The history of playing cards
THORPE Acre W.I. held their first meeting of the New Year, having braved storm Brendan to get to the hall. President Sue Wainwright welcomed a good number of ladies and wished them all a happy and successful year.
Everyone who had Christmas lunch at Longcliffe Golf Club had enjoyed the meal and the ladies who had gone on the County outing to see the Christmas lights at Kew were delighted with the visit.
A Christmas card had been received from the Mayor’s parlour inviting the W.I. to contribute to the annual charity which this year is Admiral Nurses. The next coffee morning will be at T and C’s in the Market Place the last Wednesday of January.
Carole, social secretary, offered a wide variety of suggested outings during the year most of which showed support from the ladies. A busy year ahead looks likely. Two already booked are an afternoon at Tutbury Castle with a costumed talk and afternoon tea and a visit to the Leicester museums’ archives to see the embroideries of Mary Linwood.
Members were reminded to save the pictures from Christmas cards and bring them in readiness for making decorations for this year’s Christmas Tree Festival - which we hope will take place!
Our speaker Mike Lister gave a fascinating insight into the history of playing cards. With pictures on the screen and actual examples of cards, he explained how they travelled from China in the 900s through the Middle East to Egypt, up through Spain and France to England by the 1400s and eventually crossing the Atlantic to the USA.
He showed how the designs of ‘suits’ changed in different countries to what we have today, with the Ace of Spades having many superstitions about it. The Worshipful Company of Playing Card makers was established in London in 1628.
The competition for a pack of Playing Cards was won by Lynn H, 2nd Sue Y and 3rd Barbara A. June P won the
Raffle prize and the meeting concluded with refreshments served by Jan Y and Linda W.
Our next meeting will be at Thorpe Acre Church Hall on Tuesday February 11th when our talk will be about Queen Eleanor and Edward I given by Julie Ede. All ladies will receive a very warm welcome at 7.30pm.
The evening after the meeting our darts team played Great Bowden W.I. in the final of the County competition. As with many of their previous matches it was very close and the final double was secured by Jo S for Thorpe Acre.
County chair Janet Kirk presented the new trophy to our team. Congratulations! It will be engraved and officially presented at the annual council meeting in March.
On Wednesday March 4th the W.I. ladies and the Church Craft Group will be holding an open afternoon with tea, coffee and homemade cakes to support Women’s Aid Leicestershire. This was very successful last year, so please book the date and come along to Thorpe Acre Church Hall from 2pm - 4pm and support a vital local cause