The WI Christmas Party - Thursday 21 December 2006

The WI Christmas Party was enjoyed by all who came. Not only were we all able to sample the delicious food brought by members but could taste some of the party food from history, such as gastris, a Roman nut and honey cake and mediaeval brie and saffron tart, as part of the talk on 2000 years of Food and Feasting.
Suggested resolutions for May were voted on.

What a Life Coach Does - Thursday 16 November 2006

So do you need a life coach? Peter Bagallay talked to us about what a life coach does and even demonstrated a session with the help of Fiona Potts who is now fired up to get the essays she needs to write organised before Christmas. (We will be checking.)
The energy saving tip competition for the Spender Cup was won by Sarah Lever.
The Christmas lunch has been organised at the Moon and Stars for Friday 15th December.
Next month on December 21st at Rushden we will enjoy our Christmas party and Sarah Lever will talk and give a demonstration on Food and Feasting in history. Don’t forget to bring a plate of food. Mulled wine both alcoholic and TT will be served.On January 18th at Wallington, Barbara Gough will speak on card making.

Stories of Life as was at Tapp's Garden Centre - Thursday 21 September 2006

On Thursday 21st September, members joined Joyce hart on a trip down Memory Lane, Joyce’s memories that is, as she recalled her grandfather who went from being bargee to soldier before taking on not one but three smallholdings in Baldock and finally ending his life at the age of 82 as a successful dried flower producer. Her father took over the business until the 1980s when he too died. Now it is the equally successful Tapps Garden centre but Joyce says she still misses being able to look out over “her” land and also a long washing line.The next meeting is the AGM on Thursday 19th October at Rushden when members are invited to think of interesting uses for apples and the following month is the Spender Cup when the competition is best energy saving tip.

Marine Ecology in the Phillipines - Thursday 15 June 2006

Gen Broad certainly learned about roof raising during her work with marine ecology in the Philippines as she lost her roof to typhoons several times. She also witnessed the eruption of a local volcano.
          
Whilst in the Philippines, she worked with local people on bio diversity and encouraged them to look after their environment by stopping dynamiting and cyaniding fish. In between, she discovered a new bird, the Calayan Rail.
Now she works in Essex, where she says she continues to spread the message that our world needs protecting.
        
Our next meeting is at Rushden on Thursday 20th July at 8pm when Baldock Flower Arrangers will demonstrate their skills.

Resolutions - Thursday 18 May 2006

The latest resolutions were hotly debated at Rushden on Thursday 18th May. The issues being discussed were Renewable Energy; members agreed on the importance of this but felt that the resolution was too poorly worded, and Sport for a Healthy Community which was accepted.
The next meeting will be on Thursday 15th June when Gen Bread will speak on Marine Ecology in the Philipines at Wallington.

History of Pins and Needles - Thursday 20 April 2006

On Thursday 20th April, members were able to enjoy a fascinating talk by Bridget Long on the history of pins and needles and other associated sewing artefacts. It is only in more recent times that sewing has become a female prerogative. Victorian children, both male and female were taught quite complicated sewing form a very young age. 

Our next meeting is Resolutions at Rushden on Thursday 18th May when all members are encouraged to bring along their own resolutions to help put our world to rights in addition to discussing those sent to us by National. 

Bookbinding - Thursday 16 March 2006

From papyrus to paper via vellum and parchment, Nigel Jury gave us an in depth history of the bookbinder’s craft. He told us that over the thousand or so years that books had been produced, one of the best inventions for the bookbinder was PVA glue. He also worries that the craft which requires a seven year apprenticeship is being lost.
At the meeting members signed a birthday card to Jessie Tasney, a former secretary, who is about to celebrate her 95th birthday. Bulb forms are now available to those who would like them and also tickets for the Spring Group meeting when the sculptor Paul Bainbridge will talk on from clay to wax.

Our next meeting is at Wallington on Thursday April 20th when Bridget Long will speak on Pins and Needles. Please bring along your own resolution for inclusion in the May Meeting. These can cover any issue locally or nationally that you feel needs addressing.

Ancient Baldock - Thursday 16th February 2006

Did you know that Baldock has the largest collection of burials, including the Baldock Giant, outside Ancient Egypt? Keith Matthews, North Herts resident archaeologist told us of this and many more interesting facts when he talked to the W.I. on the subject of Peoples of ancient Baldock. In a packed hall we learned of the “scrap metal” burial that turned out to be the grave of a local king and saw many examples of graves throughout the early periods of history, several with their own tragedies, now unknown, attached to them. Baldock has been settled since Mesolithic times and historically is very important. If you would like to know more about digs in Baldock look out for the shortly to be published book on the subject edited by Keith.
Our next meeting is on Thursday 16th March at Rushden when Nigel Jury will talk on bookbinding.  

Aids – the Future - Thursday 19 January 2006

Today, 1800 children will be born infected with Aids. These are some of the statistics that Sue Jagelman of Save the Children gave us in her talk entitled Aids – the Future on Thursday 19th January at Rushden Village Hall. At present there are 14 million children orphaned by Aids and this is expected to rise to 25 million by 2010. So what is the answer? Well, in the words of a well known politician, “Education. Education. Education.” Save the Children is helping workers acquire the skills to spread the message around the world , from Wales to Mozambique via Brazil. It is only by teaching the young that we can protect them from the disease as they reach adulthood.
If you want to know more about the work of the charity visit www.savethechildren.org.uk and learn how you can help.
Next month, Keith Matthews, a local archaeologist will talk on People of Ancient Baldock at Wallington Village Hall on Thursday 16th February at 8pm. This is an Open Evening and everyone is welcome. Cost is £3 to non members.