The Magna Carta Embroideries come to Egham Museum
“I am very excited that the panels will be on display at Egham Museum and as a professional embroiderer I am aware of how important the museum is and very proud to have been asked to exhibit the panels here”, says Rhoda.
The Magna Carta 800th Embroidery panels, on display at the Museum until June, tell the story of how the Barons persuaded King John to agree to Magna Carta, arguably the most important legal document in our history, laying the foundation for justice and freedom, not only in this country but throughout the world.
The twelve panel embroidery project took three years to complete and Rhoda was helped by a dedicated team of volunteers. Surrey resident Rhoda Nevins, who created the embroideries is a member of the Royal School of Needlework and has worked on many high profile projects. She was part of the team that embroidered the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and also embroidered two pennants for the official Magna Carta prize-winning garden at the Chelsea Flower show in 2015.
Rhoda Nevin’s feet have barely hit the ground these past few years as she has gone from working on one high-profile embroidery project to another. Rhoda trained at London’s prestigious Royal School of Needlework and what started off as a hobby has led to the creation of a collection of incredible embroideries using a wide range of embroidery techniques to create some magnificent pieces of art. Rhoda has designed the embroidery panels to depict the events that led up to the sealing of the Magna Carta in Charter Towns throughout the UK. Each Magna Carta Trust town has its own panel; these include Runnymede, Bury St Edmunds, St Albans, the City of London, Canterbury and Hereford. The five other panels depict how Magna Carta influenced the spread of law and order throughout the world from 1215 to the present day, with panels for America, Canada, Australia, India and South Africa. An additional panel shows the shields of the 25 barons who were present at the sealing. The panels are a lasting legacy to the country in honour of one of the most important historical events in our history.
“The Magna Carta Embroidery project is one of the highlights of my career, it was only when someone said to me recently that I was ‘creating something for the nation’ that I realised how important this project was”, says Rhoda.
More about Rhoda’s work
Magna Carta Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
As a result of creating the Magna Carta Embroidery Rhoda was also asked to create two banners for the official Magna Carta Garden at the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Royal Connections
Rhoda was presented to HRH Prince William at the official Magna Carta celebrations, but her royal connections do not end there. Rhoda was part of the team that embroidered the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and she worked on the Jubilee Vestments for the Bishop of Southwark where she was presented to HRH The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at a ceremony at the Cathedral .
Guildford and Pirbright Embroideries
Rhoda recently created a magnificent embroidery panel for Pirbright church to commemorate its 800th anniversary. In 2012 Rhoda was asked to create an embroidery in memory of her late husband, a former mayor of Guildford. It was while working on this project that she met many of volunteers that worked with her on the Magna Carta Embroidery.
Rhoda has also recently created an embroidery for the 100th anniversary of the world famous Pirbright Institute.
Vestments for the Bishop of Southwark
Rhoda’s latest project has been working on the new Jubilee vestments being created for the Bishop of Southwark and his diocese.
“I feel so lucky to have been involved in so many exciting projects. Working on the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress was such a highlight and honour, and meeting the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince William has just been fantastic. It’s been such a privilege to work on so many prestigious projects, I never knew that something that started as a hobby could grow into something so big”, says Rhoda.