid and Tony. Alan had made an attempt at marquetry the previous year and entered his picture of a three mast schooner in the marquetry section of the Woodworker magazine's exhibition at Sandown. To his surprise, and considering that he'd never done any marquetry before, his picture won a medal. While attending the exhibition Alan noticed the marquetry society stand and, after watching the very well known marquetarian Arthur Lord giving a demonstration of intricate and fine cutting decided, there and then, to join the society and learn how to do marquetry properly. "The gallery on display and that demonstration really inspired me" says Alan "I think the society and the groups really do show that marquetry can achieve artistic and finishing standards that very few other forms of art could hope to approach". "Since joining the Redbridge group I've already learnt so much about marquetry from them and I'm still learning even more at every group meeting I attend".

"Our rooms in the 90's" is the full size photo from which the picture of Dave Walker on the "Bonus photo" page was taken. This was one of the small suite of rooms our group previously occupied before we moved into the light and spacious rooms that we now have available for our weekly group meetings.  

"Horrie wins award" shows Horrie Pedder displaying his Fox & Hounds miniature picture at an award winning ceremony. We have a high quality scan of the actual picture on show in Horrie's own gallery in this web site.
For a quick short cut click this following link: "Horrie's Gallery"    

"Ken Daniels wins award" this is a very rare photo of our Ken showing us one of his marquetry pieces (although Ken is showing a miniature in the photo titled "Two Stalwarts" in the photo gallery, it's difficult to see what the picture actually is in that photo). Ken "hides his light under a bushel" when it comes to displaying his marquetry work, so for once, it's nice to be able to see one of Ken's pictures. It looks a nice picture there Ken, good work!