Henley WI share the love with Marlow

The Henley branch of the Women’s Institute have gifted one of their much-loved post-box toppers to Marlow.

Alison Engleby and Louise Sadler spent hours working on the woolly creation for the Henley playing cards launch in March this year. When it was announced Marlow were having their own playing cards too, Alison and Louise wanted to gift the post-box topper as a loan to the neighbouring town.

There were additions to the original topper which appeared on the Market Place post-box earlier this year. Emma Sweet, who is behind the playing cards for both towns said “The Marlow cards launch was held at the Hayden Gallery on the High Street in Marlow and the nearest post-box was a gold post-box in honour of Naomi Riches who won a gold medal at the 2012 Paralympics. I met Naomi and asked if she’d mind us adding a topper to it and she loved the idea.”

Alison and Louise crocheted Naomi into the design and has her rowing towards the house of cards.

Naomi, who lives in Marlow said “The post-box topper has attracted a lot of attention. Alison and Louise have done an amazing job and it's great that people’s faces light up when they see it. I often check in on it and I’m always asked lots of questions about it.”

Alison said “We love making them. It’s great that people notice them and we enjoy doing them as it keeps our fingers nimble and it’s an enjoyable hobby. In May, our King’s Coronation topper disappeared from Henley and was luckily found in Marlow and returned to us so we wanted to share this topper to say thank you and hopefully spread a little joy too.”

Alison Engleby and Louise Sadler both in Henley spent hours working on the woolly creations. There’s a selection of festive toppers around Henley at the moment too.

The Marlow playing cards launched on Thursday 23^rd November after months of hard work from Emma Sweet, who came up with the idea and a former Henley resident who now lives in Knowl Hill. The designs are created by Nicola Metcalfe, a graphic illustrator who live in Marlow Bottom. Each card features a different landmark, calendar event or local business.

Speaking to Emma she said “The Henley playing cards have been so well received by all those who’ve bought a pack. The overwhelming love and positivity for them made me realise other towns might want them too. Someone asked me at the Henley launch where was next and instinctively I said Marlow. It’s a town I come to often and like Henley, it has so much going on that needs recognising.”

“If you visit Marlow for the first time, it’s hard to find the best and quirky things that go on that make it the vibrant and popular riverside town it is. Playing cards is a relaxed and fun way to spend time and it’s something we all enjoy doing. These cards have the added bonus that you’ll find all the best places and events that go on too.”

Order your packs on this very website today!

Caption (left to right): Naomi Riches, Alison Engleby and Louise Sadler.