A Powys village famous for its links with one of Britain’s most celebrated fashion designers has paid a fitting tribute to her legacy with a special exhibition.

A three-day exhibition dedicated to Laura Ashley was held at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Carno over the Bank Holiday weekend which organisers say was a “big success”.

More than 400 people, including Laura and Sir Bernard Ashley's daughters Jane and Emma Ashley, visited the exhibition of a wide-ranging collection of dresses, tea towels, fabrics, photographs and other memorabilia.

Church warden Linda Rollin said: “We are very pleased that so many ex-employees were able to come along both from Carno and from further afield. It was like a real old workplace reunion for many”.

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County Times: Linda Rollin and Polly Walker, of Carno church, getting ready for the exhibition.

Church sub warden Polly Walker added: “It was nice also to have so many positive comments about the exhibition and see the village coming together.” 

The Church was full for the Songs of Praise Thanksgiving Service for the lives of Laura and Bernard Ashley held at the close of the exhibition on Sunday, May 28.  Thanks to the generosity of all who came along, £1,988 was raised for the upkeep of Carno Church.

Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams, and also his predecessor Glyn Davies, who was Chairman of the Development Board for Rural Wales when the Ashleys were expanding their former factory and headquarters in the village, also paid a visit to the exhibition.

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