WI past events 2009
Don’t forget to read the separate pages on our 90th birthday party and the NFWI 2009 AGM in London, our recent meetings and outdoor activities.
December meeting
“Festive decorations, festive food, festive drink, and festive fun” was the recipe for our December meeting.
After whizzing through arranging a whirl of social events for members we sat, just by the light of candles, listening to Neil Storey relating “Ghostly Norfolk tales for Christmas”. It all ended with a selection of ghostly limericks, courtesy of ouselves. What a happy time we had.
November meeting
“How to have a jolly, and memorable, AGM” was the recipe from our November meeting.
Our president took us deftly through the business; our secretary gave a witty report of the past year’s myriad of activities; and our treasurer produced immaculate accounts, telling us that we are in credit. Officers and the committee members were thanked for their hard work
Then, spoons to the ready, we investigated the plates of “my favourite recipe”, brought along by members, for tasting. A recipe booklet will follow soon.
A good time was had by all.
October meeting
It was a treat to attend the October meeting.
Peter Carter, the last of the Fenland eel catchers, came just as himself, but accompanied by a very dry wit, and shared with us his daily life in a punt out on the waterways.
photos: Charles Butcher
Peter Carter (left) discusses fenland life with Syd Turner
In summer it is catching eels (now a delicacy rather than poor man’s food), in winter it is ducks (through the aim of an eleven-foot punt gun), and in the worst weather it is split-willow weaving.
A natural speaker; a fascinating afternoon.
Of course we did address WI business too. A cheque was presented to a representative from Tapping House Hospice (the proceeds from our August Treasure Hunt), as well as a patchwork knee-rug created by members of the Craft Group.
Andrew Lawn of The Norfolk Hospice receives
a cheque for £616.50 from Pamela Austin
(right) and a quilted knee rug made by
WI members including Yvonne Rawlins (left)
Zena Penty, Fundraising Co-ordinator at The Norfolk Hospice,Tapping House, wrote to thank the WI for the quilt:
“I took the lovely quilt your WI very kindly donated to the Hospice as I was sure the patients would enjoy using it but also appreciate the time and care that has obviously been put into making it. Louise Clarke, Day Care Sister at the Hospice, has asked me to pass on their thanks to you.”
September meeting
Members were congratulated on raising over £600 for Tapping House with the Treasure Hunt, and for raising a good sum for funds from the roadside cake stall.
So, Christine Adams, an engaging speaker, kept up the light mood with an evocative race through the life of her strong minded, rather eccentric aunt, May Savidge, who on retiring dismantled her old wooden frame hall-house in Ware, and transported and rebuilt it in Wells. Accompanied by original images taken by May it was a fascinating story.
Members happily socialised over the “birthday album”, and then contributed with much hilarity witty suggestions to the “999 Saving food waste” competition.
It was a happy start to our winter afternoon meetings.
Treasure Hunt
On Saturday 22 August a WI-organised Treasure Hunt on foot around Stanhoe raised nearly £600 for The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House.
As well as separate sets of clues for adults and children, the day featured cream teas, stalls, a raffle and a pottery demonstration.
Read more about the Treasure Hunt here.
August meeting
For part of our August meeting one of our members was prostrate on the floor (much hilarity ensued) to demonstrate being placed in the “recovery position”, when Terrry Gage spoke on First Aid.
photo: Pamela Austin
Terry Gage selects his victim
His enthusiasm for the St John’s Ambulance organisation was boundless and we gained a deep understanding of it and the work of the volunteers. Questions on all aspects of First Aid in the home were asked by members, and helpful hints were freely given.
July meeting
Stanhoe and Barwick ladies looked wonderfully cool, many in shady hats, as they arrived in Chris Drysdale’s lovely garden for their July meeting.
Sitting in shady spots, sipping cool drinks, they listened to the business; tried to name the garden plants; feasted on delicious afternoon tea; and generally had a delightful, relaxing, friendly time in glorious summer sunshine.
photos: Pamela Austin
June meeting
Much mirth ensued as Ellen Howe encouraged us all to fold and twist four stems of wheat straw to proudly create a small Corn Dolly.
This was accompanied by a wealth of interesting facts on the uses of straw in years gone by; varieties of regional Corn Dollies; and the tale of the “corn spirit” who inhabits every Corn Dolly to ensure regrowth of crops every year.
Our president and secretary enthusiastically reported on the recent Royal Albert Hall meeting, and told us that the message was “to go home and buzz”, which we sure did.
May meeting
Vice president Carol Mountney conducted the business meeting, including a thorough look at our recreated Cator Cup entry, and reference to our collage “Look back, leap forward.”
She handed over to Mary Lancefield, a member, and beekeeper, who gave a professional presentation on the honey bee, its use as a pollinator, and threats to its existence. Members were well prepared to vote on the 2009 resolution SOS for Honey Bees.
The evening finished with tea and “Rocky Road”, a speciality of our hostess Kathy Bowern.
Cator Cup 2009 entry
Five items, produced by four members, made up www.waterworld, our inventive entry.
A mouse on a surf board surfed the net (via gold threads) to a flower arrangement and global world; a beautiful embroidered box had sea scenes on each facet; chutney (good with fish) linked to a painting of a watery scene.
We came twelfth out of thirty-nine entries. Congratulations are due to all members who took part, and to Frances Ulyatt who masterminded the whole entry.
April 2009 meeting
At the April meeting a vivacious presentation by Yvonne Autie entitled Rags to Riches traversed the history of rag rug making, from the utilitarian to the luscious modern-day art forms which she produces. We loved her work.
Two other successes of the evening were the exhibition of the Federation certificate recognising our ninety years of happy existence; and the news that our team had been cup-winners in the recent Village Quiz.
Nelson Group March 2009 meeting
Twice each year, the “Nelson Group” of Women’s Institutes has a combined meeting, and these are hosted by the member institutes in turn. On 9 March it was Stanhoe & Barwick who welcomed visitors from Brancaster Staithe, Dry Docking, Stiffkey, Wells-next-the-Sea, and Walsingham. The business is kept brief, so that all present can enjoy the social gathering, and also the speaker’s presentation.photo: Charles Butcher
Norfolk raconteur Keith Skipper entertains
Nelson Group Secretary Lesley Clarke (l) and
Stanhoe & Barwick President Pamela Austin (r)
This month we were treated to tales and reminiscences of Norfolk by the well-known writer, broadcaster and raconteur Keith Skipper, who had the assembled company rocking with laughter and dabbing at their eyes within minutes of starting his talk. Clearly a man who loves his work, and rather than stand on ceremony, mucks in and joins in with everything going on. The village hall was full as an audience of about 50 listened, met friends old and new, drank tea, and “mardled”.
photo: Charles Butcher
The March meeting of the Nelson Group drew
a sizable crowd to Stanhoe’s Village Hall
March 2009 meeting
A number of those attending had only a hazy idea of what “Fair Trade” is all about, but within a relatively short time, our speaker Mary Cundy had explained the principles, and told us how it benefits producers in distant lands.
She spoke enthusiastically and knowledgeably, bringing the topic to life by describing a recipe adapted to use Fair Trade ingredients, all of which she had in front of us, and she explained how each one helps a particular area or group of producers. The “icing on the cake”, as it were (with apologies for the pun), was that Mary then invited us to sample her delicious Fair Trade Brunch Muffins.
Mary had also brought a selection of Fair Trade products for us to purchase, and another recipe idea — how well she knows the Women’s Institute!
During the business part of the meeting, the President was pleased to present a certificate to Mrs Olga Ransom, marking the fact that in January 2009, she had been a member of the Stanhoe & Barwick Women’s Institute for fifty years — quite a milestone by anyone’s reckoning.
Spring Lunch 2009
Stanhoe & Barwick WI members enjoy a pub lunch twice each year, in spring and autumn. The 2009 spring lunch on 17th February was held at the Lord Nelson, Burnham Thorpe, and sixteen members talked their way through two delicious courses and coffee and tea, with scarcely a look beyond the table to the wider world beyond. The service was excellent, the list of orders was accurately reproduced by Yvonne so that we all ate what we had ordered in advance, and, to coin a phrase, a good time was had by all.
As we left, the car park rang to “See you next week” and “I’ll phone you!”, “Be in touch”, “Are you going to crafts?” — it sounded as though it had been weeks since we had met, rather than 12 days (and in some cases, one or two!).
February 2009 meeting
Despite some misgivings about the harsh weather, the meeting went ahead, and members turned out in force to hear a fascinating presentation on how a drawing of a tree can be used to determine a person’s character. The speaker, Patricia Field, is a graphologist but uses the tree drawing method as a more specialised form of establishing clients’ character traits.
The speaker having left to drive home before the next freeze, members finished their tea, and the business was completed at a brisk pace so that we could leave in daylight, and also avoid the rigours of frozen roads and paths.
photo: Pamela Austin
The weekly WI Scrabble session in the
Village Hall, February 2009
January 2009 meeeting
The first meeting of 2009 saw a high attendance and plenty for members to talk about after the Christmas and New Year break.
The newly appointed President and Secretary had something of a baptism of fire with a very full agenda, but once the business was completed, our speaker, Judith Key, took the floor.
A very accomplished artist, Judith set up her easel, and talked members through a demonstration of a delightful water colour painting of Walsingham. The artists among us were learning many hints and tips, while other members just admired her handiwork and the beautiful result.
Over refreshments, members had the opportunity to look more closely at the painting, and to purchase some of Judith’s greetings cards.