MAY'S REPORT ON LESLIE'S PASSING:

It is with great sadness that the first news item to report since assuming the maintenance of the web site is the passing of Lesley Jones who died in Vélez-Málaga hospital on Friday 29 April.  She had not been well since last October.

Lesley had been a member of the group for approximately six years joining when it was known as Periana Stitches.  She was a quiet and thoughtful member of the group always making new members feel welcome.  She was an innovative dressmaker and sewer frequently unpicking garments and remaking into modern and attractive new ones.  She was always willing to give advice and guidance to members undertaking dressmaking, helping to ensure that pattern pieces resulted in a good fit.

Many of her friends from the sewing group as well as the dancing group she attended with her husband Philip were at her funeral on Friday 5 May at Vélez-Málaga and for lunch afterwards at Trapiche.  At Trapiche Philip put on an exhibition portraying the many interests of Lesley.  This showed what a private person she had been.  Many were unaware of her interest in MG cars for which she had received an award for her involvement in the MG association.  Also she had run a sewing group in the UK for many years.  She made her own wedding outfit when she married Philip in 1966.  The hat she made and wore was on display as were photographs taken on her wedding day.  Philip and Lesley's love of dancing was long-standing and they had attended a dancing group in the UK.

Many of us will remember Lesley in the flowers we have in our gardens; she provided many of us with cuttings from her garden including scented pelargonium's which were one of her favourites.  Her love of scented plants had in the past been expressed in the business that she ran with Philip (titled The Scented Garden) when they grew and sold herbs.  Over 200 varieties Philip told us.  Lesley will always be remembered for her thoughtfulness and friendliness.

LESLIE'S INTRODUCTION:

Hello, I'm Leslie.

We moved to Spain almost 3 years ago, living first in Granada and now near Periana.  I joined Periana Stitchers in 2007 and enjoy our Tuesday meetings - for the social aspect as much as the sewing!

I have made clothes for myself since I was 13 and still enjoy it!  I also make soft-furnishings.  Sewing is my major love, but I garden and cook, and share my husbands' hobby, which is driving MGs of the 1940 - 1970 period.