WI News June 2015
ASTON INGHAM
Aston Ingham heard all about Blood Bikes from Nigel Warwick. He volunteers for a charity who provide a free motorcycle courier facility to hospitals. They deliver essential medical items when normal services are unavailable.
LEDBURY
The President Margaret Coulson welcomed members to the May meeting.
Minutes of the previous meeting were placed on the table for members to read, items were read from the newsletter and we were encouraged to attend forth coming events. Margaret said she & her husband had visited the Saxty Charity Shoot which had raised £8,000 for Federation Funds as we were their chosen charity for this years event.
The main business of the evening was to debate the Resolution going forward to the 100th AGM in June. The President opened the debate by reading the Resolution to the members - Failing to care - Assessment of need in long term care. We had all read the write-up in WI Life and Margaret had sheets of information for which she gave us an overview. Some ladies told of their experiences and others expressed their views, we then took the vote and it was a unanimous YES.
As there was not a speaker we amused ourselves with a quiz or two, the first being new money for old which we had to think back to the beginning of the seventies to find the answers. Then we held a true and false quiz after which we were ready for our refreshments.
Refreshed - the Birthday PosIes were handed out by Margaret and the results of the Competition were given. We were reminded of the Writers Club meeting on 21st May, Luncheon Club 27th May and the Craft/Sewing TBA. We must not forget the Heartstart Training on Friday 15th May and if we know of any other WI who would be interested in receiving the 2 hours of training.
to ring 0845 6060654 or E/M info@herefordshireheartstart.org
10th June at 7.30pm will be the next meeting of Ledbury WI where we will welcome Jason Donaldson the Manager of the Co-op speaking on Fair Trade Produce in the Parish Hall, Catholic Church, New St; Ledbury.
HUNTINGTON HEREFORD
At the May meeting Mr Isireli Buodramo gave a talk on his native Fiji in the Pacific Ocean bringing with him many local craft items made on the Islands. A lovely mat woven from tree bark was spread out on the floor which had been woven by the women, decorated fans and handbags. A Tabua, a tooth of the sperm whale, is the highest token of respect one can receive in Fiji, strictly a Fijian ritual. The tabua is presented to a distinguished guest - for example a high chief - or is given if a favour is requested. The tabua may be exchanged at betrothals, weddings, births, deaths or when a major contract or agreement is entered into, it may also be used to make apologies after an argument.
On a map of Fiji which he said is made up of 332 small islands set in the Kora Sea but with only 110 inhabited, he pointed to a very small island that had been his home when a child. There are the two main Islands, one of which hosts the airport .His Grandfather had been a Methodist Minister and he had learned to speak English from a young age enabling him to attend a Methodist Boarding School where they were only allowed to speak English and their own language for one day a week, but with 16 provinces it was often hard to understand his classmates at times he said.
After leaving school he took up an apprenticeship in engineering, moving on to join the army here in the U.K, based first at Catterick. Flying for the first time, his companions were guests of the American Army for 24 hours, but he later saw snow for the first time when they landed in New York. As soon as they landed at Heathrow Airport they were issued with army greatcoats because a lot of the young men were still in Fijian dress and were all feeling the cold very badly. He served in the army for 22 years leaving in 1984 returning to Engineering for 20 years for a well known local company and has now been living in the U.K for 54 years. His wife ,whom he had met whilst home on leave and their family still love going home to Fiji for visits.
DILWYN
Dilwyn's May meeting was indeed an amazingly "uplifting experience" given by our guests from The Underwear Drawer at Harts in Monmouth. Amongst other things we were fascinated to learn that nearly four out of five women in the UK wear an ill-fitting bra. After going through a brief history of ladies' underwear and how the bra evolved, Karrie and George went on to demonstrate the wide range and variety of styles now available. They made what could have been a really dull subject great fun. By the way, thank you to all WI members who kindly donated old bras to the 'Against Breast Cancer' charity."
BRAMPTON BRYAN
In the absence of our President and Vice President, our May meeting was presided over by Gill Sumner.
Two of our members, Anne Macfarquhar and Anne Voysey attended the Annual Council Meeting. Whilst they found the meeting itself very enjoyable, they were less happy with the quality of the food and the length of the queues.
The main subject on our agenda was this year's Resolution. Two of our members were given the onerous task of researching and presenting a case; Gill Harnett 'for' and Di Sawyer 'against' the Resolution. We were given much food for thought and after general discussion it was agreed that whilst being a well meaning Resolution, the wording was too restrictive.
WELLINGTON
Wellington members had a charabanc trip up to the Emma Bridgwater factory in Stoke in early June.
SALTMARSHE & DISTRICT
It was with an air of excitement that we came together for our June Garden Meeting.This year we had very little distance to travel as we'd chosen to explore the newly presented Ralph Court Gardens (www.ralphcourtgardens.co.uk) at Edwyn Ralph, on the outskirts of Bromyard.
Our hosts for the evening were Stephen and Paula Morgan, who have turned their imaginative ideas and creations into reality. The House was originally built in 1850 for the Reverend Arthur Lucton Childe, but by the time the Morgans bought it in 2004, the previous owner had turned the outdoors into grass for a golf course. Stephen had trained in horticulture and had worked on a number of Gold Medal large Gardens at Chelsea and Hampton Court; even so it must have been a true labour of love to bring the Gardens to this incredible standard.
Comments from our Members were : "Everything's wonderful " "The plants for sale are a good selection and a reasonable price " " We loved the co-ordinated fountains of water and music in the Italian garden" " I liked the Dragon: really special " " We got wet by the Jack in the Green" You can gauge from this that we REALLY enjoyed ourselves.
The overall aims were to create a fun garden experience in which water features play a large part in both sound and movement. Several of us are already planning a return visit. Why not come and see for yourselves ?
Our next Meeting involves "Tales from the Potting Shed " by Philip Carr. This will take place on Wednesday July 8th at 7.30pm at usual venue : Saltmarshe Village Hall
BARTESTREE AND LUGWARDINE
Bartestree & Lugwardine celebrated the Centenary with a Garden Party at their secretary's home. The weather was good to us and everyone brought food. One member, Margaret, made a beautiful celebration cake which was cut at the end of the afternoon and everyone took a slice home.
ASTON INGHAM
Clyde Hoare came to talk about and demonstrate wicker basket making - one of the oldest crafts. He has land at Broadoak near Newnham where he grows some of the willow he uses but a lot of it is imported from France. He showed us baskets made in different colours, using different willows - all beautiful. Clyde runs courses at Wobage and he told us that people can, in a day, complete a basket, he said that ladies who knit adapt very well to making baskets. He brought along some of the baskets he had made.
Clyde was very enthusiastic about his craft and we all thoroughly enjoyed his demonstration.
HOLMER
HOLMER had a talk given by Liz Ellis from the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, it was a wonderful insight into their amazing characters and needs of a Donkey in our alien country for them, surprisingly it is not grass! To find out more view the donkey sanctuary web page on www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
UPTON BISHOP
Diane, Heather and Lynn had been to the Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 2 June and Diane gave a report of what an enjoyable day it had been with a delicious tea and the chance to stroll round the beautiful gardens in lovely sunshine while admiring the wonderful outfits on display!
A bring and buy fundraiser was held during the evening which went very well, items for sale ranged from plants and preserves to bric a brac.
The speaker, Ros Hewlett, was introduced with her fascinating and informative talk about the Great Severn Estuary Flood of 1607. She is currently studying at Bristol for her Masters Degree. She explained how severe this flood had been with areas affected ranging from north Cornwall up as far as Gloucester and Worcester and over to the Cardigan and Gower coast, even up as far as Glamorgan. A storm surge followed a very high Spring tide and the storm lasted for 9 hours with huge waves and 9 foot of water in Bristol. Information has been found from pamphlets (the equivalent of our newspapers) of the time. People believed back then that this was not a weather event but God's will. It was a very localised event and there have been many storms since but none with the exceptional speed of the water in this particular one. Many hundreds of people perished and many houses were ruined by the flood water.
BISHOPSWOOD
Twenty seven members and their friends met at Bishopswood WI met at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Friday, 12th June for an open meeting. We started as usual with Jerusalem and the business meeting, taken by the President Mrs Ann Jones, who outlined the many local and county events planned for the future. Cards and small gifts were presented to the four members with June birthdays. This month's meeting was arranged in two parts and after a welcome cup of tea the first speaker was introduced, Helen, an oncology nurse from The Haven in Hereford. The Haven is a respite and treatment centre for breast cancer sufferers and their families. Helen became interested in breast cancer because her husband's family are cancer gene carriers.
The Haven Charity was started by Sarah Davenport from Herefordshire who was working in London. Appalled by the lack of emotional support for those affected by breast cancer, she sold her business and set up the first Haven in Fulham. The Hereford Haven was opened in 2010 by the patron, HRH Prince Charles. At present there are three Havens with another five planned, including one in Worcester. Each Haven works alongside the NHS and has a breast care nurse in charge. People, either women or men, can refer themselves or be referred by a doctor or consultant. Havens offer counselling, medical and practical support and advice and provide friendship and various activities such as yoga and 'walk and talk' groups.
About 50,000 women and 400 men will get breast cancer, in Herefordshire about 300 women and maybe 2 men will be diagnosed.
Helen ended on an encouraging note – treatment nowadays is so good that a diagnosis of breast cancer means living with a chronic disease, 20 years ago it was a death sentence.
The second part of our meeting was more lighted hearted as Kari and George from Hart's of Monmouth gave an extremely useful and interesting talk about the joy of a well-fitting bra and how to achieve it. They gave us a brief history of the bra, first made in the 20's by Mary Phelps Baker from two silk handkerchiefs. With the help of brave George as model Kari showed us both ill-fitting and properly fitted bras. All the staff at Harts are trained bra fitters and both Kari and George are trained in mastectomy fitting. It is a family run business with the comfort of the customer as their priority.
The next meeting is on Friday, 10th July at 6.30pm, our summer social with time to chat and relax.
LEOMINSTER
Leominster were entertained in May by a speaker from Cobb Amos talking about property as an investment and in June were treated to a cookery demonstration by Geoff Tookey of a three course meal.
STAUNTON ON ARROW
Marietta Alker visited Staunton on Arrow WI to demonstrate the art of upcycling clothes. She explained that she likes to repurpose woollen articles, particularly lambswool and cashmere as wool is a very forgiving material for transforming and cutting up. She demonstrated using a tailor's dummy how she would repurpose an old jumper by cutting and resewing to make a new article such as a waistcoat or a woollen dress from a man's jumper. All her stitching is on the outside of the article with zigzag machine stitching and looks very effective. We were all very impressed at her talent. Gill Busby gave the vote of thanks.
