The Bardic Chair

One of Chloë's final legacy projects was launching the Bardic Chair of Gloucester and filling the first shelves of the Storyteller's Library, at the Folk of Gloucester community heritage centre. At the end of 2022, Chloë zoomed in to perform 21st Century Scrooge to an audience who came to celebrate the opening of the Storyteller's Library, which is now home to a beautifully decorated chair created by Gill Fothergill and runs monthly Storytelling Café.

"I don't normally 'do' commissions" Gill said, "but when my friend Chloë asked me to create some cushions for her 'Bardic Chair' legacy project for the Folk of Gloucester... how could I resist?? After much discussion and collaboration with Chloë and a creative quilter friend, Hermione, plus some serious brainstorming we came up with a design. It's what the Sewing Bee would describe as the 'technical challenge'.

"Created to hopefully inspire a future of spoken word stories. The little figure is Chloë in storytelling/Dragon Whisperer mode and the dragon is one of Chloë's own designs... embroidered and padded using remnants from some of Chloë's fabulous costumes. Now on view and used in monthly storytelling sessions at the Folk of Gloucester museum."

Chloë was delighted with the project:

"Talk about rising to the challenge..! Stunning, gorgeous creation by Gill with Hermione. To inspire a future of spoken word stories. The little figure is me in storytelling / Dragon Whisperer mode and the dragon is one of my own, skilfully embroidered and padded. #LegacyProject"