This meeting was held on Zoom on Saturday 7 November 2020, owing to Government restrictions it was not possible to hold this in a conference venue as usual. 240 ladies from Somerset and beyond joined in – it was a first to be able to take part in this event from across the whole country.
Federation Secretary Casey Worral opened the meeting and Sandra Ford, County Chair, gave her report on the year. It is with much sadness to many members that Denman College will be closed and sold. However, Somerset members will be offered the local option of being able to use Dillington House near Ilminster for day and residential courses, when this becomes safe to do so.
Ruth Andrews had sent the Accounts in advance for members to read. A short presentation was made and the Federation is in the fortunate position of having been prudent in the past and is currently in a good financial position, despite the usual fundraising events having been cancelled. The accounts were approved. Wilton Lodge has been sold and new premises have been found in Bridgwater. There will be no need to order County News from Feb 2021 as this will continue to be sent electronically, free of charge for 2021 and we will continue to receive paper copies as requested for members who do not have access to the internet.
The two speakers were excellent and inspiring:
Mary-Jess Leaverland
started by talking about her early life.
Her parents divorced when she was very young and she and her baby sister
were brought up by their mum. They lived
in a council flat and had second-hand clothes.
Life was a struggle and she just wanted to "fit in" at
school. She is very proud of both her grandmother and
mother from whom she had 2 mottos:
Make the most of every opportunity
Have more than one string to your bow
and to which she added herself
I can, I will, Watch Me
Having been turned down by her French teacher to take up Spanish, because she was considered not good enough, she had the opportunity to learn Mandarin as an after-school class. Later, she chose to follow her two passions of Music and Mandarin and found the only course at Sheffield University to study her degree. In her second year she went to Nanjing University and whilst in China had the chance opportunity to enter and win China’s X factor in front of 70 million viewers, with the song Time To Say Goodbye. As the only soprano in the UK who can sing in both Chinese and English, this led to her singing at The Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, then she was invited to take tea at 10 Downing Street where she was asked to become the next representative of The Great Britain Campaign, and so she now represents UK music in 144 countries around the world. An inspirational young lady – and she is only 30. See https://www.mary-jess.com/mystory
Tom Heap of Countryfile and other tv/radio fame, talked about the changes to his work and the food industry during lockdown and the positives we have seen. In his early career he had worked on Somerset Radio and had appeared in "Secret World" at West Huntspill. They have managed to carry on filming Countryfile in a scaled down way during this difficult time, often having to do sound or camera himself and he felt it was important for journalists to "bear witness" to the current situation. Some Zoom Interviews were done in his garden. He believed there would continue to be a greater emphasis on local food and was pleased that the countryside has been able to re-open as access to these spaces is good for our well-being. He felt leisure travel would return but believes travel for business will drop with other ways of communication proving to be just as effective. He is currently working on a Climate Change programme for Radio 4 to be broadcast next year. These will be 40 x 15-minute programmes called “40 ways to save the planet”. They will have a positive outlook on what the future holds. Three he mentioned were:
The use of robots to help maintain wind turbines –
which would be much more cost effective.
Being able to grow rice not in paddy fields – which
would reduce the amount of methane produced.
Improved education of women and girls, especially in lower income countries, which would not only improve their own lives but those they would in turn help in the future.
The morning finished with Mary-Jess leading members in singing "Jerusalem" and "God Save the Queen". Luckily for her we were all on mute!
A thoroughly
enjoyable, positive and useful meeting.
Well done to the Somerset team!
