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The Liverpool Tapestry:
People, Places and Passions
This portrait of Sir Simon Rattle
is based on a photograph taken by
Voirrey Branthwaite, (then owner
of the Voirrey Embroidery Centre,
who supplied all the materials for the
tapestry panels) whilst he was signing
CD’s following his concert conducting
the RLPO in Liverpool in 2008. As
a famous son of the city, who was
returning with his current orchestra,
the Berlin Philharmonic, to celebrate
the European Capital of Culture, it
was also fitting that he should conduct
the RLPO where he began his career.
This piece was the final piece worked
on by Fleur Packman prior to her
untimely death, some 18 months into
the Tapestry project. Her daughter
kindly returned the piece to the Guild
for completion, where it was taken
over by Hilary McCormack to be
completed in Fleur’s memory.
Sir Simon Rattle
Designed by Elsie Watkins,
stitched by Fleur Packman and
Hilary McCormack