DOWN YOUR WAY
MEERBROOK W I
FOLLOWING our September meeting when Kathy Herring entertained us with “Laughter Yoga” members enjoyed a complete change in October.
We were pleased to welcome Alison Benson and her friend Karen, who came along to teach us how to make a bird feeder out of willow.
Alison told us how she started making willow sculptures after attending courses at Arley Hall. She brought along many examples of her work, including a large rabbit, a chicken and a lovely reindeer. A demonstration of making a bird feeder was followed by us all being given the materials to make our own.
After lots of help and guidance from Alison and Karen – success! We were then able to fill our feeders with a suet and seed mix provided by Alison and take them home.
Nora Whittall thanked Alison and Karen for a very “constructive” evening!
Vice-president, Margaret Goldstraw, chaired the meeting. She thanked everyone who helped at the village Macmillan coffee morning when £470 was raised. thanks also went to all who helped at the recent fashion show. The profit from that event was £412 for WI funds.
Correspondence was dealt with. This included an invitation to a Christmas event from Woodcroft WI – Youla Bailey and June Siggars are to go along.
Three of our members had enjoyed Walking Netball at Leek Leisure Centre, and Beryl and Jenny were proud to tell us that they scored goals!
It was good to see Ivy Goodwin at the meeting following her recent operation and she thanked members who had sent cards and messages to her at that time.
Our Christmas Party will be at the Lake Hotel, Rudyard, on December 13. Names will be taken at the November meeting.
Lynn Jones brought along six home made sweets and these will be entered at the Group Meeting on October 15 at Swythamley.
Next month the speaker will be Kevin Wilson of Leek United Building Society.
His talk is entitled “Finance: What’s the problem’?
RUDYARD & DISTRICT WI
WOODCROFT WI have kindly invited two of our members to a Christmas Craft workshop taking place on December 10 at St Luke’s. There was a lot of interest, so names were drawn out of a hat.
Our post-christmas meal will be at the Hotel Rudyard on January 5 2019. Menu choices and deposits need to be handed over at the November meeting.
Continuing the festive feel, come to Leek Cricket Club on Saturday November 17 between 11am and 3pm for a Christmas Fair. There’ll be stalls, refreshments and the man in red! All proceeds to Dougie Mac.
Now you know when your speaker wants payment in Jaffa cakes that the talk is not going to be run of the mill – and we weren’t wrong.
Steven Birks gave a fascinating account on the history of the cemetery. With the advent of the industrial revolution, crowded cities, insanitary conditions and high death rates, the Victorians designed large innercity cemeteries.
But, being Victorians, they designed the cemeteries in such a way that you were interred according to your religion and class. For example if you were Anglican and affluent then you had a prime spot near to the chapel and a path. If, however, you were not Anglican and not affluent, then you spent all eternity under the trees with bad drainage!
But, like so many things, the First World War changed all that. When men had fought and fell together, it was decided that they should be buried together whatever their rank, amen to that.
Our next meeting will be on November 14, at Rudyard Chapel, 7.30pm. The talk will be on Famous Staffordshire Folk. For more information on any of our events please contact Suzanne Sheldon on 07518074185.
LEEK FLOWER CLUB
‘MY Bargain Hunt’ was the subject of this month’s demonstration and Beverley Hunt from Stratford-upon-avon delighted us with her lovely designs and tales of bargains she had come across during her journey as a demonstrator.
First we had to guess what an unusual piece of round glass was – some members correctly guessed it was a lighthouse lens. Then we had to guess the value of a Natwest’ Piggy and a piece of Murano glass.
Beverley’s first design was created on a metal grid to which circles of wool, of different sizes, had been attached. Pieris, smoke bush and bronze dried golden rod covered the oasis the dark orange calla lilies were manipulated to curve the stems and placed to cascade down the arrangement. Lovely peach avalanche roses, deep pink chrysanthemums and lotus heads completed the design.
Design two was on an art nouveau style curved structure which Beverley found on her travels. Leather leaf, soft ruscus and eucalyptus were placed in the oasis to follow the curve, then beautiful white Singapore orchids, white lilies, roses, pin head chrysanthemums and blue iris completed the arrangement.
The next design was made in a green fishbowl-shaped vase. Green sticks created height in the arrangement and fern, fatsia, palm and eucalyptus formed the outline.
White anthuriums, green Prada carnations and green pom chrysanthemums finished this off.
Beverley then did a continental design.
She had pinned laurel leaves around a brick of oasis and then tied green string around it. Phormium leaves were placed along the back then cut off to make a sloping line and a row of lavender ripple carnations were placed in the design to follow the slope of the phormiums.
Beverley then showed us a stick to which a phial had been attached with maroon wool wrapped round to cover the whole thing. These were placed into the arrangement following the slope of the carnations and beautiful white orchids with burgundy centres placed in each one.
Green sisal, carnations and orchids were placed around the bottom to cover any gaps. This was placed in a rectangular container covered with sticks along with one Beverley had made earlier.
A hand-tied arrangement with a difference came next. Beverley had made a crisscross frame using grasses. She carefully fed through the frame some Ecuador yellow roses with a red tip, aquilegia, eryngium and passion flowers, gently spiralling them to make a lovely cluster.
The last design was created around a fabulous piece of driftwood – every flower arranger’s delight! Various garden foliage covered the oasis then pink gladioli created height along with pink gerbera. Vibrant cerise dahlias, ornamental cabbage and verbena completed this absolutely delightful design.
We are delighted to welcome a new member onto committee. Victoria Sheldon is one of our junior members and a very keen flower arranger. She is 15 years old and studying towards her GCSE’S at St Edward’s Academy. She is also a keen rower and represents North Staffordshire in rowing competitions. Victoria is looking forward to contributing to the club in any way she can.
Our practice class this month was ‘A Grand Entrance’ and was a design on a small pedestal to make a statement at a party or other event. Our practice class is free to members and is a wonderful opportunity to learn new techniques under the instruction of our talented Lorraine Simcox. Next month is ‘In the Frame’ – an arrangement, as the title suggests, within a frame.
We will meet on Wednesday November
14, 7.30pm, at St Edward’s Cofe Academy, Westwood Road, Leek. Visitors are very welcome, admission £6. If you would like more details about the practice class or anything else about Leek Flower Club please contact Suzanne Sheldon on 07518 074185 or suzsheldon@btinternet.com.
CHEDDLETON WI
MAL Smith, president, welcomed everyone to the evening and ‘Jerusalem’ was sung with gusto and ‘Happy Birthday’ to Doreen Robinson and Chris Horton.
Chris brought members up to date with the minutes from the previous meeting and related the information from county inviting members to look at anything which interested them.
We thank Lynda Wheawall who has been carefully nurturing her ‘acorn’ and now has a young tree which will be planted along with many others in Leicesteshire as a W I initiative. Thanks for putting Cheddleton WI on the map.
Liz has been co-ordinating the forth--
coming Christmas dinner at the Cheddleton Tea Rooms. She passed round a delicious menu from which members picked their chosen meals in anticipation of an enjoyable evening. Thanks Liz for taking on this task.
The October meeting was visited by Julie and Joe from the Donna Louise Hospice in Trentham.
This purpose-built facility was begun in 2002 by the parents of Donna Louise who they had lost at the age of 16. They saw the need for specialist care to support a child’s life however short or long and also members of their family, from initial diagnosis until they were no longer needed.
Julie showed many pictures of the beautifully-decorated and equipped rooms in use for the children, including the interactive garden, music, sensory and computer rooms and a teenage lounge.
The hospice plays a large part in supporting all the family, providing respite care, family lounges, meeting places and advice.
Julie explained that the hospice is always extending and at the moment is building a new section for older children so that they can remain in the hospice until they no longer need it. She urged everyone to support the work of the hospice as it makes a real difference to the children, young people and families it supports.
Mal Smith thanked Julie and Joe for their informative. Julie chose Mary’s silk baby dress as the competition win for ‘Something From Your Childhood’.
The raffle was drawn with winners being Anne Hall, Chris Carter and Chris Horton. Members were reminded of the autumn group meeting at Wetley Rocks on October 25 at 7.30pm. The competitions for the evening will be ‘A Fan’ and ‘Three Iced Biscuits’ with a music theme.
The meeting in November will be our 86th birthday, do not forget your wine glasses!! For information about Cheddleton W I contact Mel on 01538 360774.
IPSTONES WI REPORT
I AM not sure what I was expecting from our October meeting. It is strange how we get a picture of a future happening in our mind and are then surprised by something quite different.
We visited our local fire station so our business time was a little chaotic, but eventually we got through the apologies and important business which could not wait until the November meeting.
Last orders and monies were taken for our Christmas dinner at the Royal Oak, Dilhorne. This is a pub/restaurant that we have visited several times and always had the same excellent service and delicious food so we are all looking forward to it.
We discussed the Autumn Council Meeting and the carol service at Lichfield and we had a raffle which was won by Pauline Bradbury and Jean Lowndes.
Sheila Brooks and Pauline Bradbury served tea and coffee and delicious biscuits in unfamiliar surroundings.
We soon got round to our speaker who had welcomed us into the station. Firefighter Peter Jones is known to all of us – mainly as Debbie’s husband – and so we all felt very much at ease with him.
Peter has been a full-time firefighter for 29 years as well as a retained firefighter at the Ipstones station for 15 years.
I was just expecting a talk on safety in the home, but as well as that we had a most interesting and informative talk on all the different aspects of firefighting, health and safety and the saving of lives in the 21st Century.
We all know the changes that have occurred in recent years in transport, chemicals available, terrorism, the use of knives, guns, and chemicals used in personal attacks, plus the materials used in buildings causing different problems in rescuing the occupants.
These changes have meant much more and different training, new firefighting equipment and protective clothing – all accompanied by changes in salary structure, hours of work, retirement ages, overall organisation of the Fire Service as with the Police Service and changes, which we know often result in cuts, to the funding. It made me think more than ever that we are so lucky to have these brave, efficient, highly-trained men and women to call upon. Long may we keep them in our village.
I would say to any institute that hasn’t visited their fire station or had firefighters to talk to them it is an eye-opener and makes you very appreciative of them. If you got Peter to talk it would be an added bonus as he was very easy to listen to and answered our questions willingly and with honesty.
Our November meeting will be a talk by the Buxton Mountain Rescue. The competition is a postcard or photograph of a mountain view.
BRADNOP WI
JUNE Walker president welcomed 20 members to our October meeting, and Jackie Poole Secretary read the minutes.
We heard from the group meeting that sadly, Denise Morton – past Chairman of the SFWI – had passed away. We always remember Denise’s newsletter, her tales of Bill and the geese at Christmas-time. She was very special. Once again, after a really good entertaining speaker with magic and music at the group meeting held at Waterfall, Bradnop came away with two prizes – Sheila Knott with the paperweight and Diane Richardson with the mask.
The excellent supper provided by the hosts, Bradnop were on the entertainment and did a quiz. We had a really good night. There will be a trip to ‘Calendar Girls’ on November 14. Menu choices back in please for dinner on November 17. If you have not booked and wish to join us, let Joan know.
June, went along to the park for walking netball. She had great fun and is hoping others will join her. Please ask any committee member for the dates if you are interested.
Unfortunately our speaker could not come as a family member was taken ill on the day, so we hastily arranged a games evening! The competition was won by Gwenneth Turnock and the refreshments were served by Diane Richardson, Christine Needham, and Joan Clark.
WATERFALL WI
IT HAS been a busy month for Waterfall WI with special events as well as general meetings.
On September 15 we held the annual ‘Mrs Simms Trophy’ competition and had members entering over 40 different items. Our overall winner was one of our founder members Mrs Jean Salt, second was Ellen Poole and in third place was Jenny Wilbraham. A big thank you to Gwenneth Turnock who stepped in to judge the entries at the last minute.
On Wednesday October 10 Waterfall hosted the Manifold Group Meeting with members from Bradnop and Butterton WIS, when we all enjoyed an evening with Dave Moylan featuring magic tricks and music.
The social time was organised by Bradnop in the form of a quiz with Butterton giving the vote of thanks.
County information was given by Rose Dyche for some of the upcoming Staffordshire Federation Centenary events in 2019.
On October 12 a most enjoyable evening was held at Cauldon Lowe village hall for over 90 guests. Charles Hanson spoke about his life as an auctioneer, followed by a superb cheese and wine supper prepared by a few hardworking members.
We are now preparing for our ‘Poppy Bombing’ at the village hall on November 10 from 10.30am to 3.30pm, with support from local branches of the Royal British Legion. All are welcome and refreshments will be available as well as a display of children’s work from the local primary school.
WETLEY ROCKS WI
WETLEY Rocks WI had a full agenda at the October meeting. President Pat Axon agreed previous minutes before informing and reminding members of forthcoming activities.
Several women plan to attend the WI Council Meeting at Stafford Showground on October 23. Two days later it will be our own Churnet Valley Group Meeting for which Wetley Rocks are the hosts.
It will be a special celebration as it is the 95th anniversary for the group which comprises, Wetley Rocks, Ipstones, Cheddleton and Whiston branches. A good night of entertainment and socialising is planned.
Members were reminded of the SFWI Carol Concert early December and our subsequent Christmas meal planned for December 11.
Following all business, the speaker was introduced – Tony Heritage, a retired ceramics designer.
Tony brought various pieces of ware which showed off his designs. It was fascinating to hear of his experiences whilst working in the Potteries as a young apprentice designer who eventually worked freelance.
He recalled working alongside many people whose skills and products have been largely lost and forgotten since the collapse of the pottery industry in Stoke on Trent.
Many of Tony’s designs are established and renowned patterns which will remain with us for many years.
Since retirement, Tony has concentrated on his passion for painting, in particular the female form, and his skill was very evident in the artwork he brought to show us.
Tony is another example where retirement has allowed time to follow one’s interests and any opportunity to do so is to be encouraged.
The Women’s Institute often triggers members’ own interests, especially their creativity, although others may just enjoy the company and outings, such as the recent visit to Middleport Pottery to see the poppy display or pie and pea supper.
One thing for sure is that the diary for 2019 is already looking full and hopefully more women will want to join us and share their own interest or be inspired towards new ones.
Anyone wanting more information, please contact secretary Barbara Hughes on 01782 302497 or go online at www.wiwetleyrocks.btck.co.uk