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Community Voices
The stories, memories, reflections, and experiences behind the stitches.
The People Behind the Table Runner
The Community Table Runner Project brought together people of all ages, backgrounds, experiences, and abilities through creativity and shared making.
For many, the project became far more than a textile artwork. It became a place of friendship, reflection, memory, learning, healing, storytelling, and belonging.
Every square carries its own meaning — but behind every square is also a person, a memory, a conversation, or a moment in time.
These reflections offer just a small glimpse into the many lives and stories woven into the runner.
“This is a work of complete humanity.” – Eleanor
Eleanor’s Reflection
“Crafting can often be a solitary hobby, but what John and Dagmar created through this project was quietly extraordinary.
They brought hundreds of people together around this remarkable table and created a new community — people of all ages, backgrounds, passions, and walks of life sharing stories, laughter, creativity, and time together.
Within the Table Runner are stories of grief, love, celebration, memory, and friendship. Some squares were created by children as young as three, while others reflect lives, losses, and experiences spanning generations.
The runner captures a fleeting moment of humanity stitched together through creativity and shared experience.”
Jan’s Story
After losing her husband in 2024, Jan became involved in the Table Runner Project as a way to remember important places, memories, and connections within her life and the city of Lichfield.
Her contributions celebrated:
- the Sandfields Pumping Station
- the Three Spires Community Choir
- the Lichfield Garrick
- local history and theatre
Jan describes the project as something that helped her through an incredibly difficult year, bringing connection, purpose, and friendship through creativity and community.
Graham’s Story
For Graham, the Community Table Runner Project became genuinely life changing.
A lifelong crafter, Graham described himself as someone who had never been particularly social, preferring creative hobbies quietly at home.
Through the project, he discovered friendship, conversation, belonging, and a welcoming creative community.
His squares reflected:
- Staffordshire history
- Mary Queen of Scots
- the Fenland Black Oak
- local heritage
- the King’s visit
Anne’s Story
Anne’s contributions celebrated some of Lichfield’s historic pubs and gathering places, reflecting the important role they play within the city’s social history and community life.
Her story also highlighted the friendships formed through local crochet groups and craft gatherings — friendships which became part of the wider spirit of the Table Runner Project itself.
“One of my squares had to be hurriedly altered when I missed the ‘L’ out of public — causing much hilarity amongst the local WI group!”
More Than a Sewing Project
Throughout the project, contributors described:
- making new friendships
- reconnecting with creativity
- sharing memories
- learning new skills
- feeling less isolated
- gaining confidence
- spending time together across generations
The Table Runner became a place where stories, experiences, and creativity could be shared openly and without judgement.
For many people, the experience of creating together became just as meaningful as the finished artwork itself.
Share Your Story
Were you part of the Community Table Runner Project?
We would love to continue collecting memories, photographs, reflections, and stories connected to the runner and the Common Threads sessions.
Community Table Runner Project
Crafting a community — one stitch at a time.
A community-created textile artwork inspired by the Fenland Black Oak Table at Lichfield Cathedral.
Registered Charity No. 1217447
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© Community Table Runner Project Charity 2026
Registered Charity No. 1217447
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