The Little Waldingfield History Society held its first and very successful public talk on Wednesday 3rd October at the Parish Room.
Keith Parker, pictured, a longstanding village resident who has spent his entire career involved in the Silk Industry, gave us a fascinating insight into the world of silk weaving and production and into the life of the domesticated silkmoth, Bombyx Mori, which in latin means "the silkworm of the mulberry tree; apparently this tiny animal is the most genetically altered of all domesticated species and is now totally dependent on man for survival!
Keith brought with him a selection of the most wonderful silk pictures, fabrics, weaving shuttles and antique printing blocks for us all to touch and feel, which was a great hands on experience.
To the untrained eye the silk pictures looked like photographs, which he had personally designed on a computer system whose fore-runner he was the first to establish in this country back in the 80's when working at Vanners, who he also advised moved their silk yarn processing and weaving operations to Sudbury and Haverhill after the passing of the Spitalfields Act of 1774.
Finally Keith also brought with him a huge selection of silk offcuts and cones containing silk threads that he had collected over many years which he then kindly put up for sale to raise much needed funds for the newly established society - there was quite a rush forward by the ladies of Little Waldingfield at this stage keen to grab a bargain.
Everyone had a most enjoyable evening which the Society aims to replicate at our forthcoming talk on Suffolk Witches, by Pip Wright, to be held at the Parish Room on Oct 31st, or All Hallows Eve (Halloween).
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