Easter EGGtravaganza!

Our March meeting started with Linda leading a very eggciting 'Easter' related Quiz - just what was needed to get the old grey-matter stirring.  Our number allotted as we entered the hall was our quiz partner which was a good way to get us mixing.

Easter Quiz Time

Linda presenting the Quiz winners Pat and Pat with their prizes

After the quiz we then had the business part of the meeting with so much to look forward to.  Our birthday girls received their cards and Jennifer received flowers for celebrating her Golden Wedding Anniversary.

We then had a parade  of ladies in their Easter Bonnets before having the daunting task of picking a winner - after a secret vote Sheila emerged the winner.

Don't they look great!

Elsie, Rita, Ann and Pat displaying their hats

The well deserved winning hat - well done Sheila

Well earned refreshments were enjoyed whilst the Easter Egg-rolling competition was carried out - who knew egg rolling could be so technical!  After a great deal of fun the winner turned out to be Jean.  We also had the chance to buy some of Margaret's beautiful hand-made charity cards and sign up for the many activities on offer.

Our busy tea ladies at work

Egg Rolling time ... go Angela ....

......... then June

........... but the well deserved winner was Jean

Pat admiring Margaret's cards

Mary presenting the raffle prize

Thanks Linda for a great evening

Remember our coffee morning for Weston Park on April 22nd and bring your friends and neighbours.

Spring Meeting

The many WI members who attended the Spring meeting enjoyed a thoroughly good day, mixing with friends from other WI's as well as being entertained by the excellent speakers.

Federation business ....

Linda, Pat, Angela, Peggy and Jean

Christine Robinson who's family had worked on the Chatsworth Estate for over 200 years gave a very interesting talk entitled "The Housekeeper's Tale" and we heard about life in the 'big house' as well as the surrounding villages where the staff live as well as their many annual events.

Members had all visited Chatsworth at various times and enjoyed hearing Christine's stories.

We then had the opportunity to buy a signed copy of her book plus other Chatsworth souvenirs.

Although there was disappointment when it was known that Ashley Jackson was not well enough to come and speak, we enjoyed listening to the heart warming, 'namedropping' talk given by actor John Stirling.  After a varied stage career appearing with many famous actors he now runs "The Actors  Donkey Sanctuary" in Derbyshire which is also used to help support disadvantaged children.

John (above) plus Dot ... one of his famous friends visiting his donkeys.

All agreed it was a thoroughly good day out ....

....... now for our Easter Eggstravaganza!

March Meeting - Bluebell Wood

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice is well known locally and so we were delighted to welcome volunteer Sally Baker to explain about the fantastic work they do.

Sally explained how she got involved with volunteering and fundraising for Bluebell Wood, following the serious illness of her grandson Harrison at just 3 weeks old.

After being admitted to the Children's Hospital in Sheffield the family was told that Harrison was so poorly there was nothing they could do for him and so he was transferred to Bluebell Wood for palliative care.  The whole family as well as Harrison received the most tremendous help and support from the hospice and against all odds Harrison started to thrive.  Sally showed us a selection of beautiful photos of her wonderful grandson now four years old and ready to start school in September! We were all absolutely delighted for all concerned.  Sally also explained that Bluebell Wood is almost entirely voluntarily funded and outlined the various ways we could help should we wish to do so.

Sally showing us fundraising material for Bluebell Wood

Jill and Joan admiring photos of Harrison

Jill Bartrop gave our heartfelt thanks to Sally for her very personal talk on Bluebell Wood and we carried out a collection in appreciation of such a wonderful cause and one we will certainly continue to support.  Indeed one of our members was proudly wearing her Bluebell Wood Supporters badge!

Margaret - a proud Bluebell Wood supporter displaying her badge

After we said our 'goodbyes' to Sally we then got on to the business part of the meeting.  Our March babies received their cards, with Elsie being presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for being 90 years young!

Vice President Joan presenting Elsie with her birthday flowers

Mary outlined the wide variety of trips and activities in the months ahead before announcing that Sybil our long-serving Entertainment Organiser on the committee had decided to step down.  She has done a fantastic job over many years and thoroughly deserved the rousing round of applause given her.  She will definitely be a hard act to follow - any volunteers?!? 

Gwen giving special thanks to Sybil

We then enjoyed some of Ann Marson's wonderful gingerbread with a well-earned cuppa whilst signing up for future activities and of course catching up on news.

Next outing is lunch at the Travellers in Birdwell....

...... and don't forget your Easter Bonnets for Aprils meeting.

February meeting with 'Mrs Barnsley' - Mel Dyke

Jean introduced our guest speaker Mel Dyke - known as 'Mrs Barnsley' and we then really enjoyed her highly informative and engaging talk about the talented 'folk' of her home town of Barnsley.

Mel is an ex-teacher and author of several books who kept us spell-bound with her entertaining anecdotes of famous people she'd met from Arthur Scargill to Geoff Boycott, Mick McCarthy to Katherine Kenny, Dickie Bird to Philip Mosley (Barnsley's real Billy Elliott who inspired the film and stage production).  Her books "All for Barnsley" and "Bus to Barnsley Market" really help to dispel the myth of Barnsley as a downtrodden town - it really has produced a wide variety of incredibly talented people.  Her passion for her home town was obvious to all and her books are well worth a read.

Members enjoying a chat with Mel after her talk

Barnsley High School 'girls' enjoying a catch-up!  Where have the years gone!!

After Sue Delany's vote of thanks we then had the business part of the meeting.  It was lovely to see Secretary Jean back on the 'top' table after a few months absence - she'd been missed.  Our February birthday girls received their cards before we enjoyed refreshments and a chat.

Happy 90th birthday to Elsie from us all.

Happy New Year 2017

The Trinity Centre was packed with members as Mary welcomed us to a new year of meetings with a heartfelt 'Happy New Year'.

After a rousing rendition of Jerusalem we were giving a brief resume of what we've got to look forward to in the year ahead both in terms of meetings, trips and outings and other wider WI activities.

Shiloh Rotherham thanked us for our tremendous support with their Christmas shoebox appeal and Mary mentioned that we would be supporting Weston Park Cancer Hospital once again this year with our annual 'Time 4 Tea' morning in conjunction with Holy Trinity Church.

After our January babies had received their 'happy birthday wishes', we'd paid our subs and voted for our WI Resolutions Rachel Lewis from Rotherham Society of Artists spoke to us about her work.

Rachel displaying some of her work

Rachel explained that despite enjoying Art as a subject at Primary and Secondary school, she had followed a 'science' based career into Physiotherapy.  It was only after the birth of twin boys in her early 40's that she started to take her 'Art' more seriously and won local and then national acclaim in competitions.  This success allowed her to start a second career as an Artist and Art teacher.

Pam and Rita admiring Rachel's winning entry to Eric Twigg Foods 50th Anniversary Competition

Sue - our Rotherham United Chief supporter proudly displaying the New York Stadium made of pies!!

After a question and answer session Sue Dixon gave a vote of thanks to Rachel before we could admire her work in more detail as well as have the opportunity to buy some of her work in the form of greeting cards, bookmarks and present tags.

Whilst we enjoyed a coffee and chat after the presentation, Joan Corker (also a member  of Rotherham Society of Artists) explained to us the 'art' of Zentangle - a form of creative doodling.  Joan said that as long as we could hold a pencil we could  do it and we were soon relaxing and losing ourselves in patterns making bookmarks.

 

Sheila - engrossed in Zentangling!

A lovely relaxed evening and great way to start 2017.

Happy New Year to all members - not only Thorpe Hesley but all those in the Rockley group and wider Federation.

Christmas Cheer at Shiloh

All members were invited to support Shiloh (the Homeless shelter in Rotherham) give their guests a Christmas to remember.  Generous donations were made ........

........... present boxes were made up and decorated  .....

......... Sheila and Rev Lynn Broadhead presented the gifts to Shiloh to be given out by

Father Christmas at the guests Christmas Dinner.

.......... Sheila receiving a thank you hug from Shiloh Founder Sue Savage.

Shiloh would like to thank all our WI members for their incredible generosity and wish us all a Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

We wish the same for them as they move into new, larger premises to serve the disadvantaged and vulnerable people of Rotherham to rebuild their lives.

Christmas Party with the Thorpe Hesley Village Choir

The committee certainly worked hard to ensure we had a really good end to the WI year.  The tables in the Trinity Centre were decorated beautifully as we were greeted by a welcome drink and Christmas music.

Ready to enjoy a wonderful meal ......

Pat and Carolyn getting in a party mood!

Our outside caterers for the evening really served up a festive feast ....

.......... with sweets produced by our resident chef Pam. The only problem was we had too much choice!! (Why is life so difficult!)

Tea ladies Sheila and Ann served us well before we enjoyed a wonderful selection of Christmas carols and songs by our local village choir.

Cheers!  Our glamourous tea ladies

Sarah and the Village Choir

Arthur giving a wonderful solo

 Jingle bells - percussionists Jean, Ann and Alison

A really lovely evening finished with us all getting a Christmas present to take home and put under the Christmas tree.

What a wonderful year of WI meetings - thanks to all committee members for their hard work.