Federation News July/August 2014
DETAILS OF CENTENARY BATON EVENTS DURING STAY IN HEREFORDSHIRE
Day 1 : Tuesday 2nd September 2014
HFWI collects the Baton from Gwent Federation at the Allt Yr Tnys Country Hotel, Walterstone.
Event One.
Satellite Group – Moccas Village Hall – 7.30
An evening of entertainment by 15 year old harpist Martha Powell
£3.00 on the door
Please contact Julia Whittall 01981 500258
Day 2 : Wednesday 3rd September 2014
Event Two.
Weobley Group – 11am – 1pm
Val Lewis will bring the Baton from Moccas in a decorated Triumph Herald to the Toll Bridge at Winforton, where there will be a bring and share lunch with WI memorabilia.
Please contact Val Lewis: Telephone 01544 327700.
Event Three
Marches Group – 2.30pm
Marches Group receives Baton from Weobley Group at Staunton on Arrow Village Hall, where there will be a bring and share tea and a walk around local orchards.
Please Contact Alison Lord: Telephone 01544 340256 by 31st August 2014.
Day 3 : Thursday 4th September 2014
Event four
Kingsland Group – 10.30 - 12
Kingsland Group will receive the Baton from the Marches Group via a Vintage Tractor at the Millennium Green where there will be a coffee morning with WI banners on display. Transport will be via Bentley and Zimmer Frame.
Contact Mavis Tantrum: Telephone 01544 387972
Event Five
Kimbolton Group
Kimbolton Group will receive the Baton from the Kingsland Group at Still Water Cottage, Orleton, where there will be a Hatters tea party. Everyone should wear a decorated hat which will be judged for a small prize. There will be a bring and share tea and raffle.
Please contact Mary Springle: Telephone 01568 613347
Day 4 : Friday 5th September 2014
Event six
Ross Group - 11am and 1pm
Ross Group will receive the Baton and it will be transported by the Rowing Club on the River Wye. There will be a picnic in Edwardian dress at the Bandstand at 1pm.
Please contact Jenny Holmes: Telephone 01989 763575
Event Seven
Fownhope
Fownhope will receive the Baton at Hampton Bishop Village Hall at 2.00pm. There will be three walks of different distances around the Wye, ending at the Village Hall at 3.30pm for tea and cake.
Please contact Kay Spencer: Telephone 01432 870586
Day 4 : Saturday 6th September 2014
Event Eight
Golden Valley
Golden Valley receives the Baton at 10.00am at Dorstone Village Hall for coffee and refreshments, then to Arthur's stone for photographs, and on to Longtown Village Hall for lunch, then Longtown Castle for photographs. The Baton will then be taken across country on horseback to Pontrilas, at Castle Lands for afternoon tea and more photographs.
Please contact Carol Powell: Telephone 01873 860550 or 07887 427196.
Day 5 : Sunday 7th September 2014
Event Nine
Holmer
Holmer will receive the Baton at Queenswood at 10.00am for a bring and share breakfast. The Baton will then walk around the wood with WI banners. Wellington Village hall has been booked as a wet weather contingency plan.
Please contact Pat Simpkin: Telephone 01432 820648
Event Ten
The Baton will enjoy Afternoon Tea at lower Hope Gardens Ullingswick – see enclosed poster
Day 6 : Monday 8th September 2014
Event Eleven
Hereford City Group
Hereford City Group will receive the Baton dressed in Edwardian costume on The Old Bridge, 10.15am. It will be decorated and transported by Pedi cab over the bridge to Victoria Bridge and through to High Town for 12.00pm, where there will be memorabilia, sale of cakes and a raffle. Tupsley choir will sing as the Baton is passed over to Bromyard at 1.00pm.
Please contact Brenda Drake: Telephone 01432 356653
Event Twelve
Bromyard Group
Bromyard Group will collect the Baton from the Hereford Bull at 1.00pm and take it in a vintage Bentley to Wye Valley Brewery, where it will be passed to a horse and carriage and taken to the Conquest Theatre in Bromyard. The Mayor and Mayoress will receive the Baton announced by the Town Cryer. Tea and scones will be served.
Please contact Kathryn Bandfield: Telephone 01432 820385
Day 7 : Tuesday 9th September 2014
Event Thirteen
Ledbury Group – 12 -2pm
Ledbury Group will receive the Baton from Bromyard group at a picnic at Cradley Village Hall. The Baton will be transported via an exciting form of transport to Homme House.
Contact Rosemary Bayles: Telephone 01531 640895
HFWI passes the Baton to Worcester Federation at Homme House.
Dear Members,
I know that many of you have been remembering the two wars and I thought some of you may like to take part in the events below.
Kathryn Bandfield – Federation Chairman
A SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION TO MARK THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
AT HEREFORD CATHEDRAL
3RD AUGUST 2014 AT 3.30(seated by 3.10)
The Countess of Darnley, JP HM Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire and Councillor Olwyn Barnett, The Chairman of Herefordshire Council invites all members of the Women's Institute to attend this important event
LIGHTS OUT
10-11pm, 4th August 2014
"The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"Words spoken by Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary in August 1914, as Britain's ultimatum to .
LIGHTS OUT is an invitation to everyone in the UK to turn off their lights from 10pm until 11pm, leaving on a single light or candle for this shared moment of reflection.
In a dramatic nationwide event, the UK will plunge into darkness between 10pm and 11pm on 4th August 2014: upon this darkened canvas single lights will appear across the four
nations, marking the hour that Britain entered World War 1 one hundred years ago. Every member of every community in the UK is invited to respond to LIGHTS OUT, bringing their own personal thoughts and reflections to the occasion. At home: Individuals and families can take part by turning out all house lights and lighting a candle or other single light source, such as a TV, porch light, desk lamp, Jeremy Deller'sLIGHTS OUT app etc. Individuals in the home could also watch the LIGHTS OUT TV coverage, or host supper gatherings by candlelight.
Chairman's Letter for July/August 2014
Dear members,
Summer has come, the weather is beautiful and we are out in our gardens and enjoying the sunshine. It has been a busy month for me with my visit to Buckingham Palace (see June Federation News page) ,our own Annual Council Meeting (see report below) and the NFWI Annual Meeting, a report of this is included with secretary notes; you should also have received a report from your delegate. I also went on a sugar craft course at Denman for pleasure.
Planning for the baton has been very good, the meeting at Hampton Bishop was very well attended and everyone was enthusiastic, thank you. Most groups have made good progress in planning events whilst they have the baton in their group and more concrete details have been made about the event at Lower Hope Gardens. More detail later in the newsletter.
I attended the Ross Group Edwardian Tea on a very wet afternoon but that did not spoil it. It was wonderful, the hall looked perfect with beautifully embroidered cloths and matching china, an amazing buffet tea table and the displays were excellent. Some members had dressed in costume of the period and looked super. We were entertained with music from the era and some beautiful poetry written by Mary Wall who is a member of Llangrove WI.
Earlier in the month I went to Tupsley's strawberry tea, the rain held off and we were able to sit in the garden. We were entertained by their own choir and Barbara told us of various events that had taken place and more that were going to happen. Tupsley is a very positive busy WI which supports local charities such as the Hospice. I am aware that most members have a well earned rest in August but 2 September when we receive the baton will soon be here so please see your secretary if you are away during the summer to order tickets or let us know if you are able to help. I look forward to seeing you all in September at one of your group events for the baton or at Lower Hope Gardens for the afternoon tea.
Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
Ross Group Edwardian Tea
WI Afternoon Tea at Lower Hope Gardens
On September 7 2014 as part of the celebrations for the Centenary Baton the WI is having afternoon tea at Lower Hope Gardens. This is an event for all WI members and you can either come and bring your friends (they don't have to be members or female!) or you can help us make and serve tea or man a stall, or both! There will be stalls selling cakes, plants and preserves and there will be a raffle and tombola stall. There will also be a band playing music. In addition lots of members wish to dress in clothes of the period and although it would be wonderful if as many as possible did, this is optional. A long skirt, high necked blouse and hat is an easy way to achieve the effect.
The cost is £7.50 for entry to the garden with tea and cake, extra cake will be available. The garden is very beautiful and will open to view 2-5pm. We are privileged to have been offered it to raise funds, it is only open a few times each year. We are hoping that neighbouring federations and members of the public will join us. Should it rain, there will be suitable cover arrangements made. There is a website where you can find the detail of the garden – google Lower Hope Farms and go to gardens.
Could you please when you are making your preserves make a pot or two extra, when gardening, pot up any spare plants or grow some for us to sell on the stalls and we need cakes to sell on the cake stall and to serve for tea. All of these can be delivered to WI House during opening hours or brought on the day. Your WI may be able to arrange for one person to organise delivery.
Your secretary will have received a booking form for tickets with the July mailing. Although tickets will be on sale on the day it would be helpful if as many as possible could book tickets in advance please. Also there is a form to enable members to offer help, please see your secretary if you are interested in helping in any way.
Mr and Mrs Richards have kindly offered to donate all proceeds to the WI, including entrance fees. The proceeds from this event will be used for members centenary events in 2015.
Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878, Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
Annual Council Meeting 2014
It was our Annual Council Meeting on 19 May at the Courtyard. To say it was uneventful would not be true! I arrived at WI House to collect some last minute things to find the telephone ringing and my heart sank. The main speaker had been taken into hospital and despite seeing his consultant at 7.30 and telling him he had to come and speak to us he was understandably unable to! I had asked several people I knew if they were able to help us when Heather from Wiggly Wigglers agreed to step in.
The morning's business went very well and because of yours and our organisation we were able to get through it quickly. The trustees and sub-committee chairmen updated you on their work and the treasurer gave a summary of the Federations Finances. We have had to rework the budget for 2014 as without the Royal 3 Counties Show income and the VAT refund we would have recorded a loss for 2013. We have already taken action in several areas to save money and have also taken the opportunity, whilst the posts of Federation Secretary and Book-keeper are vacant, to reassess these posts and the number of hours worked. I can give you my assurance that the trustees are working very hard to address the financial issues.
We had 3 very good speakers, Anne O Brien, the author spoke to us about her novels and life of women in those times, Marilyn Haines Evans talked to us about Campaigns and Heather gave us a lively and entertaining talk on her businesses and life, she supplies worms to aid composting and beautiful flowers. Her website address is www.wigglywigglers.co.uk
The finale by Peterstow WI was hilarious. They were the winners of the Cogan Cup and gave us their version of Blandings, wonderful!
Despite its hiccups the day went very well and we have had so many letters, cards and emails thanking us, it has been overwhelming. Some members who attended for the first time are coming again and bringing other members with them, always encouraging.
I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the day a success and for all of those members who attended and for those who didn't, please come next year.
A full account of the day with a copy of reports and photographs can be found here.
Kathryn Bandfield, Federation Chairman, Tel: 07805 584878,
Email: kathrynbandfield@gmail.com
Leisure and Pleasure Committee
The L & P Committee did not meet in the early part of 2014 because the chairman was unable to chair the meeting at this time, and unfortunately, other members of the committee had commitments which prevented them from stepping forward to assist.
However, the difficult time is now passed and we will be putting forward a new programme of events.
We will have 'a favourite of members' a walk in the early autumn, a Ceilidh or similar evening and of course, the ever popular Christmas Concert. The Concert will be held at Holy Trinity Church on Monday 8 December 2014 commencing at 7pm. We have also been approached with an offer for Members to learn to play Croquet, please see below.
Art & Crafts have always formed a great part in WI Life and ethos, and it is with this in mind that we are looking to try and reintroduce this as a major part of the WI year. If we are to go ahead with this initiative we will need new members to join the Committee especially if you are already part of the Arts and Craft movement in Herefordshire. So if you are interested please contact me, details below.
We will keep you informed of the details of the above events and hope that you will find something that you will enjoy.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT: We are looking for a WI to help with the refreshments for the evening. This is always Mulled Wine and Mince Pies. If your WI would like to help please contact Jean Thornton details below. There is a small budget available and the kitchen facilities are very good.
JEAN THORNTON CHAIRMAN L & P COMMITTEE Contact details: Tel 01981 500 421. jmt.moccas@gmail.com
Membership Support - Speakers Audition Evening
On Wednesday the 1st October at 7pm we will be holding the second of this year's Speakers Audition Evenings. As usual the meeting will be held at St John's Methodist Hall in St Owen's Street.
At our March auditions over eighty members listened to seven very varied speakers give samples of their talks. After all the comments were considered six of the speakers were invited to enter their names in our handbook.
If you would like to join us at the October meeting please let your secretary know so that she can get the application to me by Wednesday 17th September. Avril Killick
Choir
WELL ! the choir is 1 year old - I cannot believe it. We are all still enjoying singing, some members, experiencing the joy of singing in a choir for the first time. Singing is good for you, it is wonderful to see how the ladies always leave the choir with a smile !
Breaking News! HFWI Choir is entering the Centenary Choir Competition being run by the NFWI. We will be singing in the first stage of the competition on 11 October 2014 in Shrewsbury. There is a possibility of transport being arranged to take members who wish to come along and support your Choir if there is enough interest. Please contact Becky or Jane on 01432 370870 or email hfwi.reception@gmail.com.
The Choir will also be performing at the Baton Handing over ceremony on 9 September in Ledbury. If you have a special occasion and you wish your choir to sing please contact me, details below.
We always welcome new members. There are no auditions just come along, have a chat with Jon our musical Director or myself. Try out the choir, if you don't wish to sing the first time you come along, that's fine, but I feel certain you will be singing before you go home.
JEAN THORNTON, CHOIR CO-ORDINATOR, CONTACT DETAILS: Tel 01981 500 421
Croquet
Eardisley Tennis Club have laid a Croquet Lawn and are offering HFWI members the opportunity to learn to play the ancient game of Croquet. The tuition fees, which will include all appropriate equipment will be £ 2.50 per session. We are hoping to arrange a HFWI Annual Croquet Competition in future.
For further details please contact : Jean Thornton. Chairman L & P Committee
Denman Report
Following a recent newspaper article some members may be worried about the future of Denman College. I would like to put your minds at rest about this. Denman has had financial problems in the past but following careful examination of their finances an operational plan has been introduced and some changes have been made. Denman is performing well this year and is on the way to making a small profit. This profit must continue as costs continue to go up to maintain the building and grounds.
We are arranging a Herefordshire Federation Residential Denman Taster day on 9/10th November 2014. Cost is £160 which includes a coach picking us up in Ross, Leominster or Hereford. A £20 deposit by 28th July will secure your place. Please come and support us, this is very important to come and socialise with other members in our Federation and to support Denman College. Your secretary has all the details which are also on the HFWI web page, click here.
I am arranging another longer visit to Denman in June next year, more details will be in the September newsletter.
Denman college is offering more bursaries to attend the college The application must be submitted by Friday 18th July 2014. For more details send me an Email or look at the HFWI web page, click here.
If any WI would like me to visit your meeting and talk about Denman and what is available please send me an e mail. Your WI now has the latest Denman course brochure, please look through it, there are lots of new workshops available.
To contact me; Email; valjlewis1@aol.com Tel: 01544 327700
Digital Champion News
Computer Training – Please contact me if you would like to do some computer training and I will fix a date with you for late July/August.
Facebook: I have had a few responses re running a course about Facebook; is there anyone else who would be interested? Please contact me, then I will arrange a date when I know numbers.
I will be putting a computer help page onto our Herefordshire website pages with information about the WI Moodle and anything else useful that comes to mind.
Please encourage your fellow members to look at our website pages and Facebook page and send me feedback: is there anything else on there you would like; is there anything you don't like? Contact me please!
The PowerPoint display which I had on my stand at the Annual Council Meeting can be emailed to anyone who would find it useful.
Finally, to all MCS reps, there will be an update soon and I gather that your email address will become the login. More information when we get it from NFWI.
Alison Lord digitalchampion.hfwi@gmail.com 01544 340256