Heritage Walk - High Green

This years team of Sue Dixon, Peggy Calland, Pat Shaw and Jayne Spaven set off from St Mary's Church Hall , High Green on a lovely summers evening.  

 Most of the early clues centred on the beautiful St Saviours Church where we admired the Millenium Quilt displayed in the entrance porch.

Although the team took a few 'detours' whilst following the clues we were pleased to find out that we hadn't finished last!! (and we got back before the rain started!)

Results time!

After completing the walk we joined members from other WI's for a really enjoyable tea provided by the members of hosts high Green.  Next year we might try and get more teams from Thorpe Hesley WI to join in the fun.

Thorpe Hesley and Gawber teams

Silk Painting with Elayne Wears-Taylor

Many members were really glad they'd made the effort to brave a wet miserable evening as they enjoyed a really interesting practical demonstration of Silk Painting by Elayne.

After introducing us to the basic techniques involved, we were soon 'gutta-ing' and painting away!  We couldn't believe how easy it was to obtain such effective results.

Sue and Jean enjoying a chance to paint on Silk

Enjoying the display of Elayne's work

Silk framed Paintings and Cards

After Elayne's demonstration,  refreshments provided by Diane and Sheila were enjoyed followed by the business part of the meeting.  Joan gave out birthday cards to June 'babies' and final arrangements were made for the Rockley Rally.

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!