UK DIY

I visited the Turnpike Gallery in Leigh, Lancashire on Saturday to meet Elizabeth Smith, one of the artists exhibiting there.

I was born in Leigh, Lancashire in 1960-something-or-other. The Turnpike was opened just as I left. I recognised nothing. I saw no memorable landmarks. I had no recollection of anything I saw in Leigh on Saturday. I found that rather un-nerving.

The Turnpike is currently hosting UK DIY which is linked to the Manchester Craft Mafia and appears to be a collective doing great justice to the craft world in the UK at the moment.

I'd arranged to meet Elizabeth and talk about her work as part of an article I've pitched to a magazine editor. It's my first professional attempt at freelance writing so I'm keen that all goes well and I represent her accurately. Actually I'm rather nervous.

Elizabeth was inspiring, not only because of the beautiful work she brought with her and her exhibit at the Turnpike but also she made me realise that my aspirations are not that unattainable. I'm not sure my skills are comparable but my intention to work with and around textiles, be that stitching, knitting or crochet is strong and, really, I should just go for it.

In the afternoon, we went to St. Helen's, another blast from my past. Most of my family lived and worked around St. Helens including uncles, grandparents, aunts. Pilkingtons and Pimbletts were the familiar names and I remember being aware that Pilkingtons paid everyone's wages and Pimbletts supplied the pies. The latter has now gone into administration, probably pinched about by Greggs and supermarkets. Some of the back street names seemed familiar but, again, it's a town I don't recognise from my childhood. Am I really that old? Is it my memory that has dwindled or have these towns just been altered beyond recognition?