Well Dressing in Malvern
The town of Malvern nestles beneath the Malvern Hills. The rain which falls on the hills is a source of very pure drinking water, which can be obtained from many different springs, spouts and wells. About 50 of these are decorated every year over the early May Bank Holiday weekend, each year having a different theme. 2018 was “Year of the Woman,” to celebrate the granting of the vote to women a century ago.
Malvern Conquest Art group decided to enter the competition and two of the group, Sarah Metcalf and Stephanie Stow (above and below), volunteered to spearhead the project. Others in the group used their skills in support, painting flowers, famous women, grass, and silk scarves for a skirt for the central female figure. One member made a little house, another wrote the story. Sarah and Stephanie worked incredibly hard to translate their ideas vision into reality, roping in family members to help put it all together and to assemble it.
The end result was beautiful. The judge walked towards it, said “wow,” and awarded it a silver rosette!
Janet Bingham, Malvern group leader