Picking Good! – Janice Craggs/Jacqui Clark
In support of Keep Britain Tidy / Love Your Parks Campaign 2023 Hartford Bridge WI litter pickers recently met in Plessey Woods for a litter pick and lunch.
In 1954 The National Federation of Women’s Institutes passed a resolution to “preserve the countryside against desecration by litter”, which subsequently led to the formation of the “ Keep Britain Tidy” group and the rest as they say is history…..
The breadth of Keep Britain Tidy initiative has evolved over time and now embraces the annual Love Your Parks campaign which this year runs from 28th July – 6th August 2023. This year the Campaign focussed on Safer Parks for Everyone.
In support of both campaigns the HB WI litter pickers collected 6 bags of rubbish from the grassed areas around the visitors centre and verges in the village.
Since August 2020 – May 2023 the 11 of Hartford Bridge ladies have collected over 1000 bags of rubbish in Hartford Bridge, in and around the Bedlington area and at a number of specific locations in North Tyneside.
Well done to the HBWI litter pickers, a truly dedicated team of ladies who remain committed to the 1954 ethos of the WI resolution to ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ and to ensure the parks and open spaces we love remain cherished and accessible places for all to enjoy.
Up Hill and Down Dale – Judith Kirby
On 13 July, twenty-nine members from visiting WIs joined us on a lovely sunny day for a guided walk in the countryside around Newbrough.
After an enjoyable walk taking in the views and hearing about the industrial history of the area, we were all ready to tuck into our delicious two course lunch hosted by Newbrough WI.
Better Bakers! – Pauline Wright
Here at Heddon on the Wall WI we are better bakers than singers, so our contribution to Thank You Day was to hold a charity coffee morning. Members and friends came to support the event and we were delighted to be able to send £200 to the Dementia Trust.
Where’s Winnie!? – Helen Murthy
Newcastle East WI was established in 2009 and Wor Winnie followed not long after. Created by a founder member – using a Molly Makes pattern (Betty Doll from Issue 28), Winnie became our mascot in 2014 and has been off on her travels ever since! Winnie joins us at each of our meetings, but for the intervening months takes the opportunity to stow away in suitcases accompanying members to interesting places, often popping up on our social media propped up against a wine bottle or cocktail glass! Winnie has even met some of her “sisters” of the same design at the Liverpool AGM and can be seen with them on the UWI Facebook page.
Winnie has had a bit of a spruce up this year: minor surgery to remedy a floppy head, the addition of a pretty rose to hide the “scar”(!), and a new travelling pouch to keep her safe.
She has journeyed far and wide with our members to Cambridge, Paphos, Amsterdam, Belfast, Brighton, London and Miami and loves WI events like the recent Federation Quiz and our annual picnic in the park. Who knows what the answer will be when we next ask… “Where’s Winnie?”!!
Thank You!
Karen Coleman from Shotley WI wishes to thank all those ladies who donated bras to her bra bank held at Cresswell House. There were hundreds are boxed and awaiting collection.
Speaker’s Corner
Mark Hurrell: Is an experienced Life Drawing instructor / model who provides informal taster Life Drawing Workshops. You can see more about him on Instagram @lifemodelmark
The taster sessions usually (up to 30 people) last around 90mins so fit nicely within a typical session lasting a couple hours with a break for coffee mid-way.
The sessions provide a very tasteful introduction to life drawing with a little bit of cheeky fun, but absolutely never rude / crude – it is a real skill to draw a person and many people get absorbed in the process along with the novelty for a group of drawing a naked guy! Most groups (99% of them) choose to draw a life model fully naked in true life drawing style, however there is the option to wear pants too. If you would like to find out more, please call him on M: 07931 368 983
Ed Waugh: Tyneside-based, playwright who has spoken at a number of WIs in the Northumberland area for the past 18 months on the topic of women’s football during WW1. Wor Bella is about the magnificent munitionette women from Blyth, who played football during WW1. Today’s women footballers stand on the shoulders of the incredible munitionettes who not only saved the war effort during WW1 but also found time to play football (in front of crowds of up to 22,000 people) to raise money for wartime charities.
The Cramlington Train Wreckers – General Strike in 1926. Google “Cramlington Train Wreckers” to see the community work already conducted. Currently working with Cramlington Learning Village on an exhibition at the school that will involve drama, music, literature, art, dance and science. The latter will look at green alternatives to fossil fuels. Fee is £70. Contact: T: 0191 455 0608 M: 07960 066 377
Email: edwaugh@blueyonder.co.uk
North Sea Rejects: Kirsty and Ben believe everyone has a part to play in protecting our ocean. They aim to show its wonder and encourage everyone to protect this delicate environment, taking steps toward ocean preservation, to raise vital funds for conservation projects, and to turn harmful ghost gear into something meaningful. Small actions can have big impacts. They don’t charge a fee and are happy to travel to other areas in the North East. Web – www.northsearejects.co.uk E: northsearejects@gmail.com Instagram – @northsearejects
Please note: If you choose to book any of the above, they are only suggestions not recommendations.
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