19th April
The Bucks Federation of WIs held its Annual Council Meeting in the new Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. This was a very successful event and everyone coped excellently with the challenges of a completely new venue--not just the WI but also the staff at the theatre who were not sure what they were in for either.The long glass sided corridor made an excellent exhibition area for the displays from the sub-committees and the competition for a handknitted bag. These were many and all totally different. The conference room at the end which had been set aside for pre-ordered lunches proved surprisingly elegant too: a definite improvement here on the Civic Centre. The sun shone so those members who had brought picnic lunches were able to sit outside in the pattern of the Albert Hall Annual General Meeting which must have been good publicity for the WI.
The business element of the meeting was well conducted by our Chairman, Jean Morris, ably assisted by Sara Galloway, the Federation Secretary. In fact all the WI speakers were very polished. The resolution on Support for Stroke Victims and their carers was well presented by Bledlow WI and was carried by a large majority. It now becomes a mandate for BFWI to work on on behalf of the members.
Lynne Stubbings from the NFWI Trustees gave what I am sure must have been an inspiring talk on the work of the WI and how she became so involved with it.Pam Rhodes was an accomplished speaker, very relaxed but although she had consulted the website about the WI she had failed to take on board that it is a non-sectarian organisation which is eager to welcome new members who follow other faiths. But then, if one works in the rarified atmosphere of Songs of Praise for 30 odd years, that isn't really surprising.It was good to watch the presentations of cups and awards and listen to the news from the various sub-committees. We then watched Christopher Biggins talking about his career on stage and on television.The audience obviously enjoyed this but I came to the conclusion, not that I must get out more, but I must watch TV more frequently so that I have a better understanding of the enthusiasm generated for this speaker.Have you been watching Lucy Worsley on TV in a programme called If Only Walls Could Talk? You remember Lucy was the speaker on Kensington Palace down at High Wycombe for the BFWI's Autumn Event. Now she can really speak and be 100% interesting in a lively manner! The afternoon concluded with a demonstration by the TrapDoor Drama School which sent us home in a sort of maternal glow from watching these little people working hard at remembering where they should be at any one time; one little boy who never was and the lefthanded wee girl who nearly always swung left when she should have swung right.
In all, it was a really good meeting which everyone seemed to enjoy. I hope members go home feeling proud of the WI and BFWI in particular to enthuse those who didn't come so that we have enough people in the audience to be able to afford to book the theatre again next year. I presume the theatre staff will have us back.
11th April
We managed to double the turnout for crochet lessons this week but still constitute a small group. Progress is being made and we hope to meet again in May.
4th April
Have you ever tried to make a covered coathanger? That was the task set at the local WI's craft group today. It looks so simple: tale a hanger, some padding and some material, then sew it on.That's it really. However, I am wiser now and I do possess a covered coathanger but I think it will be forever a lone effort on my behalf. As for making them as presents...There were moments when this piece of wood behaved like a hazelwood branch in the hands of a successful water-diviner. It twisted and turned and the holding pins at each end lacerated my arms so that it will be weeks before I can go without sleeves again. And what have I got? A bumpy hanger which will have to go to the back of the wardrobe where no one will see it! We all have our limitations and the manufacture of coathangers is certainly one of mine.
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1 comment:
I was there - it is a great venue for us and the staff were absolutely fantastic. But I ahve to agree with your reservations about some of the speakers. I joined the WI to be part of an organisation that concerned itself with slighly grander matters than "cute things the (grand)children say", and there was rather too much of that type of anecdote at times. The WI, founded in the era of the suffragists, needs to keep saying and doing challenging and inspiring things. (And I for one am proud that most of the TV references wer utterly lost on me!)
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