April Meeting - Studying the Environment - Here and Abroad

Sue Dixon opened the meeting with lots of information on trips, visits and activities to banish the winter blues.  Everyone agreed what a wonderful time we'd had at our recent Birthday Party and we look forward to our next shared event with neighbouring Wentworth WI.  Sue is attending the WI's Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace this summer and told us that she had put forward Peggy Callands name to attend as well in recognition of her service to Thorpe Hesley WI - an original member and 28 years as Treasurer!!  We all supported this and Peggy received a well-deserved round of applause. 



Treasurer Peggy with President Sue

A happy Raffle winner

Birthday cards and wishes were given out to three April 'babies' and then this months competition for a 'home-made' artefact reflecting Easter judged.  The winners were the two 'Pat Shaws' with their entries of a Rabbit Pie and a Bunny Glove Puppet.

 The presentation for the evening was given by member Jayne Spaven on her experiences as a Secondary School Teacher studying the environment - both in the wonderful Yorkshire Countryside and the amazing Amazon Rainforest.

 

Jayne and her group of students arriving in Peru for their trip of a lifetime

Fishing in the Amazon



Home in Peru
 

Sheila presenting a cheque to Jayne to donate to Shiloh for her presentation

After refreshments provided by Jill, Carolyn and Sylvia we all left the Trinity Centre looking forward to Easter (and better weather!!)

 

SYFWI Centenary Spring Council - Cutlers Hall

 

 

On a bright Spring morning, a small band of WI members 'parked and rode' from Meadowhall to attend the South Yorkshire Federation's Centenary Spring Council meeting at the wonderful Cutlers Hall in Sheffield.

 

The Cutlers Hall

 

Ready for a welcoming coffee with fellow members from Wentworth WI.

 

The Lord Mayor of Sheffield welcomes us   ................  before NFWI Chair addresses us about her WI journey.

 

After an enjoyable lunch at a local hostelry, we returned to hear from the current Master Cutler about work in the Sheffield area before an entertaining speech from BBC TV presenter

Harry Gration.

 

Sue Dixon then received our 30th Birthday Certificate from our Federation as we were given news of two new WI groups being established in Sheffield and a general increase in WI members nationally.

  The afternoon then finished with

           an excellent presentation by Lucy Adlington from the  'History Wardrobe'.

 

30th Birthday Celebrations

Well done  to both committees of Wentworth and Thorpe Hesley WI's for an excellent evening celebrating the "30th Birthdays" of both groups.  Jennifer Brunskill of Wentworth WI welcomed everyone before we sang Jerusalem to "get the party started".

 

Sue and Jennifer



What a Cake!



Jerusalem

 

Each table then enjoyed a wonderful array of sandwiches, scones and cakes as they were entertained by a very talented young magician.

 

Mmm ..... don't they look great!!

Enjoying ourselves .... and our tea!!

 



 

Pick a card .... any card

 

As we let our tea settle we were entertained by a very talented 'gentleman' as we sang along to some well-remembered songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's.

 

 

Cynthia Shaw from Wentworth WI was voted "best vocalist" encouraging everyone to join in the songs  ......  we didn't need much encouragement!!

 

 

The evening finished with founder members Peggy Calland from Thorpe Hesley and Kay Gittins from Wentworth cutting the cake, and a toast to absent friends.  A vote of thanks was given to all involved in helping make this such an enjoyable evening as we left with our goodie-bags of chocolates and cakes.

Goodie bags

 

As the card says .... we certainly did enjoy ourselves!!

 

 

The work of SHILOH Rotherham

 

At last months meeting, Sue Dixon briefly explained about the work of SHILOH and asked members to bring a contribution with them this month to help SHILOH with their work with the homeless and disadvantaged people of Rotherham.   What a response!! The entrance hall of the Trinity Centre was so full of food, clothing, bedding and other valuable items that Operations Manager Jonathan Lang could hardly get in to the hall to do his presentation!!

 

 

Although some  members were aware of the work of SHILOH many were not, and were soon involved in an excellent interactive presentation by Jonathan hearing all about the way SHILOH's 'guests' were treated with dignity and respect as they were fed, clothed and supported with basic life skills in order to rebuild their often 'broken' lives.

 

Jonathan discussing SHILOH with Carolyn Scaife

Vote of thanks given by Margaret Atter

Refreshments provided by Sue Delaney and Pauline Paviour were then enjoyed before the business part of the meeting.  The March 'birthday girls' received their cards and good wishes as future events were discussed and signed up for.  Members left the Trinity Centre looking forward to our joint 30th birthday party with Wentworth WI next Thursday.

A very happy raffle winner

 

 

Tea Dance - Bollywood Style

Many  WI members attended a Tea Dance at the Trinity Centre and as well as being 'well fed and watered' with scrumptious scones and cream and sandwiches,  they were entertained by over 40 members of Thorpe Hesley Junior school Choir and Dancers.

 

 

Choir

 

                                                      

                  Bollywood Dancers

                                 

 

After the children's entertainment, the afternoon finished with a good old-fashioned sing song! 

Cheers!

February Meal at the Masons

Well done to Sybil for organising a wonderful evening of hospitality at local hostelry the Masons Arms.  Members and friends enjoyed an excellent 3-course meal plus Bucks Fizz as well as plenty of chat.

 

Ready for our starters!

Raffle Winner

Pat, Sheila and Elsie agree it was a fantastic evening.

Sue Dixon proposed a toast to Sybil for all her hard work in organising the evening and thanks were given to the staff of the Masons for the excellent food and service.

 

Happy New Year

Despite the cold, blustery weather outside, a warm welcome inside the Trinity Centre greeted members for the first meeting of 2015.

Subs were paid, resolutions discussed, and events signed up and paid for ........ then we tried to match the 'bonny baby' photos to current members.  

Sue Delaney proved a well deserved winner successfully managing to recognise nearly all the BABIES (unlike some of us!!)

We then had to try and remember our Nursery Rhymes by their letters eg  LBPHLHS  was 'Little Bo Peep'.  This time Linda and Joan were the worthy winners.

After all that 'brain-work', our hostesses Pauline and Sheila's tea and scones were extremely welcome.

The committee wished Happy New Year to all members.