Category: Women’s Institute

The president, Pat Moran, explained to members that as the group had voted for the government to support the Bee resolution no action was required.

Vice – president Barbara Buckley welcomed everyone.The committee still needs volunteers to run Members Meeting in March. Speaker John Morgan has been booked to talk about Town Watch in Colchester.

Members are reminded to bring the requested toiletries to the March meeting. They will be taken to the County Annual Meeting at Towerlands Equestrian Centre for George Mills to transport to the orphanage at Chernigov. The county resolution to abolish hospital car park charges was carried and the delegate will vote on our behalf at Towerlands.

The treasurer reported 38 paid up members so far but poor weather had lowered attendance for the first two months. The committee decided to organise a coffee morning later in the year instead of the usual afternoon tea party.

President Joyce Woolhead welcomed visitors and new members. She asked for volunteers to organise Member’s Meeting. The AGM next month will be guided by WI advisor Judith Rose. This will be followed with entertainment from our drama group. Quizzes on tree names are available at 50p from the treasurer. Outings secretary is hoping to organise a coach to Chelmsford Cathedral WI Carol Service at 2.45pm on 19 December with time for lunch/shopping beforehand. Please contact 01206 241969 as places are limited.

Peter Webb made a welcome return with his talk on The Good Life part 2. Members enjoyed hearing about his conservation and the return of barn owls as well as anecdotes about his livestock on the smallholding.

The vice-president Pat Moran welcomed 3 visitors to the meeting. The tea party held in the Methodist church hall was a success with over £100 being raised for funds. Congratulations were given to Jeanne Dean who won the Yorkshire Tea competition. A selecton of small garments and teddies were on display. These had been knitted by Jeanne and Heidi and would be sent to the orphanages in Romania.

The president Joyce Woolhead presented flowers together with a card signed from all the members to Marjorie Thomas a long standing member who is leaving the village and will join her local Balkerne Gardens group.

The speaker, Linda Scoles, who arrived in England from America in 1971 with her husband who served on the Lakenheath airbase, gave an amusing talk entitled ‘Divided by a Common Language’. Members were amazed at how many expressions had totally different interpretations.

Vice-president Mrs Pat Moran welcomed members and visitors to the meeting. A minute’s silence was held in remembrance of Claire Short a valued and long standing member who contributed so much to our W I.

The next drama group meeting will be held at the home of Pat Beeching on Monday 17 September. There is to be a W I Summer Tea Party in the Methodist Church Hall Chapel Lane on Thursday 23 August from 2pm to 4pm. No charge for this event but bric a brac and cakes would be appreciated.

Orders for calendars £3.25 and diaries £3.20 are now being taken by the treasurer.

Subscriptions for 2008 will be £27 which includes the new W I magazine.

Secretary Susan Leng read out the delegate’s report from the London AGM which 5,000 attended. £83,000 was raised for the W I Denman College near Oxford from the sponsored bike ride in Cuba.

Mr Peter Minter was welcomed with his illustrated talk on the history of bricks. Members heard all about his local brick works with the re-construction of his kilns. Many famous buildings including Hampton Court and St Pancras Station have used his skills to produce unusual bricks in whatever shape and colour required so buildings can be restored to their former glory. A truly fascinating evening.

Next meeting in the Orpen Memorial Hall is Wednesday 5 September when Linda Scoles talks on ‘Divided by a Common Language’. Competition an article from USA.