July 2017
BOSBURY
At the June meeting we welcomed John and Annette Christophers who gave an entertaining talk and demonstration on the history of pottery. We were all given a piece of clay to mould with our initial on it, which Annette made into a large bowl which she is going to fire and bring back to Bosbury for us. John told us that it takes five to seven years to train as a potter, and 6000 years ago pottery started with clay toys being thrown into the fire, and progressed from there.
Isabel reported that we had made £108 on our plant stall at the Farmers’ Market last month. She thanked all who manned the stall and donated plants. Rosemary Bayles won the draw for the Denman College Bursary. Francis-Jane had enjoyed her day at the AGM in Liverpool and told us both the resolutions (alleviating loneliness and keeping micro plastics out of our oceans) had been passed.
The next meeting on Thursday, 13th July is an afternoon visit to The Nest (Newent Plant Centre) starting at 2.00pm. There will be a talk and afternoon tea to follow. The craft evenings continue on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall. For further information phone 01531 640337. New members and visitors always welcome.
THE SUTTONS
At The Suttons WI June meeting, Julian Reeves gave a very interesting talk about Herefordshire Growing Point. Growing Point runs Social and Horticultural therapy sessions at its Demonstration Garden at the Holme Lacy Campus, providing a range of gardening activities, sometimes using specially adapted tools , to adults and children from a variety of different groups. Benefits include mental stimulation, decision making, physical health & fitness, social interaction, and increased self esteem, confidence and enjoyment of life!
At our next meeting on 19th July, we will be making MORS Bags with Wendy Steadman.
PARKWAY
Justin Bowen spoke to Parkway, in April, about Wychbold Fudge. During his talk, Justin touched on some of the reasons why he changed careers at a crucial time in life and took up fudge making and encouraged WI members to share their own success and failures at creating this delicious delicacy. A fun afternoon.
In June John Barron of Beaconhill Farm spoke to Parkway WI about the farm's production of unpasteurised milk, cream, cheese and ice-cream. John's talk was both funny and informative and included a lot of references to his cows. Visits to the farm are possible and guided walks with the cows can be arranged and an ice-cream cone from the kiosk afterwards is probably a must.
PETERSTOW
The month of June was socially oriented with a visit to Abergavenny for firstly coffee in the Tithe Barn, followed by a visit to admire the Abergavenny Tapestry. Members were told it took 60 ladies and 4 years to complete. The remainder of the day was taken up visiting various sights around town.
Several members, on another day visited Church Cottage in Hentland, the delightful garden, open for charity. This visit was our second, with tea and cakes to follow.
The guest for our July regular meeting was Wendy Reynolds reliving her life as a teacher in the Falkland Islands. She explained how being a peripatetic teacher meant living on farms mainly on the West Island, and teaching at times single pupils. Wendy described the life as sometimes solitary, but decided on retirement to make it her home for 6 months of the year. Her talk was accompanied by slides, which we found very interesting and informative.
Our meeting was joined by several residents from Ross Court, enjoying the talk, together with our appetising tea afterwards.
SALTMARSHE & DISTRICT
Our photo shows two lovely guys - Jon on the left, Vince on the right - who gave us a wonderfully illustrated presentation on the WI at War. Their talk was full of interesting details which, even though some of our ladies have been members for many years, many of us were not aware of.
It was good to see WI crockery for example and black and white photos of WI Members in group shots very formal all in their fashionable long skirts, dresses and hats.
The WI had been at the forefront of disseminating information about foods and nutrition. In wartime they were active in organising child evacuees from areas considered high bomb risk, Pig clubs, Rabbit clubs, selling extra produce to their communities and this being the forerunners of markets stalls.
Surprisingly, in the years of both World Wars there were tremendous plum harvests and the stones from the fruit could be ground up and used as charcoal in gas masks; outside of wartime plum yields were nowhere near as productive!
Next month we're getting our Financial Affairs in order with a talk by that name given by Mr. Stuart Strickland. Our competition will be a bell. Our meeting is on August 9th at 7.30pm in Saltmarshe & District Hall. Why not come along? We're a friendly group.
KIMBOLTON GROUP
On the longest day of the year 21st June, Kimbolton Group arranged a Bowls and Steak night. It was well supported and everyone really enjoyed the bowling and of course the meal afterwards. It was good to meet members of the different institutes and to make new friends. Everyone is hoping that this will become a yearly night out.
MARCHES GROUP
Marches Group Meeting at Pembridge. Hosted by Pembridge WI, also present members from Staunton on Arrow, Eardisland, Brampton Bryan, Kington and Huntington-Kington WI's. Pimms and Puddings to start, followed by a wonderful session of 'Songs from the Shows' by Kington and District Operatic Society. A very enjoyable evening. Thank you Pembridge WI.
BROMYARD
Mair Granthier co-founder of the Hereford charity “Night Shift” was the speaker at BROMYARD’s July meeting. The charity was formed fifteen years ago to create a safe haven for Saturday night revellers and party goers in the city. Mair entertained us with heart-warming and amusing recollections of her experiences on Night Shift duty.
WYE WOMEN
During June Wye Women had a very informative talk from Rebecca Edmonds, a local hypnotherapist and psychotherapist. She gave us an insight into how the brain works and what happens when we experience stress, anxiety or a lack of motivation. Members were mesmerised as you can see from the photo.
The walking group explored Madley and lunched at the Red Lion - the walk took us at the back of the satellite station - all very hush hush!
The Sewing Group started their next project- patchwork Scottie Dog cushions for children in hospital with the aim of completing as many as possible over the next few months.
SPARKLING WYE
July's speaker was Kim, a beauty therapist from Simply Stunning salon in Ross, who talked about skin care and making the best of oneself. Clare volunteered to be the model for the evening and Kim demonstrated cleansing and moisturising the skin, going on to look at the different types of foundations available and how to sculpt the face with highlighter and blusher etc. There was time at the end for people to discuss any skin issues they had with Kim, also to try some of the products and to pick up some samples. It was a very relaxed, fun evening which everyone seemed to enjoy.
SALTMARSHE & DISTRICT/BROMYARD GROUP MEETING
Wendy, JJ and Jean S went to the Bromyard Women's Institute Group Meeting, this year hosted by Pencombe & Little Cowarne WI.
The invitation stated "Belly Dancing - join in or watch", so two of us had a go and Wendy took our pic. !
It's a lot harder than it looks, but Tina (Webster) helped us to enjoy ourselves.
Our role was to sell the Raffle tickets, while Much Cowarne WI gave the Vote of thanks. Bromyard WI was represented with good numbers. As usual, down in Pencombe, the refreshments were eagerly consumed.
The competition was to write a Limerick about The Village Fete and this was very well supported. Irene, a complete neutral non-WI presence but known for her skills as a poet, had been drafted in to judge the 19 entries. She declared that an entry from Saltmarshe & District WI was the worthy winner ! (See below) Exciting, as we now keep the Cup for a year.
Looking at that Cup, it's sobering to be reminded of the abandonment of several WIs over the years in the Bromyard Group; the Cup itself was given by Avenbury WI and bears names of Edwin Ralph WI and Bredenbury WI - all no longer with us.
And so, we had a jolly good evening.
The stalls at the Fete were piled high
till a big hairy dog walked on by;
with a flick of his tail,
the ladies did wail
as the cakes flew right up in the sky !
BRAMPTON BRYAN
Our speakers this month, Hilary and Ian Templeton on ‘Pictures in Harmony’, were introduced by Gill Harnett.
The couple introduced themselves; the last time that they presented to our WI was in March 2011. They have over 160 titles and are constantly working on new ones. They have been going for over 11 years and have done over 825 shows, with WI’s being their best customers. They always charge for their time, with all monies donated to the Air Ambulance, to date they have given £29,680.00.
They made various presentations, taking it in turns, slideshows accompanied by music, poetry or words from serious, with a witty twist to laugh out loud funny.
Starting off with the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand; the poignancy of 185 white chair installation representing the citizens that died. Estimating a total of 20 years and around 40 billion dollars to rebuild the area. The story was enhanced with a cartoon mouse and accompanying poem of his move from the flattened old gothic cathedral at the heart of the quake to a newly designed temporary one made from cardboard where the mouse finally settled.
Islands of Loch Lomond, a small island called Inchcailloch; with plants, bird and animal life in abundance, they told the tale of burials in times gone by.
A photo slide show of their daughter growing-up, set to Que sera sera.
Hen wlad fy nhadau (Land of my Fathers), the welsh national anthem, how it came about.
Bletchley Park, narrated by Joan Clarke Murray MBE. Giving an overview of her experience working there, accompanied by old and new photographs.
Abraham Lincoln, the story of.
Burano (Venice), brightly coloured houses, lace making and fishing.
And finally The WI Calendar, photographs of Clee St Margarets WI in various poses, accompanied by the song of the same name by Richard Stilgo and Peter Skellern. A great choice to finish on and had us all laughing.
STAUNTON ON ARROW
Pam Davenport gave us an excellent talk about her ’Chilli Zoo’. She grows many different varieties of chillies and is particularly interested in their taste. She explained which ones had particular heat and also the Scoville units for measuring the heat of a chilli. Many samples were passed round for us to smell the aroma. Her display of oils, jams, marmalade and dried and smoked chillies was very eye catching, and we were also able to taste and buy all her products. She made her presentation very interesting and Sarah Westaby gave the vote of thanks.
LINTON
WI Linton welcomed Jonquil, a breeder of guide dogs and a member of Linton WI, who gave an interesting and enthusiastic talk about the charity “Guide Dogs”.
It was started in 1931 by two British women, who trained their first guide dogs in a lock up garage.
More interesting facts followed: most guide dogs are Labradors, it costs up to £55,000 for training, a guide dog works for 6 to 7 years, there are over 4,950 guide dog owners in the UK, up to 1,500 guide dog puppies are bred every year. Only 70 % make the grade and the remaining 30% are used as Buddy dogs (companions for children and young people who are blind or partially sighted), or used as sniffer dogs at airports, for the police and prisons.
Photographs of cuddly puppies getting into all sorts of mischief accompanied the talk.
UPTON BISHOP
President Pat Lemin of Upton Bishop WI welcomed members and visitors to our July Meeting which was entitled ASPECTS Of BROCKHAMPTON MANOR Our speaker for this month was Mr. Malcolm Penny from the National Trust who gave us all a wonderful talk on Brockhampton medieval Manor House, which is situated on Brockhampton Estate near Bringsty Herefordshire.
The house was built by a Mr. John Domunton in the 15C. The estate old buildings and chapel date back to 1140
Malcolm gave us a tour of the house via. some wonderful photos. The film "Brockhampton Revealed" showed us how Brockhampton was built. Until 2014 the rear rooms in the Manor House were being lived in and not open to the public. However, some bats have taken up residence in the house
The competition this month was a Small Garden Flower Arrangement which was won by Jane Pendlebury.
Our next meeting entitled 'Whirley Birds' will be held at the Millennium Hall Upton Bishop at 7:30pm on Tuesday 12th September. Please note that we do not meet during August.
You will be made very welcome to come along and see what we have to offer - £4 per person. New members are always welcome.