During March, we’ll be celebrating the incredible women of Epsom; be it loved ones, local residents, members of the community, or employees at The Ashley Centre.
KATE WINSKILL
We’re profiling the incredible Kate Winskill, organiser of Arthouse Pop Up Gallery in the Ashley Centre. Kate was a latecomer to art, returning to study art at university at the age of 50. This, followed by a brush with cancer, refocused her career ambitions.
Kate started in PR, and after having her first child, she set up her own consultancy. Kate says, “Thirty years ago, there was less leeway for working mothers in the corporate world. So I set up an office from home to be more available for the children. It didn’t stop the agency from attracting blue chip clients, which I think proved you can be committed to your job AND a family!”
Kate now organises Pop Up Galleries, as well as producing art herself. She says, “I have always worked with teams of women and love it! They tend to be practical, get on with things and think outside the box.
It infuriates me how little art by women is represented in big galleries. We are redressing the balance at the Ashley Centre by having women artists make up three quarters of our team. Things have changed a lot since I was starting my first career in PR, and women are more welcome in the corporate workplace, but pay gaps should not still be happening.
We need a family centred approach, so men can get more involved with their children and women don’t lose out on their careers. It’s been amazing working with two professional and completely approachable women, Jacqui and Sonia at Ashley Centre Management. We love Jacqui’s ‘Can Do’ approach, which makes things happen, and has given us a great exhibition space in Epsom for the last 10 months.”.
DENISE & TINA, ERNEST JONES
We’re spotlighting two incredible women, Denise and Tina, who work at Ernest Jones Jewellers in the Ashley Centre. Denise, the Store Manager, has been in the jewellery trade for 40 years. She started at Ernest Jones eight years ago in Sutton, relocated to Croydon, and then finally moved to Epsom.
Tina, Assistant Manager, has been in the industry since 2018 and started her journey in Croydon. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Tina made her way to Epsom to re-open the Ernest Jones store alongside Denise.
We asked Denise and Tina why Women’s History Month is so important to them. Tina says, “Ernest Jones is a nice environment to work in for women. All my management team here are women, which is quite unusual in a trade or business nowadays. Women can do just as good a job, if not better, than a man.
We’re put in a situation where we deal with expensive items. Security-wise, we would do no different than a man would. So, I think that’s why we progress just as well. In my eyes, our roles here as management are like ‘mothers of the business’, so we can encourage team members and customers.”
Tina continues, “A lot of our male customers purchase engagement rings, and they like to have a woman’s input into buying a ring. So that helps us and our clients because we follow their journey. If we’re selling an engagement ring, we go through the engagement, wedding, and children with eternity rings. It’s really nice for us to follow their journey and be part of their experience as well.”
SOPHIE KNIGHT-CROW
Say hello to Sophie Knight-Crow, an incredible artist from Arthouse Pop Up Gallery in the Ashley Centre. Sophie’s main connection to Epsom began nine years ago when Soap222 started working at Pullingers Art Shop. Sophie says, “Having studied Fine Art at Croydon Art School, this was a great role to follow on from my studies. My practice is mostly based on experimentation with different materials, so working in an art shop is like being in Aladdin’s cave.
At the beginning of the year, I started exhibiting with Art House Galleries in the Ashley Centre, and it’s been an eye opening experience. For the first time, I’m selling my art work to a wider audience, not just family and friends. I’ve met some amazingly talented artists and learnt so much from them.
Being in Epsom has really opened doors for me as a creative; there’s a great arts community surrounding the area. There are many local art groups, classes and societies, including the university, and venues such as the Epsom Playhouse and The Horton. I’ve grown in confidence because I am here and who I’ve met here.
Women’s History Month is an important reminder to us that these opportunities, that I’ve been so lucky to have, did not previously exist for women. Woman’s Art was seen as undervalued craft, seen as something to pass the time. Things are definitely on the right track but there’s still a way to go, even in 2023. Statistically, representation for woman artists in gallery spaces is still lower than that of men, and that is why we need to shout about our achievements on days such as International Women’s Day.”
ELAINE, MONSOON
Elaine moved to Epsom 23 years ago from London and has worked for Monsoon & Accessorize for 13 years. Married to Alan, Elaine has a large family including three amazing daughters, two sons and several grandchildren.
Elaine says, “The Ashley Centre has always been a hive of activity. It feels like you’re part of a family, as staff and customers often become regulars in all the stores. As for me, I started my life growing up and working in London. Along with having my family, I did interior design and worked for Laura Ashley for too many years to count! I still do curtain making, sewing, knitting and design, and make things when I have the time.
I’m really passionate about women’s and girls’ rights and always have been. We are lucky, most of the time, that we have a voice in this country and can be heard. So that’s why I support Amnesty International, who champion women and young girls. I follow them and sign petitions in support.
For instance, in Iran there is a movement called White Scarf Wednesday. The initiative encourages everyone to wear a white scarf to champion women who are oppressed around the world and in Iran.
I also must say that I work alongside an amazing group of women, young mums, grandmothers and students. It’s an exceptional team of ladies, and from time to time, young men who also make up this great team.”
BESS HARDING
Bess Harding was born in Dorking and has lived all her life in Epsom and Ewell attending local schools. Bess decided she wanted to be a secretary and trained in that field, a skill she passed on by teaching at Evening Classes in Epsom for several years.
Her career started in the War Office as a typist in the typing pool until she saw a secretarial job advertised in William Wiltshire’s architects and surveyors office in Ewell. She was then offered a secretarial position in the Trade Department of the Canadian High Commission in London.
Bess was a keen enthusiast for tenpin bowling and held many training sessions through Learn to Bowl Classes. Bess was chosen to Captain and play for the first Surrey Women’s team. A Canadian company wanted to bring 5-pin bowling to the UK and as a result, Bess was head hunted to help promote this at Ambassador Bowling.
Bess has been happily married to Brian who she met through playing badminton and celebrates 50 years of marriage in 2023. They enjoy travelling and learning about the history, culture and historical buildings of overseas countries whilst cruising. She says, “It has been a joy to visit so many countries throughout the world.”
Her fundraising journey began when Bess read in the local Herald an article by Andrew Wills, asking the public how they wanted the Council’s Lottery money spent. Bess’ dad pointed this out and suggested she write in. Having just seen a programme on the CT Scanner, Bess contacted the local hospital and discovered they could not afford the running costs of £2,000 a week, plus the initial cost of £250,000, of this piece of equipment. As a result, Bess put her suggestion to Epsom & Ewell Council for a scanner, but it did not meet their requirements to cover sports as one of the conditions.
Through her contact with Epsom General Hospital, Bess learnt that a gastroscope had broken down and there were no funds available to replace this £6,000 endoscope. Bess started fund raising with the odd raffle donating the money raised to Epsom General Hospital in 1978. Then in 1979, she formed the Epsom Endoscopy Trust Fund, and to her surprise six months later had sufficient funds to purchase this.
This was then followed by the bronchoscope and then colonoscope. A few years passed and the CEO advised Bess she could start collecting for the CT Scanner. A black cat brooch was designed to sell to members of the community which really caught on with the public. Within two years, the £250,000 had been raised and Epsom General Hospital was put on the map.
In 2008, Bess met HM Queen Elizabeth II when she was presented with the MBE. She says, “This was truly a great honour”. Most departments in the hospital have enjoyed receiving medical equipment, which is benefitting the local community that Epsom General Hospital serves. With only a small band of volunteers, the Fund has raised over £6 million which has purchased vital life saving equipment for Epsom General Hospital. There are currently three volunteers, Susan, Lynn and Jan who help with sales of goods in the Epsom market place.
Bess says, “During the warmer weather we have a stall at Epsom Market which gives us the opportunity to meet people and explain what we are doing whilst selling our range of hand knitted wear for babies, children and adults, pictures and other goods. I am proud to be a member of the Epsom Community who support our fund, which is now called Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, and who have helped make it possible for the Fund to purchase this much needed equipment.”
We asked Bess why Women’s History Month was important to her. She says, “As a woman I do not give up on ‘failure’, but try to find ways to do things. Money does not come easily, you have to work at it, long hours sometimes and hopefully overcome any obstacles. I will have a go at arranging different events and am always on the lookout for something that is different and will encourage people to support Epsom Medical Equipment Fund.
I think Women’s History Month highlights what women in the area have achieved, and bring what they have and are doing to the attention of the community. Jacqui and Sonia from the Ashley Centre are an inspiration to me with their ideas and ‘Let’s Go For It’ attitude.”