Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2008/January 2009 | Page 8
life
YOUR LETTERS
FOREWORD
What a
difference a
bear makes
Christmas is a time for giving,
and at Bayliss & Booth, the
inspirational antique and
interiors shop, if you buy one of
their special teddy bears, £1 will
be given to Naomi House, the
children’s hospice.
Naomi House is a purpose-built
children's hospice near
Winchester, which provides a
homely environment for children
and young people who have
conditions that mean that they
will not live to become adults.
For 24 hours a day, the hospice
offers respite care, and supports
those suffering from terminal
illness and who are bereaved.
This costs around £2.5 million
each year, and with just 10%
of our income coming from
government, Naomi House relies
on the generosity of people in
the community to continue its
work.
Thanks to the advances in
8
Nativity of
NatFest
medical science, many young
people are growing up to
become young adults, and
Naomi House is challenged to
create facilities for their needs,
which are very different from
those of young children. Naomi
House has consulted the young
people themselves in the design
of a facility to cater for their
medical and social needs. It will
cost £6 million to create “Jack’s
Space”.
Bayliss & Booth has been
inspired to help the hospice to
make a difference to the young
people with life-limiting illnesses
with their bears, Bailey and Bess.
Anyone spending over £40 will
be given one free.
A delightful display of nativity
scenes in all shapes, sizes and
materials brings alive the real
meaning of Christmas, at
Christ Church, Totland Bay.
Knitted stables, marzipan
shepherds, pottery Marys –
NatFest is a celebration of the
different ways the story of the
birth of Jesus is interpreted by
artists and craftsmen, in this
country and overseas.
A little velvet pill box opens
to reveal the holy family and
the stable animals, made in
silver and just millimetres
high. Rotund, thumb-sized
figures are the American
Indian interpretation. Olive
wood from the Holy Land is
carved into the Virgin and
Child. Or clear glass is formed
into a stunningly simple baby
Jesus.
NatFest organiser Sue Witt
says: “The idea came from
when my husband Geoff
and I were in Stratford and
visited a local church that
had a similar event. We just
found it so refreshing in the
hubub of Christmas to find
something which made us stop
and think why we celebrate it.”
She expects the exhibition to
grow next year as art and craft
businesses get involved.
A children’s colouring area
will allow adults to sit with a
cup of coffee while they think
about the real meaning of
Christmas.
To contribute an exhibit,
email [email protected].
Christ Church, Totland, 15 –
18 December, 10am-4pm
jacksplace@naomihouse
Bayliss & Booth, Unit 10,
Riverway Industrial Estate,
Newport, PO30 5UU. Tel:
528600
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