Monthly December Meeting

We had great fun at our December meeting making Christmas posies in a jam jar

Thank you to Grace from Bramble & Wild in Frome.

Christmas Meal

We started our Christmas celebrations with a meal at The Strode Arms on Monday 7 December.  Thank you to Mary for all your organisation for a lovely evening out.

Looking forward to seeing members at our December meeting on Monday 14th when we shall have fun making Christmas posies.

Christmas Tree Festival

Didn't we do well!!

The Church looked really lovely with 18 different Christmas trees in such a variety of styles.  A big Thank You to everyone who helped with our WI tree.  We won the best Traditional Decorated Tree!

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
to all our members and their families.

November Meeting

We were pleased to see Barbara back at the November meeting although it was chaired by Caroline as she was more up to date with WI events. Two teams had taken part in the recent Hall quiz and neither had come last! There was an appeal for donations of bedding for a women’s refuge to be brought to the December meeting, single sheets etc. The weeks ahead were looking very busy especially for members who support the local church. In addition to special seasonal services there will be the usual Christmas Fair in the Hall (contributions welcome) on Fri 4^th Dec and a new event, a Christmas tree festival, over that weekend, in which the WI is entering a tree.

The Christmas meal will be at the Strode on Monday 7^th December and our birthday party on Thurs 28^th Jan will be a skittles and social evening in the Bell. No lunch there on the first Friday of December owing to a clash with the Group carol service amongst other items.

Mary told us there would be information in the next edition of WI Life about the resolutions and asked us to look at this and make our choice of topic for discussion. The forms to fill in will be in the magazine and she needs to send them off in January.

Colin then gave us a very amusing and interesting talk about his career in BP and his religious background. Suffice it to say if you know he is flying somewhere don’t book the same flight! What a full and high powered life he has led to date.

At our meeting at 7.30pm on the 14^th December, Bramble and Wild’s demonstration will be followed by a chance to make a posy. There will be a charge of £2 for anyone wishing to do so, which has been subsidised by your WI. For our January meeting at 7.30 on the 11^th, our talk will be from Happy Landings Animal Shelter.

PDSA

PDSA – DENMAN DAY (29 OCTOBER 2015)

Early on Thursday morning I picked up June and Sue Rodford and drove to Denman College.  It takes about 2 hours and with good company in the car the time went quite quickly.  It was the first visit to Denman for June and Sue and fortunately the rain had stopped by the time we arrived and they were able to view the grounds.  We had coffee and pastries in the main House and then went into another building where the PDSA Event was taking place. 

It was a very professional and slick presentation but interesting with variety and humour.  We learnt about Maria Dickin who was the inspiration and founder of the PDSA (their Centenary is 2017 – so nearly as old as the WI!) and how the organisation has grown and expanded over the years.  Today there are 15 Pet Hospitals and 380 Pet Practices in the country.  They provide treatment for those people who would not be able to afford private practice costs.  All animals are treated when they arrive and their owners are asked afterwards to complete the necessary eligibility paperwork.  The organisation depends heavily on donations and legacies.

Maria was very passionate about the care of animals which included their bravery on active service.  She decided to introduce a special medal specifically for animals involved in wartime activities and in 1943 with the approval of the War Office the PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted.

Steve Leonard, from the TV programme ‘Vet School’ and ‘Vets in Practice’ (remember Trude?), is a supporter of PDSA and gave a very interesting talk on his life and career as a Vet – including programmes he has made for TV. 

A buffet lunch was provided and we had time to explore a little around the House and Gardens.  In the afternoon we were entertained by Colin McGurran, celebrity chef and PDSA supporter.  In 2014 he won a competition for his nostalgic Dickin medal dessert.  He cooked a variety of dishes and gave some useful tips.

I was left with the impression that the PDSA has a very keen and dedicated team.  There were a number of Admin staff and Veterinary Nurses on hand to answer any questions.  On leaving we were each handed a ‘goody bag’ with leaflets on PDSA and ways in which we could support them.  If any of you want more information the link to their website is:

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/

And finally some of the PDSA staff asked us about the WI – so you never know we may have recruited some new members at their local Institutes.

Monthly Meeting - Monday 12 October

The Group Centenary group meeting in September had been a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. Caroline thanked all the helpers with particular mention of June and Hazel for their brilliant sketch. Anther recent WI event was the Friday lunch at the Bell and some members went to the Women of World War One evening at Kilmersdon. Marguerite had attended the latter and found it to be a very well executed and enjoyable evening.

Coming events included the next WI lunch in the Bell on 6^th November, the carol service at Wells on Dec 4^th and our Christmas meal at the Strode on Monday 7^th Dec. 7.30 for 8.00. Menu choices, at £16.95 for two courses and £19.95 for three, need to be with Mary by 20^th November, cheques payable to The Strode Inn.  Looking even further ahead our birthday party on Thurs 28^th Jan will be a skittles evening in the Bell, friends, husbands, partners all welcome but note no food included.

Our speaker John Craig was an ex senior firefighter of some 37 years’ experience. In his talk “Going to Blazes” he concentrated on the lighter side of his career. There were some very funny stories told with excellent timing and even some character acting using his voice to portray an aristocratic lady or American colonel. A very good speaker to judge from the laughter coming from the members.

At our meeting at 7.30pm on the 9^th November Colin Horn will give us his “Round the Horn” talk. Judging from a similar one at an Active Living Centre meeting, this is not to be missed! 

29 September - Wildflower Seed Sowing

For those of you who may be interested:

Hi folks,

We’ll be out at Halecombe quarry next Tuesday morning at 10am sowing wildflower seed. We’ll be sowing wildflower seed that we harvested from a number of sites during the summer (back when it was hot and sunny..ish) including Edford Meadows and a Halecombe Quarry restoration site (the one with lots of ox eye daisy!).

For folks with links to the Parish website could you advertise that this is taking place? Please also forward this email to folks that you know locally.

If we can meet at the car park next to the village hall at 9.30am with strong footwear and waterproofs that would be great. The seed sowing will take around 1 hour.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Jake

Jacob Chant

Mendip Hills LL Advisory Officer

Somerset Wildlife Trust

01823 652474

Email: jake.chant@somersetwildlife.org

Meeting 14 September

We started our September meeting with a session of Decopatch. Many of us had little idea beforehand what exactly this was but it turned out to be the application of small pieces of paper in various colours and patterns to any item you wanted to decorate, in this case a variety of boxes, bowls and flowerpots. Using a special glue both under and on top of the overlapping patches created a very attractive finish and was also surprisingly relaxing. Many thanks to our “tutors” who came along to show us what to do.

The business section later, was fairly short with reminders including the Centenary Group meeting two days later, the carol service in Wells on 9^th December and the shoe box campaign. For the latter we are collecting small items for a female YWCA resident 18-25, for suggestions see Jan Pattison’s e mail and bring them along to the October meeting or to Caroline Harris by end of October at the latest. We are also running short of raffle prizes so if you could spare an extra one please bring that along in October too.

Finally we already have enough volunteers for one team at the quiz in the Hall on 31^st October but if more would like to join in you would be very welcome and we could have a second team as well.

At our meeting on the 12^th October at 7.30 there will be a talk titled “Going to Blazes”. 

WI Centenary Group Party

On Weds 16th September we helped celebrate the WI's Centenary and enjoyed a party at LOM village Hall.

35 ladies from our Group's 6 Institutes came along to join the fun.
We started with our speaker Lynda Warren who recalled tales of her many entertaining  experiences whilst working as a props buyer in Wales for S4C and BBC Wales. We were  amazed how much was involved and how many animals!

With glasses charged with bubbly or juice, Hazel Hillman from our Board of Trustees  blew out the candles on our cake and then supper followed. Hats were worn, poppers popped and plenty of lively chatter.

During this time tables worked together to complete the picture quiz and as two teams tied, they shared the chocolate prize.

We then had a short song, dance or even poem from each of our six celebrity guests - see picture opposite!

Over tea and coffee we  were challenged by "20 Questions" - 2 from each decade of the WI. Some easier than others and again a tie between two individuals.

After the raffle, June and Hazel from Leigh on Mendip  read a piece entitled "What My Mother Taught Me" each giving a very amusing impression of their part.

Caroline Harris then thanked everyone for joining in and  making the evening so much fun for everyone.

Don't forget our WI Centenary Celebration Party - Weds 16th Sept 7.30pm

Just a reminder that the Frome Group is celebrating on 

Weds 16^th  September by holding a

WI Centenary Celebration Party 

at Leigh On Mendip Memorial Hall

Speaker, Games, Quizzes, Bubbly and food!

If you've not already let Mary know you are attending - please call/email ASAP. 

President's Evening

First of all a BIG 'Thank You' to Barbara for hosting last night.  And thank you to everyone who brought all the delicious food and drinks.  Didn't we have a good time.  We realised at the end that no-one had taken any photos.  Obviously all too busy eating, drinking and talking!!  

The next date is the Monthly Lunch on Friday 7 August at The Bell.  Enjoy August and don't forget the September meeting on 14th a 'Decopatch Taster Session' and the Group Meeting on 16th September at Leigh on Mendip - which is actually on the WI Centenary Day.  Do come to this 100th Birthday Celebration.

Jan Pattison

President's Evening

Many thanks to Barbara for hosting a wonderful President's Evening at her house tonight.  17 of us enjoyed a fantastic array of savoury and sweet dishes, as well as plenty of chatter and laughter. Well done to everyone for their contributions.

Sorry we were all too busy talking to remember to take any photos!

Photos of our Trip