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WI Meetings Update 

Thursday 20^th November saw a packed Village Hall in Wallington, when Sue Hutchinson spoke on her trips to Antarctica. John had taken the slides which gave a wonderful picture of this cold but beautiful region and its fascinating wildlife. We were also entertained to see the amount of clothing needed!

The Spender Cup for a homemade greeting card was judged by members and won by Joan Hoefkens.

Next month, Thursday 18^th December, is our Christmas party at Rushden, when we ask everyone to bring a tray of nibbles. Mulled wine and non alcoholic punch will be provided. Julie Troupe will be giving a Christmas Flower demonstration.

Our New Year lunch is being held at the Moon and Stars on January 9^th. Cost is £10. if you would like to come please let Sue Austin know.

2009 sees the 90^th anniversary of HFWI and the 60^th anniversary of Wallington and Rushden. We would like to celebrate these events by creating and Institute tablecloth. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

On January 22^nd Geoff Horritt will speak on Ringing the Changes at Wallington. 

AGM and Apple Social - 16 October 2008

Our October AGM, which featured an apple social, proved great fun for all. After a quick career through the business, which included the decoration of the WI Christmas tree for Sandon Church organised by Anna Warner- Smith and a report on the Food and Farming day by Ann Cottam, a new committee was appointed with Diane Tucker once again taking the Chair, The social side of the evening began with a tasting of apple juice and cider provided by Charles Paget-Wilkes and delicious apple pie and apple cake. 

Next month is an open meeting when all are welcome (including men!) Sue Hutchinson will speak on Cruising the Antarctic at Wallington Village Hall on Thursday 20^th November at 8pm. Visitors entry is £3.

Entries are invited for the Spender Cup competition of a hand made greeting card.

When Mrs Gorm, Aunt Eloise

Was stung to death by savage bees

Her husband, Prebendary Gorm

Put on his veil and took the swarm.

He's publishing a book next May

On how to make beekeeping pay!

The Most Common Indoor Activity - Thursday 15 May 2008  

So what’s your favourite indoor activity? Tim Moorey thinks it should be doing crosswords, both to keep your mind active and stave off Alzheimer’s and for the sheer fun of it. All who attended (and Wallington Hall was packed) will never be able to look at a crossword again without checking it for hidden messages.

Next month, on Thursday 17^th July, members are invited to visit the lavender fields of Hitchin. Check out www.hitchinlavender.com to find out more. Car shares will be organised.

Please note that the Autumn Group Meeting is at Ashwell on Wed 24^th September when the talk will be on Hertfordshire and the Slave Trade. 

 WI Resolutions - Thursday 15 May 2008  
The May meeting of the WI saw a lively discussion on the resolutions to go  forward to the AGM in Liverpool in June as mandates for WI action.  This  year they are about a ban on bottom trawling and inappropriate imprisonment  for the mentally ill.  At the end of April we hosted a very successful  meeting of our group of WIs when Lydia Somerville described the building of  her eco-house, showing how to make a much lighter footprint on the planet.

On Thursday 19th June at Wallington we will welcome Tim Moorey who will talk  about 'The Most Common Indoor Activity'.  This is an open  meeting to which all are invited, including gentlemen, price £3.

Sing for your Supper - Thursday 17 April 2008  
At the April meeting Mary Roberts led us in a very enjoyable opera workshop.

She taught us how to breathe, how to sing vowels, and the evening culminated in a mass of brightly coloured scarves with the vibrant singing of 'Glory, Glory, Hallelujah'.

The next meeting is at Rushden on Thursday 15th May.  This is the resolutions meeting and members are also asked to bring a photograph of their gardens.

My Life as a Supermodel - Thursday 20 March 2008

For the March meeting members were given a resume of Daphne Selfe’s life as a supermodel but it has only been in the last nine years that her career in this field has taken off. Previously she had worked as a stable girl, shop assistant, dancer and TV and film extra not to mention as a wife and mother of three. Daphne has managed to fit more into her life than most and continues to do so in her late seventies.

On 24^th April Baldock will be holding the Group Meeting when Lydia Somerville will be talking on her Eco house.

Our next meeting is at Wallington on Thursday 17^th April when Mary Roberts will be holding an Opera Workshop entitled Sing for your Supper.

A Moment of Madness - Thursday 21st February 2008

The WI met on 21^st February at 8pm to hear Richard Thomson speak on A Moment of Madness whose talk on many things aeronautical ranged from Concorde to model aircraft with much else in between. In February we will be starting our new programme and would be delighted to welcome new members to join us. Please note that our meetings are always on the third Thursday of the month so if you are thinking of arranging something else cancel it and join 

Our next meeting is on Thursday 20th March when Daphne Selfe will talk about her life as a suprmodel.

Set in a Silver Sea - Thursday 17 January 2008

The WI started the New Year with a most enjoyable meal in the Moon and Stars. The first meeting of the year was held at Rushden Village Hall when Peter Coborn came to talk on Set in a Silver Sea, the English, history, eccentricity and madness and one has to admit that over the years we have proved more than a little mad. We learned several fascinating facts about our ancestors and recognised the ability to never take ourselves seriously.

Next month we will be starting our new programme and would be delighted to welcome new members to join us. Please note that our meetings are always on the third Thursday of the month so if you are thinking of arranging something else cancel it and join us instead!

We will be meeting at Wallington Village Hall on the 21^st February at 8pm to hear Richard Thomson speak on A Moment of Madness. 

Wildlife Gardening - Thursday 15 November 2007

Destroying the nests of house martins is an illegal act however much mess they may be making of your walls! This is just one of the fascinating facts we learned from Graham Goodall, an ecologist from County Hall, who came to speak to the WI on Wildlife Gardening. He has spent 25 years developing his garden to become a haven for wildlife from dragonflies to sparrow hawks and butterflies to frogs.

Next month on Thursday December 20^th at Wallington Village Hall( which is also the Christmas party) Baldock Floral Society will demonstrate how to make Christmas wreaths and members are asked to bring along any greenery or flowers they may like to incorporate in their wreath. Mulled drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic will be available and please remember to bring a On 17^th January Peter Coburn will be speaking on “Set in a Silver Sea” a chance to brush up on England whether we know about it or not at Rushden Village Hall .

Our New Year lunch is on Friday 11^th January at the Moon and Stars, 12.30pm for 1pm. Cost is £12 payable to Sue Austin by next month.

The Nuclear Option - Thursday 20 September 2007

Jon Ling may have arrived rather late to our latest WI meeting but he made up for it in length of talk as members were reluctant to stop asking questions about the nuclear industry and where do we go from here. Fission seems to be out and all hopes are now being placed on finding a viable method of nuclear fusion so that the problems with nuclear waste can be avoided.

Next month is the AGM to be help on Thursday 18th October at Wallington and in November the Spender Cup for the best decorated gingerbread man will take place.

The Leprosy Society - Thursday 21 June 2007

Leprosy is a disease that affects more than just the body. This is what WI members learned when Rev Mike Griffen of the Leprosy Mission came to talk to members on Thursday 21st June. Sufferers can be totally ostracised by friends and family and often their children suffer similar treatment. Even today we talk about a leper as opposed to someone who has leprosy like other diseases. It is completely curable if treated early enough. If you would like to know more visit www.leprosymission.org.uk 

The WI quiz team will be competing in the finals on Monday 25th June so we wish them well. 

The WI will meet at Shaw Green Farm on Thursday 19th July to visit their wormery.

There will be a Summer Social Evening courtesy of Judy Baggallay at 6.30pm on Wed 22nd August. Cost £5. Bring a light folding chair.

A card making workshop with Barbara has been arranged for Sat 6th October at Wallington Village Hall. Max 15 places. The price is £8 members and £10 non members if there are any spare places.

Resolutions  - Thursday 17 May 2007

The Resolutions meeting saw members tackling the important problem of the closure of community hospitals. The support for the resolution was unanimous.

We were given a talk by Ann Cottam on the Great Milk Debate and how the present cost of milk is affecting dairy farmers. Also, how important it is to drink milk which has only 4 % fat and how many of our population are falling prey to osteoporosis because of the reduction in milk drinking.

We must congratulate Our Quiz Team who have got through to the final of the inter county quiz.

The evening ended with an olfactory quiz provided by Jenny Barlow which really tested our nasal powers.

The next meeting is on Thursday 21^st June at Rushden Village Hall at 8pm when the Rev Mike Griffin will speak on the Leprosy Society and its work.

The ECO House  - Friday 4 May 2007

The WI's visit to Lydia Somerville's eco-house proved a fascinating experience. The house is entirely wood built, triple glazed and insulted with wool. A rayburn heater and a small woodburner are the sole source of heating and at present an underground water tank is being put in to make them self sufficient in all but drinking water. The compost loo proved to be a great attraction to all the visitors. Lydia is in the process of planting an orchard and hopes to introduce various animals to make themselves even more self sufficient. There is an open day on Saturday 23rd June.

Kodaly Method of Music Teachings  - Thursday 19 April 2007

WI members and guests were disappointed by the non appearance of the speaker on Thursday 19th April but were able to learn about the Kodaly method of teaching music instead. They were even able to have a go at singing following Kodaly hand signals themselves and Joyce Hart bravely stepped in to help us sing in harmony.

On Friday 4th may there will be a chance to visit Lydia Somerfield's Eco House in Datchworth followed by a visit to the George and Dragon. The next meeting is Resolutions and a chance to test your nasal powers with an olfactory quiz on Thursday 17th May at Wallington.

Hertfordshire Foods  - Thursday 15 March 2007

On Thursday 15 March Wallington and Rushden WI had a chance to find out more about early foods and their preparation and also the history of several Hertfordshire recipes when Maya Pieris came to talk to them. Her particular subject was preserved foods and later members had a chance to taste her wares which she is now selling under Taste of History.
On April 25th Michael Dix will speak on "Magic" at Newnham Village Hall and at the end of March Joyce Hart, Liz James and Ann Warner have made up a team to enter the inter county quiz. Ashwell WI is holding a meting about milk pricing at Ashwell primary school on 1st May at 7.30pm. A god chance to make your feelings known.
On Saturday 6th October Barbara Gough will be holding a card making workshop at Wallington Village Hall.

For our next meeting, S.J. Lardner will be speaking on The Art of Lime Plastering, something that many of us who live in traditional houses would like to know more about. It will be held at Rushden Village Hall on Thursday 19th April at 8pm. This is an open meeting and all are welcome.

So you think you are green? W.I. members and visitors were given a chance to match themselves against the ultimate in eco living when Lydia Somerville came to talk on the Eco house she has built in Datchworth
(and yes she did use bio diesel to get to the meeting!) Compost toilets, recycled water, all were included in the house, though thatch dwellers with wood burning stoves felt they scored some points on the eco front.

The members also made their feelings known about the new WI magazine. No-one was in favour and the epithet "cheap" was repeated by several.

The next meeting will be at Wallington Vilage Hall on Thursday 15th March when Maya Pieris recently on Radio 4's Food Programme will speak on Recipes of Old Herts. This is an open meeting and will cost £3 for
non-members. Please note that if you go and hear her in Letchworth the night before as part of the North herts Book Festival it will be £6 so why not join us at 8pm?

The members of the Wallington and Rushden WI were unusually silent at the January meeting, the peace only disturbed by the occasional 'Please would you pass the double-sided tape' as we sat at a long table and concentrated on creating our own hand-made cards after a very interesting and inspiring talk by Barbara Gough.  Despite our inexperience everyone, even the least deft, produced some very pleasing and unique cards.

 At the next meeting on Thursday 15th February, 8pm at Rushden, Lydia Somerville will talk about 'The Eco-House'.  This is an open meeting to which visitors, including men, are invited, price £3.

What a Life Coach Does - Thursday 16 November 2006

So do you need a life coach? Peter Bagallay talked to us about what a life coach does and even demonstrated a session with the help of Fiona Potts who is now fired up to get the essays she needs to write organised before Christmas. (We will be checking.)

The energy saving tip competition for the Spender Cup was won by Sarah Lever.

The Christmas lunch has been organised at the Moon and Stars for Friday 15^th December.

Next month on December 21^st at Rushden we will enjoy our Christmas party and Sarah Lever will talk and give a demonstration on Food and Feasting in history. Don’t forget to bring a plate of food. Mulled wine both alcoholic and TT will be served.

On January 18^th at Wallington, Barbara Gough will speak on card making.

Stories of Life as was at Tapp's Garden Centre - Thursday 21 September 2006

On Thursday 21^st September, members joined Joyce hart on a trip down  Memory Lane, Joyce’s memories that is, as she recalled her grandfather who went from being bargee to soldier before taking on not one but three smallholdings in Baldock and finally ending his life at the age of 82 as a successful dried flower producer. Her father took over the business until the 1980s when he too died. Now it is the equally successful Tapps Garden centre but Joyce says she still misses being able to look out over “her” land and also a long washing line.

The next meeting is the AGM on Thursday 19^th October at Rushden when members are invited to think of interesting uses for apples and the following month is the Spender Cup when the competition is best energy saving tip.

Marine Ecology in the Phillipines - Thursday 15 June 2006         

Gen Broad certainly learned about roof raising during her work with marine ecology in the Philippines as she lost her roof to typhoons several times.  She also witnessed the eruption of a local volcano.

Whilst in the Philippines, she worked with local people on bio diversity and encouraged them to look after their environment by stopping dynamiting and cyaniding fish. In between, she discovered a new bird, the Calayan Rail.

Now she works in Essex, where she says she continues to spread the message that our world needs protecting.

Our next meeting is at Rushden on Thursday 20^th July at 8pm when Baldock Flower Arrangers will demonstrate their skills.

Resolutions - Thursday 18 May 2006

The latest resolutions were hotly debated at Rushden on Thursday 18th May. The issues being discussed were Renewable Energy; members agreed on the importance of this but felt that the resolution was too poorly worded, and Sport for a Healthy Community which was accepted.
The next meeting will be on Thursday 15th June when Gen Bread will speak on Marine Ecology in the Philipines at Wallington.

History of Pins and Needles - Thursday 20 April 2006

On Thursday 20th April, members were able to enjoy a fascinating talk by Bridget Long on the history of pins and needles and other associated sewing artefacts. It is only in more recent times that sewing has  become a female prerogative. Victorian children, both male and female were taught quite complicated sewing form a very young age. 

Our next meeting is Resolutions at Rushden on Thursday 18th May when all members are encouraged to bring along their own resolutions to help put our world to rights in addition to discussing those sent to us by National. 

Bookbinding - Thursday 16 March 2006

From papyrus to paper via vellum and parchment, Nigel Jury gave us an in depth history of the bookbinder’s craft. He told us that over the thousand or so years that books had been produced, one of the best inventions for the bookbinder was PVA glue. He also worries that the craft which requires a seven year apprenticeship is being lost.

At the meeting members signed a birthday card to Jessie Tasney, a former secretary, who is about to celebrate her 95^th birthday. Bulb forms are now available to those who would like them and also tickets for the Spring Group meeting when the sculptor Paul Bainbridge will talk on from clay to wax.

Our next meeting is at Wallington on Thursday April 20^th when Bridget Long will speak on Pins and Needles. Please bring along your own resolution for inclusion in the May Meeting. These can cover any issue locally or nationally that you feel needs addressing.

A Life in Thatching - Thursday 19 January 2006

Today, 1800 children will be born infected with Aids. These are some of the statistics that Sue Jagelman of Save the Children gave us in her talk entitled Aids – the Future on Thursday 19^th January at Rushden Village Hall. At present there are 14 million children orphaned by Aids and this is expected to rise to 25 million by 2010. So what is the answer? Well, in the words of a well known politician, “Education. Education. Education.”

Save the Children is helping workers acquire the skills to spread the message around the world , from Wales to Mozambique via Brazil. It is only by teaching the young that we can protect them from the disease as they reach adulthood.

If you want to know more about the work of the charity visit www.savethechildren.org.uk and learn how you can help.

Next month, Keith Matthews, a local archaeologist will talk on People of Ancient Baldock at Wallington Village Hall on Thursday 16^th February at 8pm. This is an Open Evening and everyone is welcome. Cost is £3 to non members.

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