Judy Ling Wong in the Guildhall, Hull

This was the first day of the Heritage Trust Network Conference 2017 being held in the Guildhall, Kingston upon Hull, the headquarters of Hull City Council. I must say that the quality of the speakers and subjects covered was better than I'd expected.

One of the key speakers was Judy Ling Wong CBE OBE, who is now the Honorary President of the Black Environment Network which she established in 1987. I thought she was amazing, bringing a completely different atmosphere of fun and joyfulness to the occasion when she spoke to the conference.

Soon after she finished speaking we had a break for refreshments in the nearby great hall. Camilla, who is the chair of Stroud Preservation Trust, and I sat having a cup of tea when Judy and Camilla struck up conversation. I couldn't resist taking a picture of them beside me, but am annoyed that I didn't get a sharper focus on Judy. Seconds later we had to leave to return to the next part of the proceedings.

I want to blip this because I felt it was the people who were there who brought the proceedings (which might otherwise have been dry) to life. I spoke to Judy briefly and found that we had some connections from nearly thirty years ago. Do have a look at her personal website where you might get a glimpse of her work as an artist, environmental activist and an inspirational and fun person.

A little later the day's proceedings closed with two songs from the local Deaf Choir. They too were inspiring and with many of them being profoundly deaf, they sang along to a backing track. But their 'voices' were not only audible but visual, as they used their 'signing' movements so expressively that they sang with their bodies too. Marvellous.

The evening was pretty good too with a very good restaurant meal for  all the conference attendees and I had a chance to talk quite closely with some others whom I'd never met. I came away with a much worse sore throat and cough, which hasn't improved much for several days, but it was worth it!

From her website:
Judy Ling Wong – Painter Poet and Environmental Activist
First Woman in the History of China with the title of
"Master of the 3 Arts"

Now London-based, Judy was born in Hong Kong in 1949. She became a professional Chinese traditional painter at the age of 12. Mastering the skills of calligraphy and the carving of signature seals in 1977, she became the first woman in the history of China to be Master of the 3 Arts. To read the fascinating story of how she has integrated East West concepts in her work, read the article "Art Perfecting Itself" in the section News.