Tapestry gift to local society comes all the way from Greece

The Fenland Branch of the Royal Society of St George has been given a tapestry depicting the saint slaying the dragon and created over 70 years ago in Greece.

The tapestry was worked by an elderly Greek woman Mrs Garosiotu in Athens around the time of the Second World War.

Her only daughter Ritsa met RAF serviceman Derrick Barker who after Demobilisation returned to Athens to marry Ritsa

The couple lived in England for a short time after their marriage before returning to Greece to care for Mrs Garosiotu. Derrick who had become fluent in Greek became employed for the rest of his working life in the British Embassy in Athens where upon his retirement he was awarded the British Empirre Medal for his services to the crown.

After the death of both Ritsa and Derrick the tapestry was handed down to his youngest brother Neville Barker formerly of The Stitch, Friday Bridge.

He then kindly donated it to the society. It has now been framed by Roger Croft of Artisan with the cost of the framing paid for by honorary member Margaret Green.