WI News Sep 14

August Trip

A good humoured band of fifteen members set off on the coach for our Annual Trip. We were blessed with the weather, which was dry and warm and enjoyed a smooth journey to our first destination; Bourton on the Water. This ever popular Cotswolds town was busy with tourists and daytrippers and our group soon merged in amongst them all. We visited Birdland and oohed and aahed in all the right places, then enjoyed some refreshments before walking just a little way to the Model Village. This is just as it says : a model of Bourton on the Water one ninth scale. It took five years to complete and is utterly charming: even if Wendy did say," Does my bum look big through this ? " when referring to views through the periscope !

We piled back onto the coach and set off for Evesham Country Park where a good deal of tea/cake/shopping went on.

SALTMARSHE  & DISTRICT

Our speakers for the evening were Ruth and Andrew Goodman, representing the award-winning free range Goodman's Geese and Bronze Turkeys. Andrew explained the history of Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley, moving from a concentration on dairy cattle in the late 1950s, pick- your- own fruit in the 1990s and how from a small start in 1982 of having only 12 geese, the enterprise has flourished so well that 4,500 geese and the same number of bronze turkeys are reared each year.It's in September that the website (http://www.goodmansgeese.co.uk/) starts to get busy with people thinking of Christmas.

The geese arrive as day old goslings, kept inside for 12 days to be warm. For 2 weeks they then go into large pens, after which they freely graze in paddocks. They're fed on compound rations supplemented with home grown wheat, ensuring the delicious taste for which the Goodman family have become renowned. All the processing of the poultry is done on the farm and is a mammoth task. Interestingly, this number of birds produces almost one ton of feathers, which is collected by a feather merchant, as there is a great demand still by archers, bee-keepers and users of traditional quill pens.

Using these traditional rearing methods has meant recognition by well known chefs and food writers: Delia Smith, Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein and the unforgettable Two Fat Ladies ( whose motor bike and sidecar broke down on their visit ! ) to name a few.

We then enjoyed mouth watering samples of both goose and turkey and were delighted to take away with us  the latest newsletter and recipe card with "Judy's Useful Tips" for cooking and serving.

So, have a look at their website, or catch them at the BBC Good Food Show at Birmingham N.E.C from 27th to 30th November.

Next month we're looking forward to Brenda Crump speaking about the flowers on the Golden Jubilee Barge. That'll be Wednesday 8th October, 7.30pm in Saltmarshe Village Hall.

PEMBRIDGE

Pembridge marked their 95th anniversary in August with a biennial show.  Members entered into the spirit of the competition and many took part.  The evening ended with a toast and the cutting of a celebration cake along with the presentation of cups.

BISHOPSWOOD

Thirty-one members attended the meeting on Friday the 12th of September.  The meeting opened , as usual, with 'Jerusalem' followed by a short business meeting chaired by Mrs Sheila Trezona, as our President, Mrs Ann Jones was unable to attend.  Various events were detailed including our upcoming Group Supper in October, and Sheila reported on the celebrations for the WI centenary with the handing over of the baton to the Ross Group at the rowing club on Friday the 5th of September.  It had been a beautiful morning with the river looking spectacular.  This was reported on in the local press and had been attended by Sheila and Cicely Symonds on behalf of Bishopswood and there were a number of other members there from WI's in the Ross group.  

We then had a welcome cup of tea, followed by this month's speaker – Mrs Carole Dowding with a talk entitled 'A brief history of Perfume'.  Carole started her talk with a brief outline of her career, starting with showjumping!  She then moved on from that and became a perfume consultant for Dior, ending up as head of the trading department  before finishing her career in 1999.  It was really a most fascinating talk, she was most entertaining and amusing.  She led us through lots of facts about perfume generally. When it was first used in ancient times, through smoke, and eventually how all the oils were produced by distillation and then blended and 'fixed' to make them last in the present day.  We were surprised to find that at one time, only men wore perfume, and also that it was not used on the body but to fragrance gloves worn by ladies to mask the smell of the urine used in tanning the leather! None of us realised also that it takes one ton of flowers to create one ounce of perfumed oil.

It was a very interesting talk and enjoyed by all of us.  The vote of thanks was given by Gloria Clark.  

The meeting closed at 8.45pm and members were reminded that the next meeting is on October 10th and will start at 2.30pm as we will be on Winter hours.  The speaker will be Sandra Snell, the subject Flower Arranging.  All are welcome.

PARKWAY WI

The President Val Graham welcomed our guest speaker & members to the September meeting - as usual we began by singing Jerusalem.

Our speaker was Roger Williams a volunteer with the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Fire Service.  Roger began by explaining his role as a Part-Time Volunteer, he does not attend fires but visits homes, businesses,  schools and groups to advise on safety.  He advised us to check our Smoke Alarms on a weekly basis, which we all admitted to not doing.  For Senior Citizens the Fire Service will install new Smoke Alarms which are easier to check & they will change the whole Alarm every ten years.  They provide special Alarms for the hard of hearing with a vibrating attachment & an Alarm with strobe lighting to attract visually impaired people.  We must remember to turn our plugs off when not in use and not to place more than one plug in a socket. Make sure we know our escape route in case of a fire and so many more life saving tips.  

A vote of thanks was given to Roger by Estelle.

Refreshments were served during which most of us signed up with Roger for a Home Safety Check in the near future.

The meeting then resumed with the WI business, The Secretary Eileen Hunt read the minutes of the previous meeting, we agreed they were correct & the President signed them and continued with the forthcoming events from the Federation Newsletter.  Carla & Estelle told us of their enjoyable visit to Cradley WI for a walk & afternoon tea in August with so much to eat & drink they want to go again.  Arrangements were made with drivers for our visit to The Hop Pocket on the 17th September.  
We then enjoyed a Flower related Quiz before the meeting ended at 4.30pm.
The next meeting will be held on14th October at the Baptist Church Rooms,  Homend,  Ledbury.  Comp. Knitted Toy.  There will be a speaker from Acorns Children's Hospice.  

Visitors & New Members always welcome to join us at 2pm.

LEDBURY WI

The President Margaret Coulson opened our September meeting by welcoming members, visitors and our speaker for the evening, Griff Holliday from the Ledbury Food Group.  Griff explained he was standing in for the original speaker so this was going to be more a discussion with us than a talk.  He informed us that the group had helped compile information for the CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) report From Field to Fork and to be Local the produce had to come from within 30miles of Ledbury.  We discussed how lucky we are in Ledbury to have so much locally sourced choice and the quantity & knowledge of shops selling local produce.  Some butchers could almost tell you the name of the animal the meat came from, as well as displaying pictures of the Farmer & Farm.  We all agreed once you start eating local meat & veg. that is so fresh you keep buying it because you appreciate the quality & taste.  Also we are fortunate to have a Tuesday & Friday outdoor Market plus a monthly Farmers Market.  Together with a dedicated group of shareholders who run & sell their own produce & crafts in St. Katherine's Hall every Friday Morning.  We concluded what a great place Ledbury is to live.  A vote of thanks was given by the President.

Refreshments were served & the discussion continued as members voted with pennies for this month's competition – a locally sourced item.
The meeting continued - the President said how pleased she was with so many members participating in last months craft/produce show.  Items were read from the Federation Newsletter and the Minutes were placed on the table for members to read, the meeting closed at 9.30pm.

The next meeting is 7.30pm October 8th at the Parish Room, Catholic Church, New St; Ledbury.  
We are delighted to have a local author Paul Costello his talk is entitled Utterly Undiscovered. Visitors are always most welcome.

BOSBURY

REPORT OF THE MEETING ON THURSDAY 11th SEPT 2014

President, Rosemary, welcomed members back after the summer break.  The 90th Birthday Party at Hampton Court in July had been a most enjoyable afternoon with glorious sunny weather.  She thanked Janet and Sue for making and decorating the birthday cake.

Twenty-five WI members from the Ledbury Group met at Cradley on 25th September to receive the NFWI Centenary baton from Bromyard Group. The baton then continued on its journey in a vintage Morgan car driven by Brian Clutterbuck and decorated with hops, to The Homme House, Much Marcle  where the County Chairman passed it on to Worcestershire.

Members were thrilled to learn that Wendy Greensmith  had won 1st prize with her cushion for the baton, which was used on its journey through Herefordshire.

Arrangements for the Ledbury Group tea party, hosted by Bosbury, on 27th September are well in hand.  

The speaker for the evening, Malcolm Watkins, gave a fascinating insight into domestic life in Tudor and Stuart times.  Cookery books from the time included herbal remedies and cures as well as food and were mostly hand written.  Most cooking was done on open fires and cauldrons were used until the early 19th century.  Quince, medlar, mulberry, figs and almonds were all used, as well as olives which were imported.  Bread ovens were used for sequence cooking, bread followed by pies, and lastly meringues, as the oven cooled.  He was warmly thanked by Jenny.

The next meeting will be the Craft and Produce Show on Thursday, 9th October in the Parish Hall. Please have your entries in early.   For further information please telephone 01531 640 622. New members are always welcome.

WELLINGTON
 
In September we were entertained by Richard Jordan with his illustrated and sound-tracked talk and reminiscences about growing up in London during World War 2.  His presentation was visually impactful and interesting for those who could remember this period first hand, as well as those born later.  He encountered some well known characters from Bud Flanagan to Mantovani - all before he reached double figures!