History

History of the Group

Chagford Art Group has been running for over 40 years since 1974.  The founder members were Frank and Win Groves, Mr and Mrs Colin Peacock, Mrs Hope Zielensky, Mrs Pat Yeomans, Mrs Cornick, Miss Matthews, Mrs Jean Mary Pinwell and Mrs Ruth Goldsmith.  Mrs Phyl Williams was also a long-standing member.  Over the years the Group became known widely and the first exhibition was at Endecott House in 1975 before it was refurbished.  The exhibition was mounted on 7 foot rolls of cream corrugated paper which was placed all round the walls, courtesy of the Headmaster, Mr Ralph Faulkner.  Ray Pinwell, Frank Groves and Colin Peacock hung the pictures with lengths of wire and wood placed behind the paper, simple but effective!  Lights were borrowed from an electrical manufacturer.  Frank Groves and Ray Pinwell later made the peg board display stands which were used in the Jubilee Hall.  (Presently we are using the very fine display boards made by Bill James, whose wife Jo James was a very highly regarded member, sadly neither with us today.  Another much missed member is Marjorie Sharland).  (taken from a letter written by Jean Pinwell in 2004)