WI News Feb 16
THE SUTTONS
At our January meeting, we had a talk and demonstration of Bowen Therapy, by Jenny Edwards and Lindsay Holder. Bowen Therapy is a gentle hands on therapy, which can be performed over light clothing, involving a series of rolling moves over muscles, ligaments and tendons. It can be of benefit in a variety of conditions, including back pain, headaches, digestive problems, and many more. We found it a fascinating evening.
Our next meeting is on 17th February, when Geoff Tookey will give a talk called 'Dishes with a difference'
HUNTINGTON HEREFORD
At Huntington-Hereford W.I. a minutes silence was observed in memory of Margaret Archer who passed away just before Christmas. Margaret had been a volunteer at W.I House for many years helping to pack the Federation Newsletters, prior to joining us from Kingstone W.I. She had helped on a Friday once a month right up to her illness when it made it impossible for her to do so. A lovely lady who is sadly missed by the members at Huntington and those W.I's that knew and worked along side o her.
Margaret Archer, Meeting Santa's reindeers at St Michaels Hospice and becoming their Facebook cover girl.
The speaker in January was Mrs Marian Jones, who told of her life in the Land Army as a Lumber Jill in the welsh forests during WW11. Telling the members that it was now 73 years since she had arrived in Efgairgiliog a little village where everyone spoke welsh and she couldn't understand a word of their language. Out of the 12 women she joined up with only she became a Lumber Jill. It was hard work and there were always many miles to walk across the mountains to the forest they were working on. Only in heavy rain they could not work as it was not safe to do so, though still had to leave home at 5am to be there for 7.30am with the hope the rain would stop, making it a cold and miserable day hanging about with no work. Fires were a big problem so safety was a priority in case one broke out on a mountain with no roads to it. Timber was sent to the Coal-pits to hold up the tunnels. Marian has since written a book of her life as a Land Army, Lumber Jill and what an interesting story she had to tell.
Mrs Marian Jones
BOSBURY
Our new President, Isabel Carmichael, welcomed members and our speaker to the January meeting.
The Christmas Dinner at The Talbot, Ledbury was good company and fun with a Christmas themed bingo thrown in. The first round of the County Quiz takes place on 18th March in Ledbury Community Hall with the final on 8th April. Teams to be confirmed in February.
A letter was read from outgoing President, Rosemary, thanking everyone for their gifts in recognition of her term as President. The schedules for the October Craft and Produce Show were circulated. This year they include knitting patterns for baby hats and blankets which will be donated to charity.
Members then discussed the eight resolutions put forward for selection for the AM in Brighton. A vote was taken and "Ban the Microbead" was first with "Avoid Food Waste, Address Food Poverty" second.
Donna Socket, a dance teacher, then demonstrated and taught members to dance the Merengue. It made for an enjoyable and energetic evening. Donna was thanked by Frances-Jane.
The next meeting is on Thursday, 11th February in the Parish Hall at 7.30 pm. The speaker is Alan Wells on `'A Bee's Eye view of the Garden". The competition is something home-made from honey.
The Craft Evenings are now on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall. For further details please phone Sue on 01531 640029. New members are always welcome if you are looking for something new this year why not join us.
DINEDOR & HOLME LACY
Dinedor and Holme Lacy WI started the year with a visit from the police and a talk on Crime Prevention by Charles Naylor, 'Crime Risk Design Advisor for Herefordshire', who spoke about the high levels of fraud and cyber crime that we are now facing.
UPTON BISHOP
The History of Aloe Vera and its Healthy benefits was demonstrated by Janey Cotton at the Upton Bishop W.I. this month. Janey explained Aloe Vera had been used for thousands of years and was now made into Drinking Gels, Cosmetics, Skin Care and Sports Products. Its was also well known for its soothing, cooling and anti inflammatory qualities.
The tickets for the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir, the fund raiser this year on April 23rd, has been a sell out and members will be looking forward to an entertaining evening.
Diane Buckley was awarded the Annual Competitions cup having gained the most points overall in the three competitions held last year.
Upton Bishop W.I. have been asked to provide the flowers for the top table at the Annual Council Meeting in April and Jane Fray and Sue Carver volunteered to do the arrangement.
STOKE PRIOR & DISTRICT
Lots of members, together with visitors met in February to be given tips by Ros Hayes on the A-Z of being organised and clutter-free just in time for the spring clean!!
PARKWAY
February 2016 and Parkway WI celebrates 70 years. Although Parkway now meets at the Baptist Church Rooms in Ledbury, the WI originally began in the village of Parkway, a few miles outside the town. Over time, many of Parkway's members moved from the village into Ledbury to access services more readily but friendships continued as did the WI and Parkway still has a thriving membership.
These very special celebrations were shared with Annette Crowe who talked to members about being mayor and stayed to share the birthday tea and cake afterwards. Birthdays are not the only time Parkway celebrates, though. Throughout the year we have lunches, afternoon teas and outings and a thriving Knit and Natter group during the winter months
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SALTMARSHE & DISTRICT
After a break in January, it was a great delight for our Group to meet up again with one another and to share all our happenings. Wendy was in the Chair and was able to give 19 members lots of lovely details about our Annual trip taking place in August. Celia was congratulated on producing such a well thought out idea:a trip to the Elan Valley with a chance to see the inside workings of a dam, hear the history of the area.......... and, of course, time for food !
We then gave a hearty welcome to a firm friend of ours, Mary Seldon. There are lots of themes Mary could give us a talk on, but the one ear-marked for today was the Midlands Air Ambulance, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this May. Many of us probably have some knowledge of the Air Ambulance Charity and its work in our area.......... even if it's only seeing the red helicopter passing above us in the sky. So, it was interesting to hear Mary flesh out the bare facts with her personal experience now that she is officially Fund Raising Manager for Herefordshire.
The Charity, which receives no Government money or funding from the National Lottery, needs upwards of £7 million a year to keep going. Mary told us several ways of supporting this vital life saving scheme. For more information look at their website http://www.midlandsairambulance.com/
There are 3 helicopters to serve a population of approx. 5.5 million people covering an area of over 5,000 square miles. Getting a casualty to hospital in the first Golden hour after an accident greatly increases the chances of survival.
Mary was keen to stress how , out of the many occupations she has undertaken, this one makes her feel very proud to represent such a professional, scrupulously adminstered organisation intent on saving lives. The motto is "Saving Lives by Saving Time " and when appealing for volunteers to help, in many ways, the saying is : "We need you but hope you don't need us " which is very thought provoking. Here's another such fact: in Herefordshire, 5% of the call outs are to people on Golf Courses.
Mary's joy in her role is made more so by meeting lots of different people, each with a story to tell. At last year's Kington Show, a visitor made himself known by saying how much he appreciated his life being saved when he was whisked away by air having suffered an accident on his farm.
Next month - in a change to our published programme - our Speaker will be Mrs. Penny Seabrook with "Forty Years as a Vicar's Wife ". Wonder if there'll be shades of Joanna Trollope's version ! It all takes place at 2pm on March 9th in Saltmarshe Village Hall.
LEDBURY
The President Margaret Coulson welcomed members to the well -attended February meeting.
During January members had filled a complete row at the Market Theatre to enjoy a hilarious performance of the LADS pantomime 'Old Mother Hubbard.' The Ledbury WI even had a mention in the script!
The evening's speaker was introduced: Steve Birch, President of The Toastmasters International Club in Worcestershire, his title being 'The Wallflower Years'.
Steve opened by explaining the title – which referred to his life pre-Toastmasters. He developed a stammer as a child and despite a successful career as a sergeant in the Royal Corps of Signals, was shy, continued to suffer from an extreme fear of speaking in public and even avoided using the telephone.
His wallflower years ended when in 2007 he was introduced to Toastmasters, an organisation dedicated to improving self -confidence and the development of leadership. Steve's confident, extrovert and amusing presentation was testament to the effectiveness of the support and guidance which they provided. Steve went on to co-found the Malvern Branch and had promoted Toastmasters' methods when in Tanzania.
Steve then ran a game of 'Call my Bluff'. Various members were challenged to stand up in front of the audience to present their definition of a word; a vote was then taken as to whether the members thought it was true or false. Everyone found the session great fun – even those volunteered as speakers!
An open invitation was given to go to a Toastmasters' meeting – Great Malvern Hotel, 2nd and 4th Tuesday 7.30 – 9.30.
The competition for the evening 'A floral item' was well supported with imaginative entries varying from china flowers to a flower decorated handbag.
The next meeting is 7.30 pm Wednesday 9th March at the Parish Room of the Catholic Church New Street Ledbury HR8 2EE when the speaker will be Geoff Tookey – 'Cooking with a Difference'.
Visitors will be given a warm WI welcome.
BISHOPSWOOD
Bishopswood WI met at the Village Hall at 2.30pm on Friday, 5th February for our monthly meeting. Twenty four members and friends were present. We were delighted to welcome three new members, Nina, Janeen and Jane. We began as usual with Jerusalem and a short business meeting, where Jenny Winchester outlined the local and county events planned for the future. She showed us the photographs taken at the last meeting, all very interesting and available to any members who would like copies.
This meeting was our annual Members' Afternoon, so after tea we divided into groups to try various crafts demonstrated by four of our members. Su Jackson led the group trying Decopatch, a 3D variation of decoupage. Julie Eglinton was teaching crochet, Anne jones and her group were making sugar flowers while Jan Sheldon and her group tried out watercolour painting. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon very much and it was decided that we must do it again. Our next meeting is on 11th March when Heather of 'Wiggly Wigglers' will entertain and inform us. The competition is 'A Glamorous Worm', in any medium. We hope to see lots of interesting and amusing ideas!
HUNTINGTON HEREFORD
Joanne Helme was the speaker at Huntington-Hereford W. I's March meeting, when she showed the members slides and gave a wonderful account of her holiday with Joe her husband in Laos and Cambodia. Flying into Vientiane at the start their journey, then travelling by air to Luang Prabang, then by road and boat down the great Mekong River, that eventually took them right down to Siem Reap. On the way taking in the ancient temples and the beautiful Buddha statues within, watching the young monks dressed in their saffron robes receiving food from the village and town people, who during their time in the monasteries get free schooling but have to beg for food each day. Visiting the colourful markets and bartering at the textiles, food and fruit stalls. Were shown how paper was made, visited coffee and tea plantations, saw the silk worms and watching the silk weaving of beautiful patterned materials, some of which she brought along. They both joined a cookery school and learned how to cook some of the traditional dishes. With the spectacular scenery of temples, waterfalls, birds and flowers it made for a great holiday.
PUTLEY
Members of Putley WI have been inspired to clear their clutter and sort out their junk. Thanks to Ros Hayes from The Organised Company, her talk in February was a comprehensive and amusing A-Z of advice. She even demonstrated the secret of successful folding. Our drawers have never been so tidy!
Pictured: Ros Hayes from the Organised Company with WI members Margaret and Ruth
STAUNTON ON ARROW
Elizabeth Halls visited Staunton on Arrow WI to talk about 'Where They Served'. Elizabeth undertook a personal commemorative tour and fundraising project in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund, in memory of her father Bryan Wild who was a night fighter pilot in the Second World War.
In 2015 she toured the 60 airfields where he landed in a 1935 Singer Le Mans 9 Sports Car, almost identical to the car her father owned while serving with 25 Squadron in Cambridge. Elizabeth helped all to understand what it was like to serve in the RAF at that time and it was a wonderful tribute to her father and his colleagues, who sadly unlike him, did not survive the war.
I
MUCH COWARNE
Much Cowarne's February meeting was one of celebration and entertainment. The entertainment was in the form of a talk and demonstration given by Linda Marsden on 'Back Care'. Linda talked about the do's and don't's of taking care of your back; this included much humour on a serious topic. Advice was given on gardening, house work, posture at the computer and distance from the screen and the question was posed should you push or pull your supermarket trolley. Also, teaching yourself to relax in the armchair and buying the right mattress for the all important good night's rest.
Supper included a birthday celebration for one of our members, Janet Parker, whose sister Mary presented her with a decorated cake. After rendering the traditional Happy Birthday song Janet cut the cake and all the members tucked in.
BOSBURY
President, Isabel, welcomed members and visitors to the February meeting. This year we are twinned with Bromyard WI and we hope they will join us at one of our events.
Isabel will be attending the Annual Council meeting at Hereford with Dianne. Mathon WI have invited members to their Pancake Lunch on 23rd February.
Our next event will be a "themed" tea party on Saturday 7th May. Further details next month.
Members were all sad to learn that two past members had recently passed away. Iris Sharpe-Neal who was a past President, and Mary Jones, late of Goldhill Farm, Bosbury.
Two teams will be attending the first round of the County Quiz on 18th March at Ledbury. The final will be on 1st April.
Isabel introduced our speaker, Alan Wells who gave a most informative talk on "How we can make our Gardens welcome to Bees". Did you know that bees prefer single flowers to doubles, and that flowers should be planted in groups rather than dotted around? We were each handed a list of bee friendly plants and shrubs. He was warmly thanked by Sue Sharples.
The next meeting is on Thursday, 10th March when we will have an illustrated talk about the activities of the Newent-based International Centre of Birds of Prey. This is an open meeting and everyone is welcome at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall. £3 for non members and £1 for children. Craft meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month in the Parish Hall. For further details phone Isabel on 01531 641982.
KINGTON
We had a very interesting talk by Greta Beresford about her time in Russia and other Asian countries on "Maternity Care"
She was invited to Russia "for a week" to advise them. She found there was a very high rate of mortality in babies and mothers. There was no resuscitation available and no regular hand washing was even carried out. Everywhere was cold and mothers and babies were kept apart except for feeding times.
With the help of funding from major Western companies she was able to teach in hospitals and Moscow University.
She has returned many times and written books to help staff.