The University of Chester’s 175th Anniversary Quilt Unveiled!

The Quilt Unveiling

On 12 September 2014 the unveiling of the quilt took place at the University of Chester to inaugurate the celebration of its 175-year history. The quilters were at last able to see the culmination of a year’s work. The months of planning, designing, discussing, stitching, and putting together the finished work have resulted in a beautiful community quilt.

Here is the finished quilt:

It consists of a colourful and diverse group of images and stories, each relating to aspects of life at the University of Chester, today and over the course of its history.

 

The quilt was unveiled by Councillor Bob Rudd, Mayor of Chester and Mrs Susan Sellers, the High Sheriff of Cheshire, with the Bishop of Chester, the Rt Revd Dr Peter Forster announcing the inauguration of the University's 175th Anniversary celebrations.

Photo by Mark English, University of Chester

And here are the quilters, pleased that their hard work and creative energies have resulted in a fine and enduring symbol of the University of Chester. Everyone hopes that it will be enjoyed by students, staff and the people of Cheshire for many years to come.

Of course, an event like this one could not pass without tea and cake! The University of Chester's Catering department created a beautiful cake in the shape of a sewing box, complete with edible cotton reels, scissors and buttons!

Fiona Roberts and some of her fellow quilters will be talking about the making of the quilt at the next Textile Stories Study Day on 25th April 2015. (See the blog posts below for details of this event, dedicated to quilts and their stories.)