A Life in Thatching - Thursday 15 December 2005

For Malcolm Dodson tile is a four letter word or so he told us when he came to speak on A Life in Thatching. He blames the Romans. Not the least of his talk was concerned with problems with local authorities and the fight for decent roofing for his customers. He has been told that his thatch is of too high a quality and will last too long! Members were fascinated by his talk and questions continued well into our mulled wine and nibbles provided by members party time. It was a great way to start Christmas.
We also congratulated Ann Warner on coming second in the County Quiz.
Our January meeting is on 19th January at Rushden when Sue Jagelman will talk on Aids the Future! 

Rushden A Botswanan Safari Mike Thomas - Thursday 17 November 2005

Members of Wallington and Rushden were delighted to once again welcome Mike Thomas who talked on his latest Botswanan safari. He brought an amazing selection of slides of the wildlife of the area, including a real photo winner of a fish eagle sitting on the head of a hippo. He also told us about the problems hippos have when they get sunburnt. Presumably it takes a lot of after sun to soothe a hippo! Selective tourism is now an important part of Botswana’s industry and this means small groups only go on safari. Sadly, the wonderful lion pride we saw was decimated by predators and none of the youngsters have survived. Afterwards the Spender Cup was judged by members and Ann Warner won with her re-caned market chair. She says it’s her first win in thirty years of WI-ing! The Christmas lunch will be held at the Moon and Stars on Thursday 8th December. Please let Fiona Potts know as soon as possible if you wish to go.
Next meeting is at Wallington on 15th December when Malcolm Dodson will talk on Thatching and hopefully give us a demonstration of making countrymen’s favours. This is also the Christmas Party so will members please bring a plate of goodies. Mulled wine will be provided. Our January meeting is on 19th January at Rushden when Sue Jagelman will talk on Aids the Future

AGM - 20 October 2005

Everyone enjoyed last month's AGm which saw the Committee being returned with an extra member, Audrey Bradfield and Diane Tucker remaining as President.

After the Business members played whose Wine is it Anyway and proved very adept at guessing who was being truthful. Judy, Dawn and Sarah formed the panel of experts. Afterwards, members were able to stock up their store cupboards with a wonderful selection of produce the proceeds of which will be donated to Associated Countrywomen of the World.

Forthcoming events are the Christmas lunch which will be organised by Sue and Fiona. The date is to be announced. 

The next meting is at Rushden on Thursday 17th November when we will once again have a chance to see Mike Thomas' wonderful selection of slides and hear him speak on An African Safari. This will also be the chance to enter the Spender Cup which this year is Make do and Recycle though we're not sure if a member's suggestion of "My husband's old underpants as a duster" were
quite what people had in mind!!

Rushden Medicinal and Culinary Herbs John Webster - 15 September 2005

So how many healing herbs grow in your garden? Wallington and Rushden WI had a chance to find out all about the power of herbs when Herbal Haven came to talk to them about growing herbs and their uses.

Southernwood is nature’s moth balls, hearts ease for eczema and sweet cicely can act as a sugar substitute for diabetics and if you are a New Ager what better than comfrey on your compost heap. Recipes for herbal preparations have been found written on papyri from ancient Egypt. With the discovery of the New World many more medicinal plants were discovered. Many of the original uses of these herbs have been lost but some still remain. Taking an exam; try lemon balm tea or another use is to steep it in white wine as a fertility drink! If you want to know more about herbs and their uses and stock up your garden try visiting www.herbalhaven.com.

On 29th September we will be hosting the Group Meeting when Marie Cardin will talk on Dogs for the Disabled at Baldock Community Centre. The competition is most appealing toy dog.
On October 20th we hold our AGM at Wallington and new committee members are being sought. We will be holding a produce bring and buy and enjoying a game of Whose Wine is it Anyway? We can always try some ajuga afterwards as a cure for hangovers!! (So that’s why a certain person in Rushden grows so much of it outside their house!!!)
The Spender Cup Competition will be judged in November for the best example of Make Do and Recycle!
There will be display of what we do at Sandon’s Contact 2005 on 17th September.
Organisers are needed for the Christmas lunch.
 
Trip to Hinxworth.
Members were overwhelmed by the hospitality of sculptor John Mills when they visited his garden at Hinxworth Place in August and were invited into his studio as well. They were shown a quarter size statue of his sculpture Women in War recently unveiled by the Queen as part of this year’s 60th anniversary of the end of WW11. The evening ended with a visit to the Three Horseshoes which also hosts one of John’s sculptures as does Ashwell Church.

WI Fashion from the 1900s - 21 July 2005

Breast flatteners, modesty vests, liberty bodices and split drawers; these are just some of the garments WI members learned about at their recent meeting when Eve Davis came to talk on Clothes from the Early 1900s. It proved a fascinating evening for all. Did you know that at the beginning of the twentieth century hats were annually recycled with new trimmings or that the shape of women slightly later in the decade was described as a Grecian bend due to their tight fitting corsets? Eve had also brought a wonderful collection of clothes of the period for us to exclaim over.
The next group meeting is on September 29th when the talk will be on Dogs for the Disabled and we are hostesses. New Officers are looked for at the forthcoming AGM in October. The questionnaire feedback has proved very helpful and it is suggested that sub committees organise one off special events through the year starting with the Christmas lunch.
For those who missed the meeting there will be an outing to the sculpture garden of John Mills whose work "Women in War" was recently unveiled by the Queen on Thursday 4th August at 6.45pm. Phone Ann Warner if you are interested.
Next meeting is on Thursday 15th September when John Webster will talk on medicinal and culinary herbs, a chance for the alternative medicine aficionados to come and brush up their knowledge.

Food and War - 16 June 2005

So what did you cook in the War Mummy? could have been a question from June’s W.I. meeting, when Sarah Lever stepped into the breach left by Andrea Falter who was unable to come due to a family death. Members learned how the seeds of food planning in the Second World War were actually laid during World War One when the health of the average conscript was a cause for major concern. It was during the inter war years that the Ministry of Food was set up and various government departments looked into improving nutrition, which eventually led to a much healthier nation. Several members added their reminiscences and talked about the barter that existed in country areas. Afterwards carrot cookies were made and eaten. The radio doctor would have been proud of us. We were pleased to welcome Chris Brabrook and Gemma Day who came to talk to members about their role as the villages’ Community Police Officers and how we can help both them and ourselves. Yorkshire Tea has kindly sent teabags which were raffled and samples of Dove soap were handed out.
Next meeting is again at Wallington and will be Eve Davies talking about Fashion from the 1900’s on Thursday 21st July.

Resolutions Meeting - 19 May 2005

Wallington and Rushden W.I. enjoyed a rather rowdy resolutions evening on Thursday 19th May when two resolutions from NFWI were put forward and two from the floor. The NFWI resolutions were that the WI should work at raising the public awareness of the discrepancy in price between retail and that offered to the farmer with which everyone agreed and secondly that we should do all in our power to reduce waste and conserve resources. Everyone felt that most supermarket goods were vastly overpackaged and that we should consider using reusable shopping bags. It was felt that local councils, both Parish and District should be approached to support more recycling especially in view of Tesco Royston’s intended removal of their plastic recycling centre. Our own resolutions were more village based; that anyone driving in the villages whilst using a mobile phone should be named and shamed and
that people should be encouraged by whatever means possible to observe the 30 mph restrictions in the villages.
Members enjoyed guessing who the committee members were in the days of their youth and also having a go on Ann Warner’s partner’s mobility scooter. The thought of an army of WI ers on these is probably enough to discourage most people from using the roads never mind driving too fast. Next meeting is again at Wallington on Thursday 16th June at 8pm and is open to all. Andrea Falter of Cambridge Slow Food will talk on Looking for Treasure in our local community’s food suppliers, rather than heading down to the local supermarket. 

Plants and Animals of Hertfordshire - 21 April 2005

Due to an unexpected stay in hospital, our original speaker for the WI meeting was unable to join us on Thursday 21st April but fortunately a colleague of his, Simon O'Dell stepped in to fill the breech at very short notice. Simon is a volunteer with the Council for National Parks of which there are twelve in England and Wales. The aim of the organisation is to conserve the natural beauty and wildlife of the area and to help us enjoy the natural environment, plus recreation, conservation and protection. The Lake District is the largest with the Peak District being the second most visited National Park in the world.

The Home Front - 15 April 2005

A full hall gathered to listen to Alan Payne talk (Friday 15 April) on the Home Front and show his wonderful collection of artifacts. Several of the audience had memories of the times and Alan was thrilled to be offered a stirrup pump afterwards to add to his collection. Afterwards everyone had a chance to look more closely (and if certain men looked rather too closely at Jane we'll keep quiet about it!) and enjoy wartime recipe biscuits with their tea and coffee. £97 was raised towards the forthcoming VE day celebrations.

Life of a Customs Officer - 17 March 2005

Want to learn how to smuggle ? Talk to a member of Wallington and Rushden WI. After listening to Malcolm Brewer, formerly of Customs and Excise at Stansted Airport we can now give most people tips. Fiona proved a wonderful mule, even fooling Malcolm at one point (but we did say that he should let her off!) We were amazed at the lengths people will go to to bring in illegal goods, particularly drugs and the tragic consequences that can follow. Next time we walk through the green exit, we will be very much more aware of the people behind the scenes.
Next month Graham Goodall will be talking about the Plants and Animals of Hertfordshire on Thursday 21st April at 8pm in Rushden Village Hall and on 28th April a National Trust shepherd will talk at the Group Meeting at Baldock on Caring for the Cotswolds.

The Andes to the Galapagos - 17 February 2005

Members were treated to a fascinating insight into the lives of the women of the Andes when Margaret Rogers came to talk on from The Andes to the Galapagos on Thursday 17th February at Rushden. The women themselves are very small compared to their menfolk and the richer people of the area due to their poor diet. In spite of this they enjoy their “girls’” outings to the local markets selling hand made goods at nominal costs.Next month sees Malcolm Brewer talking about his life as a Customs Officer at Stansted Airport. This is an open meeting and everyone in welcome. If you want to find out what life is like on the other side of the barrier now’s your chance. We are told by other W.I.s to whom he has spoken that this is a talk not to be missed. It is on Thursday 17th March at 8pm at Wallington Village Hall.

Another Sinister World - 20 January 2005

Wallington and Rushden WI met on Thursday 20th January to learn about another sinister world, that is the world of the left handed. Ann Warner managed to prove that for most of us, it is not a case of being left or right handed but a little of both. She also showed that for those of us who class ourselves as left handed, life can be very difficult in a right handed world, by asking members to use implements designed for the left hand.

Our new programme is now available, with plenty of interesting talks to suit all ages and enthusiasms from Customs and Excise at Stansted to medicinal and culinary herbs.

This year the WI celebrates its 90th anniversary and we would like to celebrate by encouraging new members to join us. Forget the blue rinse brigade. Wallington and Rushden WI is drawn from all ages and all interests. Why not give us a try?

We also intend to complete the ninety miles suggested by the organisation as a way to celebrate the year and hopefully become healthier individuals as a result.

The Spring Group Meeting is on Thursday 28th April at Baldock and will feature a National Trust shepherd.

Our next meeting is at Rushden on Thursday 17th February when Margaret Rogers will speak on From the Andes to the Galapagos.