Meeting Monday 11 January

Back to normal after Christmas with subscription payments due and our raffle prizes for the year to hand in. We were pleased to hear Shelagh had joined the committee and to receive our programmes with details of forthcoming meetings. Notice was given of the annual litter pick on Sat March 5th and the group meeting at Nunney on Wed March 23^rd. With the latter for an entry fee of £3.50 you will be able to listen to a talk from the BBC’s Sara Jane Bungay and enjoy some light refreshments.

Caroline had delivered the sheets etc. for the women’s refuge and they would like even more, anything for single size beds including duvets and pillowslips as well as sheets would be appreciated. Finally Jan asked that we let her know of any ideas for the 2017 programme planning meeting in September well in advance and also any ideas for summer evening outings this year.

Our speaker, Lynn, from Happy Landings showed us a lot of pictures of the animals they look after and also brought along one of the dogs to the meeting. The charity is based at Hillcroft Farm in Pylle and serves as both a rescue centre and a kennels and cattery. That said they also take in a great variety of other animals from chickens to pigs and ferrets. They are currently fundraising to have new kennels built so any donations would be very welcome.

Our meeting in February is on Monday 8^th at 7.30pm when we will be able to enjoy “Garden views set to music”.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WISHING YOU ALL

A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR

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.