IN THE SPOTLIGHT!
Becoming an Adviser – Karen Wynne
We all know how helpful and supportive our WI Advisers are and that they seem to know the answer to everything! When I was asked to think about training to be one, I was very touched to be asked, but also very unsure about my ability to take on the role. To give me some idea I was asked to join the Membership Support Committee and accompany some of the WI Advisers as they visited WI Annual Meetings. This gave me the confidence to say yes!
The training took place from January to August this year. The course consists of four modules and two residentials (although I now think this has been reduced to one). Each module is delivered via two Zoom meetings over two nights with a third night just for questions and answers. The course is supported by lots of documentation which is all available online using fairly simple technology – if I can, you can!
There is assessment at the end of each module which is submitted electronically. There is plenty of feedback given on your assignments and suggestions given if a fuller answer is needed. Many of the ladies at Cresswell House have been asked at some point or other about a question I didn’t know the answer to!
The residential is the best part of the course as you get to meet all the ladies you’ve been Zooming with and your tutors of course. The residential is about gaining the confidence to speak at meetings, swap ideas and thoughts and generally enjoy talking to women about their WIs.
I have now finished the course and I believe we all passed, there were seventeen on the course from all over the Country. We all keep in touch and are already thinking about our reunion next year!
If you want any further information about becoming a WI Adviser, speak to Prudence Marks, Chairman of Membership Support, but if you cannot get hold of Prudence, then ring Cresswell House and leave your details. However, if you want more information about the course, do not hesitate to get in touch with me, my details are available in the Yearbook.

Members’ Information

WI DAY

On 16 September this year we want to celebrate the amazing achievements of the WI throughout the 107 years! Keep an eye on social media to read about some of the most impactful campaigns the WI has been involved in and visit My WI to find some fun party themed crafts for you to take part in with your WI.
WI Day Baking Class with the Cake Lady of Oxford
Sarah Jones will be running a WI Day themed baking class on Wednesday 14 September 2022 at 6pm. All ingredients and equipment lists will be sent out after the class along with the recording. Join Sarah to create wonderful bakes that you will be able to show off at your next WI meeting and hopefully bring out in all its glory to celebrate the WI’s birthday!
To book your FREE place please follow the link below or visit the Denman at Home website.
National would love to hear from our members about what makes them proud to be a WI member.
• Do you love to be part of an organisation that brought about votes for women?
• Do you like to campaign on environmental matters?
• As a WI do you like to support local businesses and do your bit for the community?
Whatever it is shout about it on the 16 September and flood social media with a post about what makes you a proud member using the hashtag #WIproud

Prudhoe’s Proud as Punch – Joy Marshall
At our July meeting, we held a “Presentation of Awards” to those members that had entered the Competition Day at Cresswell House on 18 June.
We are quite a small WI, but we submitted 17 entries to the various categories and 12 of these were placed (we even had two husbands win an
award) so a wonderful effort by everyone entering.
It just shows that having a go is fun. It’s great to take part and even more rewarding to win! Our photo shows some, of our ladies plus their gorgeous rosettes (the size of tea plates I might add). Obviously, no guys in the line-up as this IS the WI after all, and the 3rd Wednesdays of the month are ‘Girls Nights’ in Prudhoe Parish Hall.

Haltwhistle Celebrate – Betty Wilkie
Peggy Henderson (98 years old) cutting our celebration cake when we held our celebration on Thursday 9th June.

A Grand Day Out at Bamburgh – Audrey Wiggins
Longhorsley WI had a wonderful day out at Bamburgh for their Summer Outing. Fourteen Members enjoyed an excellent lunch, curtesy of Bamburgh WI and
followed that with some sandcastle building and paddling. Two of our Members found the old way of keeping your skirts dry is still the best!
All going to prove you don’t have to travel far or spend very much to have ‘a grand day out’.

Heddon’s Garden Visit – Pauline Wright
The ladies of Heddon on the Wall WI had a wonderful afternoon on Monday 1 August when we visited the lovely garden belonging to Patricia at the Beacon, Stocksfield.
We enjoyed afternoon tea and were blessed with beautiful weather. This garden is a challenge to any gardener, being on a very steep slope and must have taken lots of hard work to get it the way it is today – what an inspiration.

Speaker’s Corner

Nick Johnston Northumbria Veteran Tree Project.  Please note change of contact details M: 07824 489 789 and E: veterantreenick@gmail.com