Category: Womens Institute

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Madeleine and the Committee sincerely hope that all members and their families are staying safe and well during these extremely uncertain times.

As we are unable to come together for some months we can stay connected via the Glamorgan Newsletter (available to all by e-mail or post).

We would like to extend belated birthday wishes to all members who have had birthdays in April and May. And birthday greetings go to those who are having a June birthday.

We are all looking forward to being together again. But in the meantime – special thoughts are with Margaret and her family on their recent sad loss. Our deepest sympathy is extended to them all.

Remember everyone – if you need a chat your WI is only a phone call away – please take care of yourselves.

 

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Meetings And Events Are Cancelled

As expected all WI meetings and events are cancelled for several months as we all struggle to get through these anxious and challenging times in the current situation.

When we are given the go-ahead to resume meetings every member will be notified in good time and we look forward to catching up with everyone once again.

Madeleine and the Committee sincerely hope that all members and their families stay safe and well.

Please remember that if any member needs to chat we are just a phone call away.

 

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March Meeting Report

 

President Madeleine welcomed us all to the meeting. She was delighted to welcome 6 guests – Pauline, Katie, Debbie, Alex, Debbie and Nicola. We certainly hope they will visit again soon.

Our growing WI has 7 new members this year – Pam, Pat, Paula, Diane, Ann, Debbie and Sandra – and we are very pleased to have them in our branch.

The speaker on this occasion was our very own Pam Cockerill. Pam has always enjoyed writing and joined a local creative writing group when her children were young. We heard of her excitement when she had her first paid article published – it was a story about a family camping holiday – and a telegram had arrived to give her the good news.

Over the years, Pam has had various poems and stories published in magazines. Her wonderful ability has enabled her to write books for children and adults. Some examples are “Winter Ponies” (her very first one), “Donkey Rescue” and “The Good Taste Café”. “The Seven Year Hitch” is Pam’s autobiography and is yet another story that demonstrates the wonderful talent of its writer. We all thoroughly enjoyed Pam’s interesting and informative talk about her creative writing journey – clearly the journey of a very talented lady!

After refreshments we carried on with WI business. Glamorgan events were read out and Members signed up for the coffee morning at Dinas Powys on 14th March and the quiz at Culverhouse Cross on 6th April. We are planning a carvery lunch on 22nd April at Dinas Powys Golf Club. Final numbers will be needed at our April meeting.

The date of our Charity Tea will be announced later in the year. Members can begin to bring donated items, ready for the Tombola, to the next meeting when they will be gratefully received. Members were asked to search for any wartime stories ready for the exhibition on the weekend of 8th May to 10th May when we shall be remembering VE Day.

Next month’s meeting is on Thursday, 2nd April at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall. The speaker is Rachel Griffiths, talking about “Personalised Medicines”. Guests can always be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

This is an accurate reflection of the meeting. However, developments surrounding coronavirus have since meant that all planned events have now been cancelled until further notice. Take care and we look forward to seeing you soon.

 

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President Madeleine welcomed everyone to the meeting on 6th February and gave a special welcome to several new members, especially Ann Daniel, who was celebrating her 80th birthday that day.

Our speaker for the evening was our very own Maria Williams. Maria is a professional musician and teacher. She has sung in various parts of the world during an extremely successful career. Music is beneficial to physical and mental wellbeing – this was stressed as we travelled through various breathing exercises. With her amazing voice Maria sang a popular love song, a spiritual song and a third song about peace, war and freedom. We all enjoyed joining in with Maria’s singing and then we all sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ann.

Maria concluded her talk with a story about her recent visit to a church in the centre of London. She has visited this church regularly and has sung there. This church has been involved in the founding of many charitable organisations, such as Shelter and Amnesty International. It has a reputation for compassion gained through many years of engaging with poverty and deprivation. Hence the story we heard was very moving.

During refreshments we all thoroughly enjoyed the delicious cake kindly donated by Ann to celebrate her 80th.

WI business began with the announcement of the Glamorgan Federation events. Members were informed of a quiz to be held on 6th April at Culverhouse Cross and a board will be available next month for signing up.

A letter has been received from the charity “Dogs For Good” confirming that a local speaker will attend our September meeting, when we shall present a cheque – the result of our fundraising efforts this year.

Next month’s meeting will be on Thursday, 5th March at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall. Our speaker on this occasion will be Pam Cockerill. She will be talking about “Telling Tales”. Any visitors can always be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

 

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Planning For the New Year

President Madeleine welcomed everyone and extended New Year greetings to all present. We were delighted to have 3 visitors – Sandra, Debbie and Diane. We certainly hope they will visit again.

Our speaker for the evening was Stephen Allen. Stephen is the Chief Officer of South Glamorgan Community Health Council (the Patients’ Watchdog). His wonderful talk was packed with information and stories regarding the work of the Community Health Council – from its involvement in “Save the Sam Davies Ward” campaign (Barry Hospital) to advice on submitting complaints about the NHS.

Changes will soon be taking place. The Community Health Council will become a new Citizens Advice Bureau. The new body will cover social care as well as health care – something which can only be a positive move forward.

After refreshments we proceeded with WI business. Members were thanked for all their contributions towards our December Christmas party evening. It was announced that a Christmas card had been sent to Pat Williams at the home in Porthcawl where she is still spending time. Glamorgan events were read out. Then each member voted for one of the five resolutions listed and explained in the recent edition of WI life.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, 6th February at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall, when we will be enjoying “Musical Moments with Maria”. Any visitors can always be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge

 

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November Activities

Madeleine welcomed everyone to the meeting. Members were very sorry to learn that Margaret was having a spell in hospital. We all wished her well and hoped that she would be back with us soon. Judy recently had a knee operation and she is progressing well. Hopefully Gloria will be able to join us in the near future too and we look forward to seeing our unwell members on the road to recovery.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the fish and chips, very kindly collected and delivered by Pam and Terry Ewington, and we are very grateful to them.

WI business involved collecting names for our trip to the Garden Centre at St Mellons on Monday 25 November (leaving Wenvoe shop at 10.30am) and for our Christmas lunch at the Wenvoe Arms on Monday 2 December at 12.30 for 1.00pm.

Our next meeting will be our Christmas Celebration on Thursday 5 December at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall. Members are requested to bring a plate of food each for the buffet table. Any raffle prizes (please wrap) will be gratefully received.

Subs are £43 for 2020 (cheques only please and made payable to Wenvoe WI) and we are starting to collect these now ready for January.

Could members please note that since our meeting the Link Carol Service is now Tuesday 10 December and NOT Thursday 19 December as previously given (location and time remain unchanged).

The President and Committee would like to extend a Peaceful Christmas and Healthy 2020 to all members and their families

 

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September Review

At our September meeting a warm welcome was extended to everyone, especially our visitors Ann and Paula. We sincerely hope they will visit again soon.

The evening commenced with a minute’s silence in memory of Shirley Harris. Shirley was a long-standing member of our Institute and had been on the Committee for a number of years. She will be missed greatly and our thoughts and prayers are with Shirley’s family at this sad time.

Our speaker on this occasion was Abi Reader MBE. Abi has always enjoyed farming and the countryside. Since graduating from the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester Abi has completed a Farm Business Management Course and a Rural Leadership Course. She farms on the family farm – Goldsland Farm, Wenvoe – and it is evident that she thoroughly enjoys all aspects of it. She is truly passionate about farming. Abi was the first female County Chairman in Glamorgan and she was also the youngest Chair by about 20 years.

She has worked tirelessly setting up and taking around the ‘Cows on Tour Road Show’ to schools all over the country – raising a lot of money for charity at the same time. Cows are a big part of Abi’s life. The 200 cows at Goldsland Farm are Holstein Friesan and Dairy Shorthorn and they are all homebred. Farm Open Sundays are becoming popular and Abi has joined this initiative. In 2014 they were anticipating 50 visitors but 300 turned up. Within a few years this figure has risen to 3,000!

Abi is one amazing lady! Her advice to us, in order to support the wonderful work of our farmers, is ‘Buy Welsh, buy British and look for the Red Tractor logo’. The MBE she has been awarded is thoroughly deserved and we wish her well with all her plans for the future.

WI business consisted mainly of collecting names for various events, including our Fish and Chip Supper in November. Members were reminded that they will need to pay for this at our next meeting.

Our October meeting is on Thursday, 3rd October at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall. Our speaker will be Susan Dickson Davies. She will be giving us an insight into “The Breast Centre” at Llandough Hospital (our charity for this year). We will be presenting a cheque for £400 – the result of our recent fundraising events. Visitors can be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

 

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Wenvoe WI did not have a meeting in August. However, 20 of our members travelled to Pugh’s Garden Village at Radyr at the end of July for coffee, lunch and, of course, retail therapy! Everyone enjoyed the trip and most people got off the coach at Wenvoe carrying more than they did when they had got on to go earlier.

At our next meeting we will be collecting names for our Fish and Chip Supper in November. The next meeting will be on Thursday, 5th September at 7pm at Wenvoe Church Hall. Our speaker will be Abi Reader who will talk about “Cows on Tour”. Any visitors can always be assured of a warm welcome and there is no charge.

 

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