WI.cfm

with Hesket Newmarket

Caldew group sites

The December meeting brought a return to the A.G.M. Mrs P. Shaw welcomed the members who were able to attend. The weather was very icy so some people were unable to travel, including our speaker for the evening!

2009 is our turn to arrange flowers in W.I. House. It was decided to send a donation. We have received a donation from the Hound Trails association, to help with funding the annual parties, for which we are extremely grateful. The programme for next year has been completed. The Financial Statement was presented by Mrs. P Woolfenden and accepted. The Secretary, Mrs. P Richardson, gave her report on our activities and Mrs. P. Shaw gave the President's report. Mrs. P Woolfenden moved that both reports be accepted, which was passed, unanimously. The winner of the most points in competitions was Mrs. J Todhunter.The committee agreed to continue in their current roles but members were also invited to join the committee and were assured of a warm welcome should they wish to do so.

We, then, enjoyed our American Supper. The draw was won by Mrs. P Richardson and the competition for a small Christmas arrangement by Mrs. M Bell.

Next month, Mr. R Knowles will speak to us about Beekeeping and we will have soup and mince pies.

The W.I. Children's Party for primary school children in the area will be on January 11th from 2-4pm.

Everyone was welcomed to the meeting by Mrs P. Shaw. Mrs. B. Archer read the minutes of the September meeting. A welcome was extended to Miss R. Bailey, a visitor. The County News was read and discussed. Mrs. T. Richardson's entry in the Ghost Stories competition is to be forwarded from County House to the national competition. A number of members attended the Shawk Valley Group Meeting, where we were successful in the group competition, a display of five items found on the Cumbrian shore, winning second prize. Mrs J. Todhunter, our delegate at the County Meeting, was also fortunate, winning a prize in the draw. Mrs. Blair who visits us from Northern Ireland regularly sent copies of the Irish W.I. magazine. Members found them very interesting. Mrs. Shaw then welcomed Mr. Derek Tunstall from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. He showed slides and described their activities. It is good to know such dedicated people are there if we get into difficulties. Derek was thanked for his informative talk by Mrs. P. Woolfenden. The competition for an interesting coffee mug was won by Mrs. D. Coulthard. The draw was won by Mrs. I. Coulthard and Mrs. M. Bell. A coffee mug, donated by our speaker, was put into the draw and won by Mrs. A. Thompson. Next month the speaker will be Mr. M. Carrier on Solway Birds. The competition will be "a feather".

Everone was welcomed by Mrs. Pat Shaw, President, and the business meeting was begun with the minutes of the previous meeting in July, read by Mrs P. Richardson. The County News was then read and discussed. Members were also informed of the arrangements for the meeting of the Shawk Valley Group on Friday September 12th. Correspondence from NFWI stated that subscriptions are to go up again this year to £29.00. The delgate for the Autumn Council Meeting is to be Mrs J. Todhunter. One of our members, Mrs T. Richardson, has been busy during the summer. She decided to enter a competition in the Daily Telegraph (to write an obituary for Gordon Brown), and to her surprise found that she had won. Her prize is to be tea at Westminster. Instead of listening to a speaker we then held a Round Table Conference to gather suggestions for next years programme. This was helped along with tea and nibbles. The evening was rounded off with a look at a number of displays set up by various members. Mrs. P. Shaw brought a selection of her one hundred baskets, Mrs. P. Woolfenden brought a number of Measham teapots, used by the women on narrow boats in the past, Mrs. T. Richardson brought Canal Memorabilia, and Mrs. I. Coulthard showed us several of her flat irons, collected over the years. They all made a lovely and informative display.

The July meeting was opened with the customary warm welcome from our president, Mrs Pat Shaw, followed by the minutes read by Mrs Bridget Archer. Orders were taken for diaries and we were informed that the Shawk Valley Group Meeting will be held at Rosley Village Hall on September 12th. Several cookery books belonging to our friend and member Miss Peg Maynard were offered to members - donations to Northern Fells. Four of our members, Mrs Pat Shaw, Mrs Roberta Bowen, Mrs Jean Scott and Mrs Bridget Archer took part in the Eden Valley Hospice Midnight Charity Walk and returned with a variety of mementos - t shirts, bags, medals. They raised £400 for the Hospice. Mrs. Shaw then welcomed Carol Purves who spoke about her book "Chinese Whispers" about the missionary Gladys Aylward. Born in 1902 Gladys had to overcome many difficulties before her death in 1970. Permission to enter China was very difficult to obtain but she eventually achieved her ambition of working there, eventually arriving after travelling via Japan, and the Trans Siberian Railway. Thousands of children were helped in the orphanages she established. The book is well worth reading. Carol Purves began writing to help her recover from M. E. and has also written books about Bechstein (pianos) and Bournville. She was thanked for her interesting talk by Mrs. Pauline Woolfenden and copies of her books were then offered for sale. The competition for a piece of china was won by Mrs. Kathleen Davey, 2nd Mrs. Joan Todhunter. The Draw was won by Mrs. Jill Johnstone.