June Meeting - The story of Liquorice

A lovely sunny evening .... and a really lively and entertaining presentation by Tom Dixon (no relation to Sue!) about his work as a young man in the liquorice industry at the W.R.Wilkinson factory in Pontefract.

 

Tom giving us a history of Liquorice production in Pontefract

Tom told us how Liquorice came to Pontefract from Spain and was grown in the fields around Pontefract thriving in the 'sandy' soil of the area,  supplying at the turn of the 20th Century seventeen factories for use in a wide variety of ways - not just sweets.

We discovered all sorts of interesting information - such as the fact that liquorice is fifty times sweeter than sugar and is the sweetest natural product on earth.  Also Camel trains that go for weeks on end across the deserts of the world are always chewing liquorice as its stops them getting thirsty!!

The famous Pontefract cakes

Tom showing us the original 'wax seal' used by Mrs Dunhill to make the first Pontefract Penny which became the world renowned Pontefract Cake

Joan with an 'edible' liquorice boot used in one of the Charlie Chaplin silent movies

The presentation was really enjoyed by us all and Tom thoroughly deserved the vote of thanks given by Jean.  We were then able to buy signed books written by Tom with the proceeds going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Charity.

 

We then had the business part of the meeting with information about many forthcoming summer events  -  WI Centenary AGM live from the Albert Hall ... Rockley Rally ... Theatre Trips ... Heritage Walks ... Lunch at Marie's Tea Rooms as well as our own  WI Centenary 1920's Themed Party!!  With all that to look forward to we really were ready for Brenda Allott's famous Fruit Cake and Date and Walnut Cake and Tea.