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  • Speakers Committee

February 2nd. 2023- Hugh Brewster w/ Laurie McGaw: Titanic and Lady Duff Gordon

Past-President Julian Sale chaired today’s meeting which opened at 10:00 am.
Following a welcome to all and opening remarks, he introduced today’s guests: Dudley Gibbs, Don McCallum, David Rowley and Rick MacRonald.

Announcements:

Activities – Ken Marchant
- Valentine’s Dinner on Feb. 14th at Symposium Restaurant at cost of $35 for several entrees to be chosen from set menu. Please sign-up at the welcome table.
- Warren Gregg has tickets for performance by Drayton Entertainment for Legally Blonde at $35 each;
- Four other performances are in the works for Drayton productions this coming season.

Frank Brewster introduce today’s presenters, Hugh Brewster, author (Frank’s brother), and Laurie McGaw the illustrator of the book Unsinkable Lucile.

Bio
Hugh Brewster is an award-winning author, historian and playwright who has written 15 books for adults and young readers. He spent his teen years in Guelph, Ontario, not far from Summer Hill where Lucy Duff Gordon grew up. He is a sought-after speaker and gives many audio-visual presentations to schools, libraries and community groups each year.

Laurie McGaw is a Guelph artist who has previously collaborated with Hugh Brewster on a number of award-winning books, including  
Polar the Titanic Bear, which was nominated for a Governor General’s Award. She is a renowned portraitist and has also been commissioned to create 35 coins for the Royal Canadian Mint

Presentation
How a Guelph girl became the queen of fashion and survived the Titanic. Before Chanel there was Lucile –– the most famous fashionista of the Edwardian age.
Yet, couturiere Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon grew up as just plain Lucy Sutherland in a stone farmhouse overlooking Guelph, Ontario, during the 1860s. How she created an international fashion empire is a remarkable story of unshakeable determination and female achievement. Among her many innovations were the first fashion shows, the first fashion models, and the Edwardian craze for oversized hats. She also helped free women from the corset and coined the word ‘chic’. A serious challenge came in April of 1912 when she survived the sinking of the
Titanic and was unjustly vilified in its aftermath. Yet she didn’t allow this to sink her and Lucile went on to become a fashion adviser to millions and the creator of clothes seen in over 115 movies.
With an engaging A/V presentation Hugh Brewster and Laurie McGaw will tell Lucile’s story as featured in their new book,
Unsinkable Lucile.

President John Sneyd thanked Hugh Brewster and Laurie McGaw for their presentation.

Next meeting: Thurs., February 16th, 2023 with Jaya James on Understanding Poverty in Guelph

Adjournment @11:10 am


Recording Secretary: Kerry Gennings
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