WOMEN S INSTITUTES
August was our first official WI meeting since the Covid lockdown in April 2020. No change of venue but a change to second Tuesday in month. After so many years of it being on Monday it was very strange but the quick decisions to negotiate a day were appreciated. Anne, our president, opened the meeting by reminding members that we will be sensible regarding use of face masks and social distancing as the threat of another outbreak has not completely passed. Doom and gloom over we relaxed again. Thanks were given by all members in true Woodcroft fashion- gold medals and a rousing clap for Ann and Bev. I quote: to Ann for president perfection and to Bev for being a Zappy, zealous, Zoom coordinator during lockdown. The committee were also thanked for all their hard work. News from county was read out and paperwork dispensed of very quickly. Entertainment was a quiz set by Glenys which took us outside and around St Luke s Church. After an hour search parties were sent out. It was more challenging than expected. Those who had not ventured out were given things to do by Margaret. These included word searches, colouring sheets and games. Delicious cakes and savouries accompanied our hot drink and there was a brief interlude of quiet as members enjoyed them. In September we meet on Tuesday 14 at 7.30pm when our speaker is R. Burn with Various Vicarious Verse.
JOY welcomed us to the August meeting which was attended by 20 members. The minutes of the last meeting were read and received. We each received a copy of the SFWI News Bulletin giving us information about how some of the WIs were getting back to something like normal. All the reports from institutes expressed the joy of returning to some kind of normality. We received details of the many activities and competitions that have been arranged for the coming months. There would appear to be something to suit all interests. We were particularly interested in the flora demonstration by Sionedd Hughes at Checkley Community Centre. Whilst a floral demonstration may not be of interest to everyone it is so good to see an activity happening in the northern part of the county. We hope that it is well attended and that this venue may be used more often. We were informed of the Annual Meeting to be held at Liverpool on June 11 next year. I have only attended one Annual Meeting, and that was at Liverpool, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and can highly recommend it to our members. Once more there was much discussion about our future celebratory meals. Decisions have been made, and for our 101st anniversary in October we are going to Biggin Hall where the menu looks very tempting and for our Christmas meals we are going to our very well known and respected village public house, The Marquis, where we know that the menu is always great. Then we came to our speaker, artist Ann Glover. Thank you for your excellent talk Ann and for sharing the beauty that you have captured so well. We ended with coffee and biscuits and the raffle was won by Hazel Bradbury and Sheila Leeson.
