Our Chairman’s Message – July 2023

It was quite a sight outside the John Lewis store in Eldon Square with well over two hundred ladies eagerly awaiting entry and their tickets for one of the three fashion shows. It really was a fantastic evening and we have received so many positive comments and also requests that we repeat this event in the future. I can tell you that Jane, our co-ordinator at John Lewis confirmed that they too had enjoyed the event and hoped that we could indeed do something again at a future date. In fact one of the dresses being modelled in the show had actually sold out by the time the third show of the evening took place and I can confirm that by the end of the evening most ladies had a John Lewis bag containing some purchase or other. Even the weather was fabulous with ladies being able to come along with no need for a coat or a brolly. Winners of a draw/spin the wheel event on the night were Mary Christer of Hexham, Joan Bestford of Southridge and Tina Coulter of Shotley, well done ladies!
I have now done my first Marj on the Move at Widdrington and what a great time we had there – if you came along I hope you enjoyed the experience. It was a warm sunny day and the ladies of Widdrington were, as always, warm and sunny too. Thank you to them for a beautiful spread with tables laid out with lovely china ready for our members. Once again huge thanks to Widdrington WI as they didn’t charge for the hire of the room or the catering and said it was their donation to the Federation funds. It is so very much appreciated. Hopefully I will see many more of you at one of the other Marj on the Move events at Bardon Mill, Cresswell House and Alnmouth.
Those of us who travelled to Cardiff for the Annual Meeting certainly enjoyed our trip, the company and the event itself despite the journey being a long one. I hope that you have all now had a report back from the delegate who represented your WI. Next year will see the Annual Meeting back at the Royal Albert Hall which I know will be a wonderful event indeed. Jerusalem, the WI and the Royal Albert Hall really is something very special indeed.
In your mailing this month you will have received the applications for the Federation Quiz with the heats taking place on Thursday 21 September at Newbrough, Powburn, St Columba’s and Widdrington. Once again we are indebted to Sue Malloy who is setting the questions for us. I know that many of you really enjoy quizzing and pitting your wits against fellow WI members and I wish you all the best of luck and hope to see some of you at the final which this year will be held at Cresswell House on Thursday 5 October.
Also you will have received the application form for this year’s Literary Lunch. The format will be the same as last year and once again the venue will be at Hexham Mart with a fabulous lunch, and a bottle raffle. Our speaker this year is Glenda Young who writes both period dramas set in the North East and cosy crime. She is a lovely young lady and I know you will enjoy finding out how she became a writer.
Details for the Annual Council Meeting at the Royal Grammar School on Saturday 7 October are also with your Secretary this month and I do urge all WIs to send along a delegate as this is where you will learn more about your Federation and what we do.
Once again I have been out and about helping WIs celebrate special birthdays and events. Clousden Hill celebrated their 25th birthday and their President Barbara Kilkenny then joined me at Widdrington WI where they were celebrating 100 years of their WI. Both occasions were wonderful with lovely food and fabulous entertainment and again held on lovely sunny days so we could all get our summer outfits on. Thank you ladies for the invitations. Then I visited Felton and Thirston WI. I had been asked to go along and be a judge at what turned out to be a mini competition event. There were four classes with scones, a piece of poetry and two floral art classes. There were so many entries and the standard was excellent so I really do hope that next time we have a Federation Competition Day there will be entries from them. Well done to all the entrants and winners, it was a pleasure to do “the honours”.
I think that’s it for now and time to go and sit in the sun for a while.
Marj x