Rockley Group AGM - All Things Yorkshire

Who says AGM's are boring ....... this one certainly wasn't!!

Sue Dixon chaired the meeting which started with a review of finances, followed by a summary of this years activities and a look forward to the events organised in the year ahead.

Wentworth WI then 'kicked off' the entertainment with an entertaining guide to the 'patois' spoken by the natives of nearby Barnsley.

Sue Dixon enlightened us with 'interesting' facts about Yorkshire in between each WI giving us their insight into GOD's COUNTY!  The 'flat-capped' ladies of High Green certainly didn't disappoint!!

Jean Alcock read out her award-winning poem on the WI followed by Mary Wilman and Jean Newbold singing us a 'reyt ditty'.

Jean -A natural story teller!!

After the excellent entertainment the raffle was drawn then down to the real business ...... tea, coffee and Cake!

Operation Christmas Child

  Throughout the last year at WI Wednesday meetings, members have generously donated items                         suitable for inclusion in 'Shoe Boxes' as part of the fundraising for the 2014
                                                        Operation Christmas Child.

The boxes were put together by Committee members and then added to those put together by the young members of Holy Trinity Thorpe Hesley Church.  Not only a great cause but a great example of the 'Communty' working together.

Brenda, Jean and Sybil with completed Boxes

'Vision' Youth group collating their Boxes

An Evening with Gervase Phinn

Wentworth WI welcomed us to their October meeting to enjoy 'An Evening with Gervase Phinn' and we were not disappointed.

The 'man' himself

Professor Gervase Phinn taught in a range of schools for fourteen years before becoming an education adviser and school inspector. He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's College, York and the Fellow and Visiting Professor of Education at The University of Teesside. He has published many articles, chapters and books and edited a wide range of poetry and short story collections. 

He entertained us for over an hour with a wide range of stories - from his own childhood in Rotherham, his teaching days as well as his visits to schools as an inspector.  He is fiercely proud of Rotherham and is very 'angry' at how children in the Borough have been 'let-down' by those who should have cared for them - something we all agreed with.  We all loved his poem dedicated to his much-loved Mother and many members were moved to tears.  

The evening finished  with us being able to buy signed copies of his new book as well as back copies of others.

Many thanks Wentworth for a really enjoyable evening of hospitality  - we had a fantastic evening  listening to a 'born raconteur!'

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AGM/Pie and Peas

The evening started with a minutes silence in memory of member Ann Siemianowicz who died recently following a long battle with illness.  She will be sadly missed.

We unanimously decided to enjoy our Pie and Peas first. followed by tea and coffee and a good chat before we got down to the business part of the evening.

Sybil - Service with a smile!!

Brenda and Marjorie enjoying their supper!

Well done Pam  -  Our resident chef.

President Sue Dixon then reviewed another busy and successful year, and put forward suggestions for next year.  Thanks were given to Jean Alcock for her hard work whilst on the committee who had decided to step down, and invitations for new members to join the committee were offered.  Brenda Allott spoke on behalf of all when when she gave a heartfelt vote of thanks to all members of the committee for all they do to organise such a varied programme of meetings and activities.

A happy raffle winner!

Although it was only October 1st we then discussed Carol Concerts,  Christmas tree festivals and decorations and Christmas parties!  We went home with our diaries full of exciting things to look forward to.