WI News May 2015

TUPSLEY

"The Hereford bull is an emblem of the HFWI and as 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the WI and also the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta we have called our bull Magna and he will visit 100 places in Herefordshire during 2015".

Pictures clockwise:
Pic 1-Magna visits the Mayor who is Chief Citizen and conducts his daily business in the Mayor's Parlour
Pic 2-Magna tracing his roots back to the 1886 Hereford Herd Book 
 Pic 3-Magna nervously checking out the butchers' coat of arms and a bull ring above the entrance to the Old House
 Pic 4-Magna smelling the hops on the HF banner while attending the Herefordshire Federation ACM

Future events to celebrate our National Centenary include:- a 95th. birthday celebration for Tupsley, the annual Strawberry Tea on 8th. June and a demonstration and talk on the Art of Gift Wrapping on 13th July.

Meetings are held at St. John's Church Hall on the second Monday of each month at 2 pm. All visitors are made welcome. The President Barbara Glasspoole may be contacted on 01432-274652.

HOLMER

Holmer celebrated their 74th Birthday at the May meeting, with a lovely supper and Cake.  The WI Resolution was  discussed followed by a talk from one of  our members Lyn Burwood on the joys and otherwise  of being a Care home Manager then later an Inspector.

CITY GROUP

Wye Women hosted a City Group meeting at St Johns Church Hall, Hereford.  Our original speaker Dr Malcom Russell of the Mercia Accident Rescue Service unfortunately for us was flown out to Nepal as part of the UK international rescue team.  However, Dr Katie White stood in and did a splendid job of explaining how MARS work in this area together with a display of the equipment used.  Mercia Accident Rescue Service (or MARS) is a charity operation based on providing a fast-response, highly experienced medical team to back up the emergency services of the English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The audience was very appreciative of her time. Wye Women provided a delicious buffet supper.

PETERSTOW

May's meeting commenced with a vote on the WI 2015 resolution of "Failing to Care" assessment of need in long term care. This was unanimously passed.

Our speaker was one of our members Amanda Raines from Milking Parlour Crafts of Howle Hill. Although Amanda's business runs courses on various crafts, this demonstration concentrated on flower decorations, with the main display being a floral wreath.

BISHOPSWOOD

Bishopswood WI met at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Friday, 8th May, a cold, grey evening.  Twenty six members attended.  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.  Two members had been to Wild Wicker for a days course and their beautiful baskets were on display. Mrs Jenny Winchester reported on the Annual Council Meeting which she very much enjoyed. Four members have May birthdays and the usual cards and gifts were distributed.  This month's meeting was our annual quiz night, organised by Malcom and Julia Brain.  The cold outside was soon forgotten in the interesting, amusing and often challenging questions which everyone enjoyed.  The winners, strangely, were The Runners Up, second CJ's, third The Trio.  Raffle prizewinners were Yvonne Wilken, Tina Reddick and Pat Webber.

Our next meeting is on Friday, 12th June at 6.30pm when there will be a talk about The Haven, the respite centre in Hereford for women with breast cancer and Kari and George from Harts of Monmouth will advise on How to fit a bra.  Proceeds to Breast Cancer.  The competition is 'Something made out of an old bra'.

SALTMARSHE & DISTRICT

On a beautiful May evening, sixteen Members met in Saltmarshe Village Hall to discuss the Resolution for the National W.I. campaign for 2015, which is to advance the health and well being of individuals by standardising the assessment of needs and removing the distinction between nursing care and personal care.This was carried unanimously.

 As this is the W.I.'s Centenary year, there's to be a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, followed two days later, Thursday 4th June, by the A.G.M. at the Royal Albert Hall. For those of us not able to be there in person in London ( though one of our Members will be ), we have the wonderful opportunity to see all the A.G.M. action live on the big new screen at Conquest Theatre. ( There's bound to be room for anyone who's interested; you don't have to be a W.I. Member to watch in the Conquest ).

Once the business part of our Meeting had been very ably dealt with, we then eagerly settled down to watch - and listen - as Norma created a beautiful floral corsage.We've always known Norma to be very creative and it's always a joy to see her at work. She talked us through the whole process, from choosing flowers - real or silk - how to condition them and keep them fresh in the fridge, using fine, medium or heavy wires threading them through a vein or pod to making up the design and crowning it all with ribbons.Some ladies then jumped at the chance to have a go; especially those of us who thought we'd be all fingers and thumbs and joyfully found that our efforts were classed as passable by Norma herself. Sincere thanks were given, because Norma has the knack of making us go home feeling better !

Next month is our Garden Meeting when we visit Ralph Court Gardens. We hope for fine weather................ and we start a little earlier by meeting at 6.30pm.