Centenary Baton Celebrations - Grenoside

Centenary celebrations began on the1st January 2014 for WI members everywhere as the specially designed centenary baton officially began its journey around the UK.  The baton, launched in Anglesey where the first WI meeting was held in the UK in 1915, will travel throughout the 69 federations in England, Wales and the Islands to celebrate the links of friendship and community developed through the WI, and will finish its trip at the Annual General Meeting in June 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall.

The South Yorkshire Federation Chairman introducing the Baton

Chapeltown members Irene, Norma, Brenda and Hilary
receiving the Baton

The Centenary Baton

St Marks Church Hall Grenoside where WI members enjoyed a wonderful Cream tea provided by the Grenoside hosts.

      It really was a good afternoon in which members from all WI groups in the area could mix socially - as well as be part of the National baton Celebrations.

Quiz winner!

Silent Auction - Scones, Cream and Jam!

What a night yet again!  Members arrived and quickly got in to the spirit of the evening by 'eyeing' up the goods and getting their 'secret' bids in to our resident auctioneer Jean Alcock.  Whilst Jean and her team of helpers were busy organising the fantastic array of donated items, Sue Dixon got through the business part of the evening.  May 'babies' received their birthday cards from Joan Egley who also presented Sheila Kavanagh with beautiful flowers as she celebrated being 80 years young!!

Inspecting the goods

Jean recording secret bids

Ready to tuck in  - Pat's already started!!

Happy 80th Birthday Sheila

Jean in full flow

Happy Customers

Birthday Girl Ellen with her Raffle Prize

Thanks were given to Jean and her team for all their hard work in organising the Silent Auction which raised the massive total of £160 for WI funds - a record!  Many thanks also to Caroline Scaife and Jill Bartrop our wonderful hostesses for the evening.   We all left warmed up nicely for next weeks outing for Afternoon Tea to the Potting Shed.

Champagne Truffles and Easter Bonnets

Ready for a lovely evening

  A wonderful surprise awaited us when we arrived for April's meeting with tables covered in grease proof paper ......... and chocolates!!!!  Sue Dixon then introduced local 'Chocolatier' Abi Herbert who then enthusiastically guided us through the stages of making our very own champagne truffles.  Her able assistants, Daisy and Sam gave out piping bags full of melted chocolate as well as bowls of icing sugar and chocolate and we were soon creating our own masterpieces finished off in cellophane bags decorated with ribbon!! When Joan Egley gave the vote of thanks everyone agreed what a fantastic time we'd had.

Abi, Daisy and Sam

Table 1 ready for action!

Federation Chairman hard at work!

Giving a helping hand

The finished product ...... aren't we clever!!
 

Abi then judged the Easter Bonnet competition with Shelagh Kavannah winning from a range of wonderfully creative designs

After all the excitement we all enjoyed Brenda Allott's amazing Easter Cake with Cheese and a well earned cup of tea/coffee.

Amazing Foundations

Janet in 'full flow'

Marchs' meeting really was one to remember!  Janet Steyn entertained us for an hour with a superb presentation on 'Undergarments through the Ages'.  With a suitcase full of 'goodies' , we were given a history lesson to remember - unfortunately a lot of us hadn't  forgotten in the first place!!
Ably assisted by her mannequin dummy,  Janet led us through a wonderful array of undergarments whilst we decided whether we were 'straight-laced'  or 'loose' women!
At the end of the talk all members were agreed  how lucky we were with the choice of underwear currently on offer - with none of the health risks associated with trying to achieve a 12" waist.

Margaret and Janet

After Margaret Atter gave the vote of thanks Janet kindly offered to judge our 'monthly' competition.

    Sue demonstrating competition items     ........

........ whilst Margaret and Diane model them!!

Sue Dixon then led the admin part of the evening and reminded us to wear our Easter Bonnets to the next meeting as well as bring our unusual Easter momentoes  for the next competition.  Refreshments were provided  by Sue Delaney and Pauline Paviour and Sue Dunigan was this months lucky raffle winner.

Raffle winner - Sue Dunigan

Evening Meal at the Wharncliffe

Many thanks to Sybil for once again organising a wonderful evening out at the Wharncliffe in Rotherham.  The evening was very well attended with 24 ladies donning their finery in order to sample the students culinary efforts and we were not disappointed.

We really enjoyed our choice of starter, main and sweet courses followed by tea and coffee and the service the students provided was really welcoming.

Mixed Salad Starter

Pigeon Starter

Chicken  -Main Course

Sybil gives her seal of approval!

A lovely meal and a raffle prize as well!

February Meeting - "Ingenuity" Maurice Dobson Museum

The 'business' part of the evening proved very busy with members returning their 'bunting' samples before collecting a range of others to make-up ready for the Rockley Rally in June.

Jean Alcock then reminded us of our chosen 'Christmas Shoebox Appeal' donation box as well as our Silent Auction Items needed for May.

Sue Dixon then introduced our visitors from the nearby Maurice Dobson Museum and Heritage Centre in nearby Darfield.  The presentation was on 'Some of Man's Attempts to be Useful' or 'Ingenuity'.  

                                                                                     

Geoffrey Hutchinson then introduced us to a range of photographic images of items from the museum, which had been invented from Victorian times onwards - some of which we guessed correctly as to what they were whilst others proved completely unrecognisable although highly amusing at times .  (The Garden Bench on Wheels proved very popular.)

We then had the chance to look at some interesting objects from the Museum such as a range of tin openers, an 'early' toaster, a pie steamer, an eye-sight tester, electric-shock kit (very useful for teachers!!) and a wallet we did recognise from our milkman of 'yesteryears'.   We really enjoyed Geoffrey and Bob's presentation and a number of us discussed arranging a return visit to the museum.  Jill Bartrop gave the well-deserved vote of thanks.

After refreshments provided by Cynthia and Pauline,  we were reminded of next months meeting on 'Amazing Foundations' by Janet Steyn and asked to bring with us 'An Unusual Undergarment' to be judged as part of a Year-Long Competition.

Everyone left after an enjoyable evening, looking forward to February's evening meal at the Wharncliffe restaurant organised once again by our resident 'Hostess' Sybil.

Happy New Year

Unfortunately the first meeting of 2014 'clashed' with the Village Choir as regards the venue - but no problem  ...... our resourceful committee prepared refreshments and quiz for us in Holy Trinity Church.  The meeting started with a minutes silence in remembrance of members who were sadly no longer with us before Jean Newbold read out  'Thank You' letters from charities we had supported throughout 2013.  Jean Alcock then explained the arrangements for collecting items monthly for 'Operation Christmas Child's' shoe box appeal and Sybil let us know about forthcoming trips and visits.  Sue Dixon then gave a brief summary of each WI resolution so we could make an informed choice.  Tea and  Coffee and lovely biscuits were then enjoyed as we caught up on each others Christmas and New Year news.  All agreed the change of venue (and 'posh' cups!) had not affected the enjoyment of our evening.