Retired teachers craft success from oranges

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

A group of retired teachers from Kingston and St Andrew has fashioned craft based on fruit to take the top spot islandwide in the annual competition for retirees from the classroom. And after that victory at The Ruins, Ocho Rios, St Ann, the group's craft was put on display in the foyer at the Institute of Jamaica, East Street, Kingston.

Hanover was second, overall, and St Mary, third.

Those who had a hand - literally - in the Kingston and St Andrew display were Yolanda Jackson, Maisielyn Noble, Inez Codrington, Greta Allen-Stone, Hepsie Lewis, Evelyn Fletcher, Ena Hughes, Rhona Welsh, Phyllis Welsh, Dorsey Lowe, Olive Gray and Rupert Hamilton. While the orange formed their 'centre of interest', a requirement for the competition, the Kingston and St Andrew group crafts a wide range of items, among them crochet, guest towels, baby's layettes, cushions, household items and needlework.

Excellent wine

Rhona Welsh, retired principal of Ormsby Hall Primary School, said Hamilton made excellent orange wine, Hughes made orange syrup, orange spice, marmalade and mosquito repellent.

Art and craft is a part of teacher training, and Welsh said when she was at Bethlehem Teacher's College, "I did it for my elective in my third year ... I remember as a child I was always taken up with sewing. It sort of grew up with me," Welsh said. However, it was not until she retired from Ormsby Hall in 1989, going on to do a stint at St Andrew Prep, before returning to Ormsby Hall, where, she said, "I felt the children needed me more", that she was able to delve deeply into craft.

Ormsby Hall was heavily involved in the primary school's art and craft competition, winning the overall prize two consecutive years.

Welsh turns a lot of what would ordinarily be considered waste into craft, and she showed The Sunday Gleaner earrings, bracelets and napkin-holders utilising orange juice boxes and even the orange seed.

"I believe in recycling. You can do a gift box from one Christmas card," Welsh said.

Plans for next year's art and craft exhibition have not been made, as Welsh said the Kingston and St Andrew retired teachers "haven't thought about it yet". However, she said, "I don't think we want to do the coconut. So many people have done the coconut. The orange did well."