The Quilt Association Trustees

Wendy Abel

After studying in Bristol and Falmouth, Wendy returned to her home town of Llanidloes. An interest in textile arts led to her becoming a volunteer of the Quilt Association, at the same time as the building, the Minerva Arts Centre, was being purchased. She is now Treasurer of the charity.

Wendy’s background is in economic rural community regeneration and development along with issues relating to third sector organisations. She is currently the grants officer for an independent funding body and company secretary for a family construction company.

Christine Cooper

In the 1980s Christine served on the Embroiderers’ Guild Executive as a chairman of the Young Embroiderers’ Society. She taught embroidery at City & Guilds level for several years, and then patchwork, quilting and embroidery non-vocational classes for local authorities, Guild branches, groups and privately. On moving to Wales Christine took the opportunity to study at Westhope College, furthering her interest in patchwork and quilting, having already discovered the annual summer quilt show run by The Quilt Assocation. She has exhibited work with various groups over the years, and has work in private collections.             

Doreen Gough

Born in SW London, and with a background in horticulture and teaching, Doreen moved to Mid-Wales in 1981. Since then she has been employed by both the Museum Service and tourism industries, at the same time being able to indulge her interest in textiles in all their forms - historical, social and contemporary application, by studying and teaching all aspects of stitched textile art.

She brings to the Board of Trustees a knowledge of quilts and quilting and how these skills have been integrated into the local economy and social history in the past and how textiles and quilts in particular can impact upon tourism and social inclusion in the community today. 

Susan Levett

Susan has a background in business management and has worked in the voluntary and community sectors for many years. She currently manages a voluntary organisation providing services in a rural area.

Textiles and stitch are Susan’s passion. She is interested in all developments in quilting, although over the years she has become increasingly interested in textile history and conservation. She has been a member of The Quilt Association since 2001 and in the study group since it formed.

Jackie Newey

Jackie has worked in the voluntary sector in Powys for the past ten years. She became a trustee in 2006, after volunteering first as Minutes Secretary for the organisation in 2003. Since then she has become passionate about quilting and patchwork, both the historical investigation and contemporary practice. She has worked on several projects at The Quilt Association recently, including Quilt Detectives and various building improvement works. Fundraising and project development aside, she enjoys documenting quilts donated to the collection. When not working or volunteering Jackie studies for her City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting Certificate, and finishes the occasional quilt for exhibition.

Geoff Pedley

Geoff is a trustee and Company Secretary. He was a founding Director of the company and has a particular interest in and knowledge of charity and corporate governance and administration. This was put to good use in the establishment of the original constitution and articles and memorandum. Geoff is retired from a career in industrial marketing communications, product marketing and market analysis with an international company associated with Wales.

Millie Thomas

Millie became a Trustee of the Quilt Association in 2009 having retired from working as a civil servant in Social Services in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.  She is a member of The Quilters’ Guild, Treasurer of the Contemporary Quilt Group, Committee member of Region 12 of The Quilters’ Guild and the Secretary of the Cardigan Embroidery Group. She also works voluntarily in three Pembrokeshire schools.  Millie holds a Diploma in Patchwork and Quilting and her interests lie in contemporary work, the preservation of the quilting history and its cultural heritage and the future of quilting for younger people.

Andy Warren

Andy became involved with the first exhibition of antique Welsh quilts in what is now The Minerva Arts Centre in 1995. The quilts all came from the collection of Ron Simpson. In 1998 The Quilt Association was established and Andy has been a Director of the company since then.

He has always had a strong appreciation of textiles, both antique and contemporary, and has a particular liking for Welsh quilts.

His roles in The Quilt Association include assisting in the design and hanging of the summer show, and anything to do with the building. Andy is currently Chair of the organisation.