Donations to CWA (Cheshire Without Abuse)
For several years Holmes Chapel WI has adopted CWA (Cheshire Without Abuse) Refuge in Crewe as their nominated charity and customarily at each monthly meeting we collect toiletries, small useful items and children’s toys generously donated by our members. These we normally deliver in the Spring and just before Christmas.
This year during lockdown we gave an extra donation after re-cycling all our ‘unused’ VE Day Jarbola jars and consequently were able to hand over 4 boxes of goodies. Since then we have received further generous donations from WI members, the BookWorms, and individual residents in the village, which has meant a welcome boost to our Christmas collection for which we are truly grateful. Another 9 boxes were duly delivered early December.
A big Thank You to everyone for your generosity
This year during lockdown we gave an extra donation after re-cycling all our ‘unused’ VE Day Jarbola jars and consequently were able to hand over 4 boxes of goodies. Since then we have received further generous donations from WI members, the BookWorms, and individual residents in the village, which has meant a welcome boost to our Christmas collection for which we are truly grateful. Another 9 boxes were duly delivered early December.
A big Thank You to everyone for your generosity
Updated: 24th December 2020
Zoom Meetings
These are the results of our Zoom meetings to talk to our members and check that they are OK and also to have some fun. We have had Quizzes and Bingo and had a lot of laughs. Here are the results so far:
15th December
24th November 27th October 22nd September 8th September 25th August 11th August 28th July 14th July 30th June 16th June 2nd June 19th May 5th May |
Christmas Meeting
November - Annual Meeting October Meeting Quiz Session 7 - Bingo Session 4 - Quiz Session 6 - Bingo Session 3 - Quiz Session 5 - Bingo Session 2 - Quiz Session 4 - Bingo Session 1 - Quiz Session 3 - Quiz Session 2 - Quiz Session 1 - |
In this meeting we all had Christmas hats or Jumpers on to get us into the spirit. After the business of the day was finished we had a little Christmas Quiz. We then ran through the Puzzles that had been sent out and revealed the answers. Also we answered the 40 'Mostly Chocolate' Quiz given out in our goody bags last month. The winner was Sue Blantern, with Barbara Foster second and Karen and her boys third, with Lynda Searle fourth. Well done ladies (and boys).
This was our Annual Meeting where we agreed the Accounts and agreed our Committee. We voted in our President of last year who agreed to stand again. We also played 'The Price is Right' which was won by Beryl Hurst with Sue Blantern and Sue Whitaker coming second. Once the meeting was closed 12 members decided to stay on and play bingo. This was again won by Beryl Hurst who had two lines and two houses. The other winners were Celia Steel and Deirdre Thompson. Well done Beryl a lucky night all round. This Zoom meeting was slightly different, we still had a very easy quiz followed by Animal, Vegetable or Mineral using the letter A. Quite a few weird and wonderful answers, but loads of laughs. Overall winners were Sue Blantern and Andrea Petty Won by Sue Blantern, 2nd Sue Whitaker and 3rd Valerie Quinn 8 games were played with the following winning either a line or a full house. Karen Elsby won (ably assisted by her two sons) 4 of them, well done young sirs. The other winners were Barbara Foster, Irene Allerton, Valerie Quinn, Sue Blantern and Anne Hibbert won by Lynda Searle, with Sue Whitaker coming 2nd and Sue Blantern 3rd 6 games were played, on a very hot evening, with Karen Elsby, Celia Steel, Valerie Quinn, Lynda Searle, Irene Allerton winning either a line or house Won by Sue Blantern, Irene Allerton 2nd with Lynda Searle and Sue Whitaker sharing third place 8 games were played this time with the following winning either a line or a full house - Valerie McArdle, Deirdre Thompson, Valerie Quinn, Sue Whitaker and Irene Allerton Won by Sue Blantern with Sue Whitaker second 5 games were played with the following winning either a line or a full house - Lynda Searle, Sue Blantern, Liz Osborne, Judith Whalley, Andrea Petty and Deirdre Thompson Won by Sue Blantern with Lynda Searle second Won by Sue Blantern with Andrea Petty second Won by Karen Elsby with Lynda Searle second |
Updated: 16th December 2020
Annual Meeting
This year we will be holding a virtual Annual Meeting on 24th November 2020. To go with this meeting all our members received a 'Meeting in a Bag'. This encompasses our belated 90th birthday present to our members, annual meeting details and early Christmas card and present. Our youngest member, Lizzy Broxton, is going to entertain us with a virtual game. This time, I can join in!
Linda, President
Linda, President
Updated: 17th November 2020
Update from Jean Harding
Updated: 23rd August 2020
August Update (when finished reading click back button to come back to this page)
Denman to Close |
|
21 July 2020
Dear WI Member,
On behalf of the NFWI Board of Trustees, it is with great sadness that we announce our proposal to close Denman permanently.
We appreciate this will be difficult news for you, as it is for the NFWI Trustees and our staff. Most of all, this is a difficult time for the dedicated and passionate Denman staff team who are at risk of redundancy.
For a number of years, Denman has been operating without unrestricted reserves and operating a cash-flow model reliant on future bookings. This has always made Denman vulnerable to any economic changes and particularly so during this period of complete lockdown.
Since the beginning of lockdown, the NFWI Board of Trustees have been carefully examining the financial position of Denman and considering all possible options. In March, Trustees voted to provide financial support for Denman up to 1 July 2020, with the majority of staff being furloughed to reduce on-going running costs and minimise Denman’s losses during the lockdown period. However, as we approached 1 July, it became clear that Denman would be unable to open and operate its full range of services, and that participants and visitors were uncomfortable visiting, which meant the scheduled courses were no longer viable. As such, if Denman were to formally reopen, it would be making a financial loss for at least the following three months; and without reserves, Denman would have relied on significant subsidy from NFWI. NFWI has already provided a significant temporary loan to Denman to cover its costs until 1 July, and further subsidy would put the organisation under impossible financial pressure. Therefore, the Board of Trustees have been left with no choice but to propose the formal closure of Denman.
This has been an extremely difficult decision and has not been taken lightly. Members will know that successive NFWI boards have worked incredibly hard to preserve Denman and keep it open for members. Significant work has been undertaken over the last 18 months to address Denman’s financial challenges and rebuild its reserves position, including the introduction of a new business plan in June 2019 which opened up the opportunity to develop non-educational activities on site as a way of increasing income. This has been incredibly positive and we saw a significant reduction in deficit in the last financial year. Denman has also been helped enormously by the money received from the Saving Denman Appeal and Love Denman, as well as other donations and legacies that we have received over the years. However, Denman’s lack of unrestricted reserves and the cash-flow position meant that the College was left in an incredibly vulnerable position when faced with a minimum 3 month closure during the lockdown period.
I want to take this opportunity to pass on my thanks to all of you for your support of Denman over the years, and also to thank you for the enthusiasm and support for Denman at Home over the last few months. We are absolutely delighted that this programme has proved so popular, and in the short term it is our intention to continue to deliver and grow this offer to ensure that members can continue to access the high quality Denman activities that we have always prided ourselves in. You can sign up to these courses via the Denman website here: www.denman.org.uk.
You will find FAQs attached, and these can also be found on My WI (where they will be added to over time). These should help to explain the background and process in more detail; however please bear in mind that we do not have the answers to everything at the moment, as we are still within the consultation period and we have not yet fully explored some of the complex legal and financial practicalities. If the proposal is taken forward following the staff consultations, we will also be hosting a series of Zoom Q+A calls for WI members in September, where you will have the opportunity to ask any questions about Denman. Whilst we know how upsetting this news is for many WI members, please hold any questions for these calls. The priority for the NFWI Trustees and staff is to support the Denman staff in this incredibly difficult and stressful time, so please allow us the time and space to do so sensitively.
All members with existing bookings will be contacted separately and will be refunded in full within 30 days of this announcement. You do not need to contact us to arrange this as you will be contacted directly by the team.
Please note, this is being shared with you in the strictest confidence and it is important that you do not share this news with anyone else until NFWI have made the announcement public (we intend to post on social media at 2pm on 22 July). We are managing this process within formal legal frameworks and following employment law and Charity Commission requirements. It is vital we ensure our messaging (and the sequencing of communications) is completely consistent in line with this process, and does not expose the NFWI or individuals to risk. As we have stated, our utmost priority is to support our Denman staff at risk of redundancy and ensure the entire process is completely fair, and any communications not made directly by NFWI could seriously conflict with this. As such, any breaches of this information will be fully investigated by NFWI.
We know the news we have shared is difficult and we share this feeling of loss and sadness with you. However we ask again that you please hold any questions for a more appropriate time, and allow us to explore this proposal with our Denman staff as priority.
Best wishes,
Lynne Stubbings NFWI Chair Denman
Jeryl Stone, Chair NFWI Vice Chair
Dear WI Member,
On behalf of the NFWI Board of Trustees, it is with great sadness that we announce our proposal to close Denman permanently.
We appreciate this will be difficult news for you, as it is for the NFWI Trustees and our staff. Most of all, this is a difficult time for the dedicated and passionate Denman staff team who are at risk of redundancy.
For a number of years, Denman has been operating without unrestricted reserves and operating a cash-flow model reliant on future bookings. This has always made Denman vulnerable to any economic changes and particularly so during this period of complete lockdown.
Since the beginning of lockdown, the NFWI Board of Trustees have been carefully examining the financial position of Denman and considering all possible options. In March, Trustees voted to provide financial support for Denman up to 1 July 2020, with the majority of staff being furloughed to reduce on-going running costs and minimise Denman’s losses during the lockdown period. However, as we approached 1 July, it became clear that Denman would be unable to open and operate its full range of services, and that participants and visitors were uncomfortable visiting, which meant the scheduled courses were no longer viable. As such, if Denman were to formally reopen, it would be making a financial loss for at least the following three months; and without reserves, Denman would have relied on significant subsidy from NFWI. NFWI has already provided a significant temporary loan to Denman to cover its costs until 1 July, and further subsidy would put the organisation under impossible financial pressure. Therefore, the Board of Trustees have been left with no choice but to propose the formal closure of Denman.
This has been an extremely difficult decision and has not been taken lightly. Members will know that successive NFWI boards have worked incredibly hard to preserve Denman and keep it open for members. Significant work has been undertaken over the last 18 months to address Denman’s financial challenges and rebuild its reserves position, including the introduction of a new business plan in June 2019 which opened up the opportunity to develop non-educational activities on site as a way of increasing income. This has been incredibly positive and we saw a significant reduction in deficit in the last financial year. Denman has also been helped enormously by the money received from the Saving Denman Appeal and Love Denman, as well as other donations and legacies that we have received over the years. However, Denman’s lack of unrestricted reserves and the cash-flow position meant that the College was left in an incredibly vulnerable position when faced with a minimum 3 month closure during the lockdown period.
I want to take this opportunity to pass on my thanks to all of you for your support of Denman over the years, and also to thank you for the enthusiasm and support for Denman at Home over the last few months. We are absolutely delighted that this programme has proved so popular, and in the short term it is our intention to continue to deliver and grow this offer to ensure that members can continue to access the high quality Denman activities that we have always prided ourselves in. You can sign up to these courses via the Denman website here: www.denman.org.uk.
You will find FAQs attached, and these can also be found on My WI (where they will be added to over time). These should help to explain the background and process in more detail; however please bear in mind that we do not have the answers to everything at the moment, as we are still within the consultation period and we have not yet fully explored some of the complex legal and financial practicalities. If the proposal is taken forward following the staff consultations, we will also be hosting a series of Zoom Q+A calls for WI members in September, where you will have the opportunity to ask any questions about Denman. Whilst we know how upsetting this news is for many WI members, please hold any questions for these calls. The priority for the NFWI Trustees and staff is to support the Denman staff in this incredibly difficult and stressful time, so please allow us the time and space to do so sensitively.
All members with existing bookings will be contacted separately and will be refunded in full within 30 days of this announcement. You do not need to contact us to arrange this as you will be contacted directly by the team.
Please note, this is being shared with you in the strictest confidence and it is important that you do not share this news with anyone else until NFWI have made the announcement public (we intend to post on social media at 2pm on 22 July). We are managing this process within formal legal frameworks and following employment law and Charity Commission requirements. It is vital we ensure our messaging (and the sequencing of communications) is completely consistent in line with this process, and does not expose the NFWI or individuals to risk. As we have stated, our utmost priority is to support our Denman staff at risk of redundancy and ensure the entire process is completely fair, and any communications not made directly by NFWI could seriously conflict with this. As such, any breaches of this information will be fully investigated by NFWI.
We know the news we have shared is difficult and we share this feeling of loss and sadness with you. However we ask again that you please hold any questions for a more appropriate time, and allow us to explore this proposal with our Denman staff as priority.
Best wishes,
Lynne Stubbings NFWI Chair Denman
Jeryl Stone, Chair NFWI Vice Chair
Membership Subscription Extension
The NFWI has been very concerned about the disruption this lockdown period has had on WI meetings and activities and your membership experience this year. We recently held consultations with all federations to discuss ways in which we can acknowledge this in our membership subscription this year.
We are delighted to share with you that as a result we are offering a three month extension to this year’s membership subscription. The next renewal date for membership subscriptions will therefore be 1st April 2021. In addition, from this point onwards, membership renewals will always be in April. This is to acknowledge the feedback many of you shared with us during the recent Strategic Vision consultation about the challenges of the January payment date and how you wished to see this changed in the future.
We have added full FAQs to My WI to help you understand a bit more about the process and how this will impact WIs. The FAQs can be found here: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/faqs-membership-subscription-ex…
We know that many WIs have responded creatively to the practical challenges posed by lockdown and we continue to be inspired by the activities being delivered to ensure members remain connected during this difficult time. However, we do appreciate that this period has meant that many members have experienced disruption to their WI experience and therefore we hope the additional three months will provide some compensation to acknowledge the disruption.
We are aiming to ensure that this message reaches all members as soon as possible. As well as the formal notification to federations and this announcement on social media, there is a memo in the July WI Life magazine and a letter in the July WI mailing. We hope that by ensuring the message is consistent across all our channels of communications, it will reach all members; but please do ensure you share the news with all the members in your WI too.
We are delighted to share with you that as a result we are offering a three month extension to this year’s membership subscription. The next renewal date for membership subscriptions will therefore be 1st April 2021. In addition, from this point onwards, membership renewals will always be in April. This is to acknowledge the feedback many of you shared with us during the recent Strategic Vision consultation about the challenges of the January payment date and how you wished to see this changed in the future.
We have added full FAQs to My WI to help you understand a bit more about the process and how this will impact WIs. The FAQs can be found here: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/faqs-membership-subscription-ex…
We know that many WIs have responded creatively to the practical challenges posed by lockdown and we continue to be inspired by the activities being delivered to ensure members remain connected during this difficult time. However, we do appreciate that this period has meant that many members have experienced disruption to their WI experience and therefore we hope the additional three months will provide some compensation to acknowledge the disruption.
We are aiming to ensure that this message reaches all members as soon as possible. As well as the formal notification to federations and this announcement on social media, there is a memo in the July WI Life magazine and a letter in the July WI mailing. We hope that by ensuring the message is consistent across all our channels of communications, it will reach all members; but please do ensure you share the news with all the members in your WI too.
Updated: 17th June 2020
Update on 11th May 2020 from Jean Harding
Dear Member
I do hope this update finds you all well as this surreal life continues, at least the weather to date has been kind which has made lockdown a little more bearable. It was lovely to see all your VE Day celebrations on social media, all suitably spaced of course, so much bunting and cake on view!
It is with great sadness I have to announce that Sheila Gregory, Former Federation Treasurer has died following a stroke. We became good friends when we trained as WI Advisers and she certainly worked tirelessly for the Federation. Sheila will be sadly missed.
You will all be aware of the Government’s latest announcement which really does not change anything for members of the WI as social distancing means there will not be any monthly meetings in your local venues. However, I do know that many of you are holding virtual meetings using Zoom if your members are online. Well done to those of you who are achieving extremely successful virtual meetings but I do appreciate this is not suitable for all our WIs. Many of you are doing your best to keep in touch with members via telephone calls. Whatever you are doing I appreciate you are all doing the best you can to look after each other, that is the most important thing. May I point out that if you are holding a virtual meeting and spending money on speakers then the membership should be consulted to ensure the majority agree to such a meeting and attendance at a virtual meeting should be similar to your average attendance at a monthly meeting.
Members of the Website Sub-Committee are only too willing to help members get on Zoom and to offer training to those of you wishing to understand and use your devices more easily, whether for personal reasons or connecting with WI. Please contact the Website team by email: [email protected] and they will make the necessary arrangements. Do remember to look at CFWI Website https://cheshirewi.org.uk/ and Facebook (you can see the Facebook page without joining Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/cheshirefederationwis/ to see what other WIs are doing and at the NFWI Website which has many ideas of things to do during lockdown.
It really is very important that the present situation needs to be logged for inclusion in our Archives because in years to come members will query why we were unable to celebrate our Centenary year or what lockdown meant to WI members. Therefore, the Trustees would suggest each WI keeps a scrapbook of how they dealt with the Coronavirus lockdown for inclusion in their WI Archives. However, we would also ask every WI to submit to CFWI Chester 2 x A4 sheets of paper (4 sides) entitled ‘Lockdown News’ detailing through photographs and articles (typed or handwritten) how your members coped with the lockdown. It could be the work they did on the NHS frontline or in the community, craft items they completed, any baking done, how they transformed their gardens, photographs of exercising or simply enjoying VE Day. They will be judged and the best three will be published but all will be placed in the Federation’s Archives. An exhibition of all the entries might be considered as I am sure members would be interested in what other WIs did. Closing date is Friday, 26th February 2021. I really do look forward to receiving your Articles I know they will make such interesting reading.
Ann Daughtrey, Federation Treasurer has asked if any Treasurer is holding subscription forms and cheques can you please forward them to CFWI Headquarters, Chester where the mail is regularly checked and opened. Also, as the staff are still furloughed Ann is working through cheques received for various events which have now been cancelled or postponed and she hopes to send out refunds over the next few weeks.
Do remember the CFWI Officers, Trustees and WI Advisers are available if you need help or just to talk. The email address is: [email protected] or my email as shown in the Yearbook, please be assured the emails into Headquarters are checked on a regular basis as is the mail. I do receive many lovely emails from members telling me what they are doing at this difficult time which I thoroughly enjoy reading.
May I finish by quoting part of Her Majesty the Queen’s speech: ‘Better days will return and we will be with our friends again’.
Keep safe and best wishes to you all.
Jean
Federation Chairman
Updated: 16th May 2020
Pom Poms for VE Day
Although we didn't get the full VE Day celebrations we'd hoped for, we did get a mention on Dane Sound Community Radio on Debs and Marie's breakfast show, which was great. 170 Pom Poms and 20 flowers were handed over to Anita Armitt, Holmes Chapel Parish Council, who did a grand job with some helpers in decorating the St Luke's Church.
Updated: 13th May 2020
Lockdown - Jan Beaumont (not Pam Ayres as originally thought)
We didn't mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full But to bury us before we're dead Is like a red rag to a bull!I'm normally a social girl I love to meet my mates But lately with the virus here We can't go out the gates. You see, we are the 'oldies' now We need to stay inside If they haven't seen us for a while They'll think we've upped and died. They'll never know the things we did Before we got this old There wasn't any Facebook So not everything was told. We may seem sweet old ladies Who would never be uncouth But we grew up in the 60s - If you only knew the truth! There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll The pill and miniskirts We smoked, we drank, we partied And were quite outrageous flirts. Then we settled down, got married And turned into someone's mum, Somebody's wife, then nana, Who on earth did we become? |
So here you find me stuck inside
For 4 weeks, maybe more I finally found myself again Then I had to close the door! It didn't really bother me I'd while away the hour I'd bake for all the family But I've got no flaming flour! Now Netflix is just wonderful I like a gutsy thriller I'm swooning over Idris Or some random sexy killer. At least I've got a stash of booze For when I'm being idle There's wine and whiskey, even gin If I'm feeling suicidal! So let's all drink to lockdown To recovery and health And hope this awful virus Doesn't decimate our wealth. We'll all get through the crisis And be back to join our mates Just hoping I'm not far too wide To fit through the flaming gates |
Updated: 2nd May 2020
After all our members hard work making up nearly 100 jars for our Jarbola Stall to commemorate VE Day it seemed silly keeping the jars in a garage in anticipation of being able to use them any time soon, so we decided to take them all apart again and donate the suitable contents to our chosen charity, Cheshire Without Abuse in Crewe. This photo shows the contents of one of the four boxes being delivered tomorrow. Anything to help.
Updated: 29th April 2020
Update from CFWI
CHESHIRE FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTES
UPDATE - 8TH APRIL 2020
Dear Members
Before I start this update I am sure you will join me as I express by heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff who are on the front line on a daily basis and all the other professions/volunteers who are working tirelessly to ensure we are safe, cared for and fed during this dreadful pandemic. They are all amazing, selfless people who are owed so much gratitude from us all.
I do hope you are all well and safe. In the update sent on 24th March 2020, I said how members were supporting and being supported by their colleagues and I know that situation still continues as I receive emails and messages saying how thankful you are for the help you are receiving in your communities. How we will appreciate our freedom of movement in the future when normality returns.
I wish to confirm that the Pie & Peas nights in July and August have definitely been postponed until 2021. The decision has not been taken lightly but we have to be realistic, even if the situation has improved nearer the time and let us hope it has, there will not be time to get ticket requests to members, returns and ticket issued. I know you will understand.
It is a pleasure to be able to confirm the Royal Cheshire Show will take place on the 22nd and 23rd June 2021, something to look forward to, so put the dates in your diaries. The Schedule issued for June this year will be carried over to 2021 so you can continue to work on the exhibits being prepared for this year’s Show. We will certainly enjoy celebrating our Centenary at the Show, even if it is a year late, but visitors to the Show will understand.
Please remember if you need help in any form you are not on your own you can contact me, any Trustee or your WI Adviser so please do not struggle when help is available.
Keep safe and enjoy the Easter weekend even if it may not be in the form you envisaged a few weeks ago.
Very best wishes to you all.
Jean
Federation Chairman
Updated: 13th April 2020
Updated: 24th March 2020
Commemorative Tree Planting
As Holmes Chapel WI is 90 this year we decided to plant a tree to commemorate this fantastic achievement, also as it is Cheshire Federation's 100th year we thought a joint venture would be great. We made plans for Jean Harding, our Federation Chairman, doing to honours with coffee and cake to follow. Unfortunately with the coronavirus we ended up doing it rather quickly (before we all ended up in isolation). The weather wasn't the best to be gardening, but with the help of Robert Hall, who dug the hole for us, we managed to complete the task. We will celebrate with our postponed 90th birthday party later in the year all being well.
The first picture is the site on Middlewich Road; the second is our President looking as if she actually did some work; the third is Anne Hibbert, Thelma Dutton, Lizzy Broxton, Linda Taylor and Jean Jepson braving the rain. The last is a close up of the plaque we commissioned.
The first picture is the site on Middlewich Road; the second is our President looking as if she actually did some work; the third is Anne Hibbert, Thelma Dutton, Lizzy Broxton, Linda Taylor and Jean Jepson braving the rain. The last is a close up of the plaque we commissioned.
Updated: 18th March 2020
Centenary Concert at Chester
The Centenary Concert held at Chester Cathedral on Tuesday 25 February 2020 celebrated the beginning of a very special year for the Cheshire Federation.
Members were entertained with singing and readings and friends got together for a wonderful celebration of 100 years of CFWI. |
So pleased so many members attended the Centenary Concert in the Chester Cathedral today. |
Updated: 26th February 2020
Pom Poms Galore
Craft & Natter time, making Pom Poms for VE Day celebrations in May
Updated: 26th February 2020
County Quiz Night
On week commencing 17th February 2020 Cheshire Federation will host many Quiz nights over various nights and in various locations. We entered the one held at Lach Dennis where 16 teams took part. We had 8 rounds of 10 questions on various subjects and pleased to say we finished mid table, so did not win a place to the final but also did not disgrace ourselves. The winners were Middle Wyches and Moulton were second so they both will continue to the final and Good Luck to them both. We also won two raffle prizes so not a bad evening all round. Thanks to Ann, Veronica, Susan and Dorothy from Cheshire Federation for an enjoyable evening.
Updated: 18th February 2020
Bowls Lunch
Wednesday 12th February our Bowls Team celebrated the end of last season and anticipation of a new season, with lunch at the Cheshire Grill.
Updated: 12th February 2020
Photos from our January Meeting
Christmas Party
Updated: 21st January 2020
November - 89th Annual Meeting
This year's Rose Bowl for competitions was presented to Françoise Rothery, and two bunches of flowers presented to Anne for her services to the bowls team and Linda Gammon as the outgoing President. Deirdre and Lizzy did a sterling job providing the tea and some lovely cakes made by the members.
See Meetings page for more information.
See Meetings page for more information.
Updated: 27th November 2019
Visit to John Lewis, Cheadle
Six members joined Jodrell Side WI and Goostrey WI on a 'charabanc' for a fantastic evening for WI members at John Lewis. I believe over 900 members attended. Drinks, nibbles, complimentary beauty treatments, fashions shows, and the list goes on. Well done to John Lewis for the opportunity to experience this event. We all spent our pennies and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you to Pat Ingram from Jodrell Side for organising the trip. The President sent a thank you email to John Lewis for organising the event and a very quick response was forthcoming along with a promise that more events will be organised. We'll look forward to that!
We met some lovely ladies from Stockport 'Heaton Mess WI', only 2 years old and going great guns. Well done ladies.
Pic 1: Mamie, Linda, Anne, Jean, Deirdre and Valerie
Pic 2: Heaton Mess WI
Pic 3: Linda having a complimentary hand massage
We met some lovely ladies from Stockport 'Heaton Mess WI', only 2 years old and going great guns. Well done ladies.
Pic 1: Mamie, Linda, Anne, Jean, Deirdre and Valerie
Pic 2: Heaton Mess WI
Pic 3: Linda having a complimentary hand massage
Updated: 27th November 2019
Remembrance Parade
A very well attended Parade and Service for Remembrance Sunday. The parade was accompanied by the excellent TCTC Group Band on a beautiful sunny morning. Linda Taylor laid the wreath on our behalf accompanied by our youngest member Lizzy Broxton. Some of these photos have been taken by our friends on Facebook, so we hope they don't mind us 'borrowing' them.
Updated: 11th November 2019
Craft & Natter Group
Updated:10th November 2019
Dane Valley Group Autumn Meeting
On 10th October 10 members, along with over 50 other WI members, attended the Dane Valley Group Autumn Meeting at Lower Withington Village Hall and we were entertained by Adam Smith, Tenor.
Adam has been performing for over 25 years having graduated with honours at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. He then went on to perform in variety shows, plays, pantos, concerts and musicals including touring Italy with the original cast of Billy Elliot and taking leading roles in well known musicals such as Chess, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and The Snow Queen.
He is also a prolific theatre director and directed the Yorkshire Youth premieres of Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. Adam's presentation entitled 'West End to Broadway' took us on a trip down memory lane through musical theatre history from Rodgers & Hammerstein and the Gershwin era to Boublil & Schonberg to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Adam finished his performance with a heartfelt 'Bring him Home' from Les Misérables. A totally enjoyable and professional performance by Adam.
Adam then judged the competition before making the long journey back to Hebden Bridge. He decided that Smallwood were the winners with Jean Batchelor's original entry depicting 'The Good Ole Days'.
Adam has been performing for over 25 years having graduated with honours at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. He then went on to perform in variety shows, plays, pantos, concerts and musicals including touring Italy with the original cast of Billy Elliot and taking leading roles in well known musicals such as Chess, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof and The Snow Queen.
He is also a prolific theatre director and directed the Yorkshire Youth premieres of Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. Adam's presentation entitled 'West End to Broadway' took us on a trip down memory lane through musical theatre history from Rodgers & Hammerstein and the Gershwin era to Boublil & Schonberg to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Adam finished his performance with a heartfelt 'Bring him Home' from Les Misérables. A totally enjoyable and professional performance by Adam.
Adam then judged the competition before making the long journey back to Hebden Bridge. He decided that Smallwood were the winners with Jean Batchelor's original entry depicting 'The Good Ole Days'.
Updated 12th October 2019
Photos from our September Monthly Meeting
Updated 25th September 2019
Bowls Fun Day
Anne, Françoise and Valerie went along to Rode Heath on a beautiful day to enjoy a day of bowling. Unfortunately they didn't win but still enjoyed the sunshine, bowling and chatting with friends. Pat Ingram and Audrey Forster were the eventual winners.
Updated 25th September 2019
Photos from our August Meeting
Updated 4th September 2019
Photos from our July meeting
Updated 29th July 2019
Dane Valley Summer Lunch
Once again over 50 members of the Dane Valley Group of WIs enjoyed a lovely 3-course lunch at the Plough at Eaton. Their beautiful Oak Barn dates back as far as the 13th century and was transported from its home in the Welsh hills to the village of Eaton during the late 20th century where it was carefully restored by master craftsmen to create their wedding and event venue.
We were entertained by Janet Ollier, Soprano, accompanied by Christina Burgess on piano and their theme was 'Roses'. We also had readings/poems about roses from three of the members. Our little table quiz was to name as many songs as we could with rose in the title. Our 6 ladies didn't win this particular aspect of the afternoon but we did have two raffle prizes, so not a bad afternoon overall.
We were entertained by Janet Ollier, Soprano, accompanied by Christina Burgess on piano and their theme was 'Roses'. We also had readings/poems about roses from three of the members. Our little table quiz was to name as many songs as we could with rose in the title. Our 6 ladies didn't win this particular aspect of the afternoon but we did have two raffle prizes, so not a bad afternoon overall.
Updated: 18th July 2019
Village Fair
On Sunday 7th July our annual Village Fair was held at the Victoria Club, Holmes Chapel, the weather was kind to us and the whole Fair was a success. We had the usual Bottle Tombola stall, but included some small key rings and other gifts for the kids to buys which proved to be popular. The winner of our Star prize of a Magnum of Red Wine was Pauline Hassall. Here are a few of our photos recording the event.
Updated: 10th July 2019
Photos from our June Monthly Meeting
See meetings page for full report.
Updated: 29th June 2019
Segway
On Monday 24th June five of our members tried Segway, some returning for a second go and some totally novices. The guys up at Glebe Farm were great and James, our instructor on this occasion, was very patient with us. After a very rocky start for some we managed to get around the paths and tracks and even completed the obstacle course. We had a couple of incidents, but luckily no broken bones. Well done ladies.
Updated: 29th June 2019
Dane Valley Group Spring Meeting
Eleven of our members joined other Dane Valley Group members at Goostrey Village Hall for the Group's Spring Meeting. Lesley Smith once again entertained us, but this time as the formidable Margaret Thatcher. The competition was for a handbag and was won by Lower Withington, with Swettenham second and Smallwood third, so the Rose Bowl went to Lower Withington. The 2 minute reports were given by Lower Withington and Goostrey. The fantastic cakes were provided by Lower Withington, so you could definitely say that Lower Withington had a busy night. Once again beautifully organised by Jose Sykes, ably assisted by Pat Ingram, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all those who attended.
Updated 15th May 2019
Our 89th Birthday Party in March
Members and visitors enjoyed a Fish & Chips Supper, with a glass of wine or soft drink. Our entertainment for the evening was a quiz followed by a sing song, accompanied by Peter Cotton, husband of one of our members.
Updated: 3rd April 2019
Photos from our February Meeting
Updated: 4th March 2019
Photos from our January Meeting
Updated 3rd February 2019