WI President’s Brooch for Sale
A few years ago, one of the WIs that suspended gave to the Federation a President’s Badge. The badge is sterling silver and currently retails at £78 from WI Enterprises. The badge is boxed, and the Federation would like to offer this for the outstanding price of £30. Any WI interested in pur chasing this badge please notify the office by 31 August. Do not send any payment with your notice of interest as the successful WI will be invoiced in due course.
A name will be drawn at the September Board meeting and the successful WI will be notified i n time for their President to wear at the Annual Council Meeting at the RGS.
Show the Love the Whey Aye Way – Pauline Walker
Just to let you know that for the second year we have displayed beautiful crafted green hearts at Wideopen Library to ‘Show the Love’ for the climate Our members contributed the hearts and Pauline Walker, Joanne McLeod and Judith Preston set the display up. Please visit if you can, the library is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30, and on Saturdays 09:00 to 13:00.
Libraries are under threat! Remember to always to use your local libraries when you can!
Above and Beyond – Denise Mackay
In March, Shilbottle WI laid on a magnificent afternoon tea for their outgoing Treasurer. A bit over the top, you might think, but Isabel Watson has been looking after Shilbottle’s accounts since 1990, a total of 33 years! So, thoroughly deserved and we think she may be the longest serving treasurer in the County, if not the country. Our members all played a part in helping to mark this special occasion with a fantastic spread. Prudence Marks attended and presented Isabel with her gifts. Food consumed , glasses raised for a toast, and w e finished the afternoon with a couple of games of BINGO I sabel has now earned herself a well deserved rest.
Cramlington Girls Can! – Janine Heslop
Members from Cramlington WI took part in “ This Girl Can ” on 8 March to mark I nternational Women’s Day in the Exhibition Park Newcastle and
participants could either run, jog, or walk the 5k course. Cramlington ladies walked the course carrying their WI banner and we were delighted to meet
members from Jesmond WI who we spotted as they were also carrying their banner. It was a great way to spot another WI group! The event started at
6pm and ever yone was dressed up in neon clothing, fairy lights and glow sticks. The trees in the park were lit up pink and the atmosphere was fantastic.
We encourage other WIs to sign up for next year, carrying their banners of course so that we can spot them amongst the hundreds who take part!
This Girl Can is a campaign which aims to tackle the belief that physical activity isn’t always fun or enjoyable for lots of women and girls. Judging by the levels of fun enjoyed last night, we think the campaign definitely works!
Remembering a friend – Judith Arthur
As Kirkley WI enters its 60th year, we are greatly saddened to learn of the death of our longest standing member, Alison Carins (nee Reid), at 97 and only 3 months after relinquishing her position on the Committee, on which she has served as President, Secretary and Treasurer over the years, as well as serving at county level. A lifelong member, she had first joined as a youngster, accompanying her mother. Her knowledge, wisdom, and loyalty with be hugely missed.
Speaker’s Corner – Mike McCoy: His “lighthearted” talks of roughly 45mins to an hour consist of 6-8 stories of Tyneside and Newcastle. Starting with the Romans and the birth of the city called New-Castle, through the dark days of witch finders and evil deeds inflicted the witch finders themselves! He includes the imprisonment of King George I in Newcastle and his daring escape “through” the centre of Newcastle “by boat”, Queen Victoria being insulted when she was up here opening the High Level bridge in 1850 and all up to date to talk about how our marvellous city has transformed over the years from the dirty grimy coal, shipping building years to a clean, cosmopolitan and tourist attractive city we have now.. Something to be proud of! Mike charges £70. M: 07865 923 716 E: mike@mepattesting.co.uk
Nicola Jones: Her talk is titled ’The Life and Times of a Mumpreneur’ She takes you on a journey through her life, growing up on a garden nursery, to becoming a florist, civil servant then setting up a business with £250 – to now having a £45,000 turnover. She is very motivated and quite an inspiration having had many ups and plenty of knock backs and downs. She brings a few greeting cards that are available to purchase at the meeting. It is all very informal Her fee is £50 plus (depending on distance – £0 – £25) fuel allowance. Contact: M 07843 682 570 E: nj@nicholajones.com
Phil Benton: Is a Wildlife and Landscape Photographer known to spend hours to get that perfect shot. His talk shows photos of the landscape and wildlife in the Northeast explaining how getting out into the countryside helps so much with your wellbeing. Every picture has a story to tell, and he loves nothing more than making people smile. Fee is £50. He sells greetings cards, coasters, canvases and prints also.M: 07982 002 239 E: phil@philbentonphotography.com Website: www.philbentonphotography
Hop, Skiffle and Jump: The North’s Leading Skiffle band! They have entertained several WI groups especially Rowlands Gill area who now have their own song in our repertoire, “The Ladies of the WI”. If you are looking for light, easy, fun, singalong act (with a bit of clog dancing) this may be for you. They just play for expenses. Book through Ken Tonge. T: 07949 418 197 E: hopskifflejump@gmail.com Website: www.hopskiffleandjump.co.uk
Xerxes Setna: Is already a speaker in Durham County Federation and talks about his Persian ancestry, the food, and how he got started in business from being a student living on beans on toast, to learning to cook from his mum, to setting up Mazzeh Spice in 2018. For talk and tasting he charges £50 and travelling depending on distance. For more information see the website: www.mazzehspice.com He will bring some tasters for you to try. T: 07598 059 577 E: hello@mazzehspice.com
Recommendations: Garden Village had John Griffiths who on a number of subjects such as: Lockhart Cocoa Rooms and temperance cafes. (subject he presented to us), Department stores, Street names of Newcastle, Frost Fairs on the Thames and Gosforth’s mining legacy. T: 0191 285 7988 M: 07729 827 244. Longhorsley WI recommend a local poet, Paul Mein. He read a selection of his own poems, which have been published in two books and were available to buy. The poems were wonderfully evocative of Northumberland, of past and present times, which we could all identify with. E: paulmein@icloud.com
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