Promotional Feature
Local artist Geoff Hall has created a set of four limited edition posters of Alderley Edge. There will only ever be 150 copies of each poster and every one purchased will help raise funds for two local causes: the RVS Luncheon Club and the St Phillips Church Restoration Appeal.
The four posters celebrate Grantham's Deli, Wienholts Bakery, the old Festival Hall and the Edge itself.
Speaking about the project, Geoff said: "I have always loved the old railway posters of the 1920s and 30s. So, together with a friend, I decided to create some of my own. And naturally, to do that we first of had to set up our own Railway Company."
"As my great great great uncle was the 19th century railway engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was an obvious choice to name it the Great Brunel Railway Company (GBR). The main difference between our railway and Brunel's Great Western is of course that we have no trains, tracks, timetables...."
"I decided to start with my own home village because it has so much going for it. I was especially drawn to some of the popular family-run businesses and distinctive buildings in the village."
So, two of the posters pay tribute to long-established shops in Alderley: Wienholts and Granthams.
The third celebrates the 1920s façade of the old Festival Hall. For this one Geoff used the style and colours of the 'HOPE' poster created by the American artist, Shepard Fairey for the 2008 Obama election campaign.
Speaking about it, Geoff said: "I wanted it to capture the spirit of hope as the old Hall is transformed into a new Medical Centre and refurbished entertainment venue."
The fourth poster is a freehand 'painting' inspired by the iPad landscape sketches of David Hockney. Titled 'Spring on the Edge' it celebrates the appeal of the Edge as a place for walkers in the spring sunshine.
The posters are available individually – framed or unframed. Each is created in a Limited Edition of just 150 copies and each is numbered, signed and embossed.
£10 from the proceeds of each poster will be shared between the restoration appeal for St Phillips Church in Alderley Edge and the RVS Luncheon Club, whose volunteers provide twice-weekly lunches at the Methodist Church for older people in the village and its surrounding areas.
"I would really like to raise £3000 for each of the two good causes, but that may well prove to be too ambitious. I've not done this before so it's quite possible that no one will like them, which would be embarrassing. On the other hand I have already sold Granthams posters to people living in other parts of the country and two are even in the USA. So, maybe as word gets around we'll get lucky!"
Posters are on display in Granthams, Wienholts, the George Street Doctors' Surgery and will shortly also appear in the reception area at Chafes Solicitors.
Posters can be ordered on the Great Brunel website: www.greatbrunel.com, where you can also find out more about them.
The posters are priced at £95 unframed or £159 framed. But if you order before 30th June 2015 you can save 10% and get free local delivery by entering the coupon code: ae10 at checkout. Or if you prefer, you can call Geoff Hall on 01625 581321 to place your order that way.
