January 9th - Beetle driveCompetition: A bell won by Sue Carty
Our January meeting was a social occasion with time to catch up after all our Christmas activities. This year marks the centenary of the foundation of the Cambridge Federation of Women’s Institutes, so this will be celebrated. One of the opportunities is to attend a dinner at Girton College, Cambridge on 20th July. Locally there will be coffee and cake with WI advisers in Burwell on 21st March. Further afield is the chance to have a tour of Freemasons Hall, London on 21st March. Hands on at the Cambridge office include classes in double knitting or a competition to enter a cross stitch pincushion.
Before our much needed and enjoyed refreshments we voted for our choices to go forward to the June AGM. This year the options are: 1) Improving plant Biosecurity in the UK. 2) Trees – improving the Natural Landscape. 3) Pelvic Floor Education. 4) End the Taboo around Menstrual Health. 5) Halt the decline in Local Bus Services. 6) The importance of routine cervical cancer smear tests. Our competition was to bring in a bell, so we could ring in the New Year. A wide ranging group of bells duly came: from glass to a second world war fire engine bell. First place went to Sue Carty, second place to Joan Reeves and third place to Lilian Maidman. After our raffle and sales table we relaxed and played bingo – when we were not chatting! The meeting wound up with a reminder that our Wednesday 6th February meeting will be a celebratory lunch for our particular group’s eightieth birthday. 12.00 noon for 12.30 p.m. at Saxon Street Methodist Church Hall. The competition: an eightieth birthday card. |
February 6th - 80th Birthday party lunch
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March 6th - Annual meeting -Competition: 3 pieces of shortbread won by Janey Quigley
At our March 2019 meeting Colin Kirtland returned to give us an illustrated talk about birds we might see in our gardens at this time of the year. From the tiniest such as wrens or goldcrests to woodpigeons, which are now frequent garden visitors. Many farming practices do not leave many wild seeds for the birds to eat, which draws them to garden feeders so you never know what you might be lucky enough to see… After his relaxing talk, filled with nuggets of information, we held our annual meeting. This ran very smoothly as everyone on the committee agreed to carry on. The competition was classic “WI”: three pieces of homemade shortbread. First Janet Quigley, second Brenda Marks and third Terry Webb. We have the opportunity to visit Denby Pottery, Fenland churches, lunch at Landbeach, or to be the fastest team in the east to complete a jigsaw challenge amongst other offerings. In April we look forward to hearing Marion Leeper with her “Tales from the Fens”. The competition – a picture of the Fens. Does not have to be home made! |
April 4th - Marion Leeper, storytellerCompetition: Picture of the Fens won by Sheila Bailey
At our April meeting Marion Leeper, a member of the Cambridge Storytellers came. She recounted “tales from the Fens” in the oldest form, by word of mouth – no notes or power point presentations, but all from memory. One of the tales she enthralled us with was very local to our group. The legend of building the Devils Dyke and the battle between the Demon of Fire and the Spirit of Water.
Without exception we all wished she was staying longer than her allotted time as she had us all spellbound. She kindly judged our competition for a picture of the fens. We have the opportunity to go on visits to Burwell Museum, Kinky Boots musical at Milton Keynes, the Christian Dior exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, or the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London. Closer to home there is a lunch at the CFWI office, and for those with dexterous fingers a water colour day school or a session on patchwork. Members were reminded that at the meeting on 1st May we will vote on the two resolutions which will be presented at The Annual Meeting: Don’t fear the smear and how to halt the decline in local bus services. To raise funds for our group we will also hold a homemade baking sale along with a bring and buy stall at our May meeting. |
May - Resolutions and Bring & BuyCompetition: A thimble won by Sandie Harris
At our May meeting we discussed the resolutions to be put forward at the WI Annual General Meeting in June. We are unanimously in favour of the NHS carrying out more publicity so that more teenage girls and women are aware of the free cervical smear tests that are available. We are also in favour of the government, combined with local authorities, increasing, rather than cutting, local bus services. Brenda Marks attended the Cambridge Annual Meeting on our behalf and gave a brief resume of the evening, the highlight of which was a talk from Dame Floella Benjamin, born in Trinidad in 1949 and part of what we now call The Windrush Generation. We have the opportunity to go to the theatre at Southwold, or to Rutland Water for a cruise, or perhaps visit the National Space Centre at Leicester. Hands on one can try croquet or flower arranging. We also had a bring and buy/home made baking sale to raise funds for our group, as well as our monthly raffle. |
June 5 th - Alison Giles, Burwell museumCompetition: object over 50 years old won by Daphne Potter
Alison Giles came to tell us about how Burwell Museum came into being and the way she runs this local village museum with a team of dedicated volunteers. She came with a lump of clunch, from which Burwell windmill was uniquely built, and other items from the museum which we could all handle, from roman pottery to butter pats. We now all feel well informed before we go for our private visit to the museum on 12th July, and are looking forward to seeing the history of a local fenland village in all the items from Burwell now carefully looked after. Forthcoming events include a trip to Boughton House and Gardens, the chance to go to BBC Countryfile Life at Blenheim Palace or closer to home the Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue in Cambridge. Members were reminded that our 3rd July meeting will be hands on (cost £2.00 per head) as we attempt flower arranging with Debbie Bull. The competition: a vase ornament. |
Group Meeting June 19th Speaker Angela Collins, Competition a teddy bear.
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July 3rd - Debbie Bull, flower arranging |
August 7th Garden Party |
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Competition: A vase won by Joan Reeve Debbie Bull arrived with half her garden greenery and other flowers. She deftly showed us how to make individual flower arrangements and we all had a go. We were glad to learn that one can now get black oasis, which you can recycle. Debbie, also a WI member, has taken advantage of the many courses run at our WI College to learn how to sew, and other craft activities. Having attended a flower arranging course she happily passed her knowledge on to us. She also judged the competition (no - not the arrangements we had just made!) for a decorative flower vase. Refreshments, including chocolate cake, were provided by June Surrage, Brenda Marks and Jill Steggles. Ann Flewitt ran the raffle and Mary Jolly the auction table. We are still celebrating the centenary of the Cambridge WI and have the chance to socialise over coffee and cake or a tea party or attend a lunch at Landbeach. Further afield we can go to Sutton Hoo in October, or to the Tutankhamun exhibition in February 2020. Ann Flewitt ran the raffle and Mary Jolly the Sales Table. |
Competition: Fridge magnet won by fran Saltmarsh
In August we held our garden party in the garden of one of our members and for the first time in months every member was able to be present, which made the evening special and it was a very jolly occasion. We were also very happy to welcome back retired members who came to have a good evening out. The hard working committee produced a finger buffet which was much enjoyed by everyone. Ann Flewitt ran the raffle and June Surrage masterminded our tea and coffees without which no celebration is complete.
No business was done as we just enjoyed being outside in the sunshine. The 4th September meeting will have us listening to Dr Tim Wreghitt talking about medicinal plants. The competition: a tea pot (infusion leaves). We will all settle down after summer holidays and worry about forthcoming visits in September. |
Outing to Burwell museum - highly recommended
Fenland Fair entries - Miss Moffets Toy Emporium won; ours
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September 4th - Dr Tim Wreghitt, Medicinal plantsCompetition: A teapot won by Joan Reeve
At our September meeting were very much entertained by Dr Tim Wreggitt, a consultant pathologist from Addenbrookes who came to explain the critical role of pathology in identifying all the different illnesses people suffer from. This was linked to his stories of the ten years from 2002 to 2012 when the Royal College of Pathology had a stand at the Chelsea Flower Show. Over the years everyone from HM The Queen to Ringo Starr came to look at their stand to see what plants they were growing and why. Lots of facts relating to plants and pathology came our way with many light hearted observations about the Chelsea Flower Show and its visitors – V.I.P. or otherwise.
Forthcoming opportunities include lessons on botanical art with polychrome oil based pencils at the Cambridge office, or the knitting and stitching show at the Alexandria Palace London, Christmas crafts and floral decoration classes, also at the Cambridge office. Alternatively, a candlelight tour of Holkham Hall, Norfolk. We were delighted our entry won the WI competition at the Fenland Fair at the end of August. |
October 3rd - Nicki Sly, AlpacasCompetition: 1st baby bonnet
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November 7th - Geoff Evans, Iceland |
December 5th - Christmas partyCompetition: wrapped present
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