WI County News JULY 2022 8pp flip book

July 2022 40p

Lunch with

The Rt Hon.
Ann Widdecombe

at

ex-MP, ex-MEP, Friday, October 7th 2022
Political Commentator, 2.00pm
Author and TV Personality
Cheddon Fitzpaine Memorial Hall,
Wednesday 19th October, Cheddon Fitzpaine, TA22 8JY
12 noon for 12.30pm
By popular demand, we are repeating this successful
The Shrubbery Hotel, event for the same price in another part of the county!
Ilminster, TA19 9AR Those ladies who were disappointed in March will
2 Course Lunch with coffee have first refusal on tickets for this event.

Pre-dinner drinks Come and enjoy an afternoon tea of dainty
available from the bar sandwiches, scones and jam, Victoria
Book Signing | Raffle sponge and delicious cakes while Yvonne
Bell repeats her fascinating presentation
Tickets on Gardens in Edwardian times.
£25 members

£27.50
non-members

Tickets are limited and available Tickets
on a first-come, first-served basis. £15.00 members
Please apply to Casey at the office
£17.00
non-members

Apply to the Office by 23rd September

Trustee Topics

July is here, already over half way through the year. The Platinum
Jubilee has passed and I hope that many members enjoyed a variety
of celebrations. I spent the Jubilee Weekend working in the WI tent
at the Bath and West Show. A new and different experience for me.

FEDERATION OFFICE Our Garden is thriving, both with vegetables, flowers and weeds. I have adopted the
attitude that “one man’s weed is another man’s wildflower”, and although I try to keep
SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road them under control, I am losing that particular battle. We have been lucky enough to
Bridgwater TA6 4BU have a wild duck hatch her babies on our pond, 6 out of 10 survived and by the time
01278 496400 you read this, they will have left for different pastures. It has been fantastic to watch
them grow and I am full of admiration for her ‘mothering’ skills. It is worth taking any
Email: [email protected] opportunity to sit and enjoy our gardens, whether they are large or small.
www.thewi.org.uk/somerset
Life is returning to something similar to what went on before the pandemic, but and
The WI – Somerset it is big ‘but’, there are still people catching the virus and we can only hope that this
winter will be easier than the last one.
OFFICE OPEN
9.30am - 3.30pm, Mon - Thurs The Federation has a variety of events planned for the next half of the year… there
are opportunities to try new things and hear fascinating Speakers, plus a holiday to
Federation Secretary book. The WI to which I belong, Lydeard St. Lawrence, has a Summer Outing planned
Casey Worrall and a variety of Speakers coming in the autumn and winter months. Come September
we will be gearing up for the Christmas Shoeboxes. We may be a small WI (only 12
Federation Administrator Members), but we try our best to have fun along the way. We have found that laughter
Judith Laughton is the best medicine!

COUNTY NEWS The Community Projects Team is looking for new projects to work with across the
County and we will consider any suggestions you may have. Apart from the YMCA,
Editor we are forming working relationships with The Besom Trust, The Nelson Trust, ARC
Annie Makepeace (formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless), The Village Agent Network and The
Women’s Refuge. Hazel Hillman continues, with your help, to provide beautiful hand-
Email made items to a variety of Care Homes, Hospitals and Schools.

[email protected] There is much to look forward to.
Tel: 01823 433393
Jo Stewart, Chair, Community Projects [email protected]
Advertising Assistant
and Gallery Co-ordinator Hello ladies, here Casey, Lynda Norton, Angela Cox and myself
we are into our 7th recently spent a very pleasant evening with
Laura Balkwill month of the year, Litton & Hinton Blewitt WI celebrating their
Email time is certainly WI’s 100th birthday. Castle Cary WI also
flying by! celebrated their 100th birthday when Casey
[email protected] and I again attended and had another lovely
Tel: 07860 531998 The Royal Bath afternoon.
& West Show went really well. There
Editorial for COUNTY NEWS was a wonderful display of bunting and East Coker WI held a Platinum Jubilee
must be received by the 1st of the photographs of the cards that WI’s had Celebration Supper when Audrey Spurr
made for Her Majesty. Well done to all who and her committee prepared a splendid
month preceding each issue, participated, some fantastic designs. array of delicious food – the desserts were
by Email if possible to the Editor scrumptious! Judy Glossop, Casey and
Again I say a BIG thank you to all The I were guests and thoroughly enjoyed the
or typewritten copy and printed Volunteers and Cake Bakers who came evening. Commander Holt entertained with
photographs to the Federation Office along and did a sterling job, showcasing his talk on The Queen’s Beans.
some of the things that the WI does best at
address at top of this page the Bath & West Show. I have been honoured to represent our
Federation at two Platinum Celebration
SPECIAL JUBILEE I hope all your Platinum celebrations went Choral Evensong Services of Thanksgiving.
ISSUE IN AUGUST well and that you enjoyed the extra days off. One held in Wells Cathedral and the other in
Taunton Minster St Mary Magdalene. Both
Advertising and Following on from the show, I attended the choirs were magnificent.
Gallery pictures NFWI Annual Meeting in Liverpool. It was
a very interesting meeting and was also The Events Team held the Jewellery Lunch
Advertising and Gallery must reach the an opportunity to catch up with fellow WI at Long Sutton Golf Club which was a great
Advertising Assistant by the 1st of Advisers that I trained with. success. – thank you for your support.
the month preceding each issue
Would you have time to help us? We are Don’t miss out! A very popular speaker
Lineage: Cost per word again asking for Volunteers – at Taunton is returning on Wednesday 19th October,
18p for WI members Flower Show to sell raffle tickets and also so book your ticket for another brilliant
30p for non-members in September at Somerset County Show at lunch to be held at the Shrubbery with Ann
Taunton Racecourse to serve refreshments. A Widdecombe. A splendid opportunity to
(or advertisements placed on behalf flyer has been sent out to your Secretary with hear and meet Ann.
of non-members.) the County News packs with information and
an application form. Contact Casey or myself Teresa, SCFWI County Chairman
Display: Rates and sizes upon if you would like an online Volunteer form. [email protected]
application to the Advertising Assistant

SCFWI does not accept responsibility
for goods or services advertised in

COUNTY NEWS

2 July 2022

LESLEY O’NEILL 28th NOVEMBER-
2nd DECEMBER 2022
It is with great sadness that I write to
inform our readers across the county TOORAK HOTEL, TORQUAY
of the death of our former SCFWI Includes bed, breakfast and
Vice Chair and Trustee, Lesley evening meal, plus daily trips
O’Neill.
£315
Lesley passed away peacefully on 4th
May, surrounded by her family as she had Members
wished. Lesley was a valued member of the
Board of Trustees for many years and her £345Non-Members
husband Frank confirms that she loved her
work both as a Trustee and as a WI member A limited number of
of Woolavington WI. single rooms available
at £60 supplement
A card has been sent to Frank with
condolences on behalf of us all along with Holiday insurance
a rose named ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ as a available at £25
lasting tribute to Lesley. £50 deposit required

Annie Makepeace upon booking

County News Editor and SCFWI
Vice Chair.

Jam and Jerusalem Rose

Chair: Shirley Routley Apply to the office by 31st August
for booking form and full details
The Creative Arts Team is organising a Christmas themed
craft day in November and are looking for ladies who Want to advertise?
would like to share/teach any craft or art around the
Christmas theme. Please contact
Laura Balkwill on
If you have a talent you would like to share, please contact me at countynews.somwi
your earliest for more information.
@gmail.com
Shirley Routley, Chair Creative Arts Team – or telephone 07860 531998
[email protected] or call 07739 611383
July 2022 3

We need pictures to fill our gallery - please send digital pictures to the Editor at [email protected]

A bounty of Corgis knitted from the pattern
in WI Life on display in Alcombe Pharmacy
window.

Above and below: Combwich & District WI held St Audries WI President Isobel (right) and
a group meeting learning about marsh birds. retiring President Pam (left) with a gift of
thanks for her hard work and friendship over
the last 5 difficult years

Ashcott & Pedwell WI celebrated their 75th
birthday in April. Margaret Taylor cut the
cake as a serving member for over 60 years.
All members enjoyed a delicious meal and an
entertaining evening together.

Woolavington WI Book Club, who met outside
for the first time this year. We all highly
recommend Jojo Moyes', 'The Giver of Stars'.

Members of Castle Cary WI celebrating their Centenary. A photo of the first meeting of Wyvern WI
4 July 2022 Yeovil! An Afternoon WI for Yeovil.

om or prints to SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road, Bridgwater TA6 4BU. We will print as many as we can each month!

Bickenhall WI enjoying an afternoon taster session in the Toning Suite at Blackbrook Leisure
Centre Taunton.

Above and below: The Public Affairs piece in
April County News inspired East Chinnock WI
to hold a coffee morning in aid of the British
Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. They made
over £400 and enjoyed a morning in excellent
company.

Members of Compton Dundon WI, together with some spouses, on a trip to Shepton Mallet Prison
where we were JUST VISITING!

After a most interesting talk on fundraising Walton WI enjoyed an 'Explore Your Local Area' guided tour of Burcott Mill, Wookey at the end
for the new Breast Cancer Unit in Yeovil, of April.
which is nearing its objective, West and
Middle Chinnnock WI handed over a box of July 2022 5
unwanted and broken jewellery. They would
be very pleased to receive jewellery should
any other WI wish to contribute.

Combwich & District WI displaying their
pennant made for the Bath and West Show.

‘Women walk the world’ Yeovil Wraxhill WI had a walk and Coffee morning and raised £320 for
ACWW

Banner made by Sue Scammell (left) from
Yeovil Wraxhill WI for the Bath & West Show.

Nether Stowey and Fiddington WI and their Litton and Hinton Blewett WI had its 100th Birthday celebration on 11th May in style with
Strawberry Tree which they had planted members, former and retired members, and VIPs from Somerset Federation. They enjoyed
outside the Church Centre in Nether Stowey. Pimms and canapés, a speech outlining their history since 1922, and a recitation of the ‘Ode
An appropriate choice of tree for jam makers! to our WI’, which was started years ago, and has had a verse added each time something
memorable has occurred. Lovely to see such a wonderful party after a difficult couple of
years.

Forthcoming Events for your Diary

EVENT DATES VENUE CLOSING CN ISSUE
JUNE
Pairs Golf Croquet 20 July Taunton Deane Sports Centre 13 July Page 7
Page 1
Federation Skittles Tournament TBA TBA 5 Aug Page 1
Page 3
Edwardian Tea 7 Oct Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall 23 Sept Page 8

Lunch with Ann Widdecombe 19 Oct The Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster 13 July

Turkey & Tinsel 28 Nov - 2 Dec Toorak Hotel, Torquay 31 Aug

SCFWI Annual Meeting 22 Oct Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton 7 Oct

PLEASE COMPLETE BOOKING FORM (available from your secretary) AND RETURN TO 344, BRISTOL ROAD

6 July 2022

Community Projects SCFWI 200+ CLUB WINNERS
CAROL JUNE
Ambassador: Hazel Hillman SERVICE
73 - Lyn Macdonald
Hello Ladies, On Wednesday 7th December we will Glastonbury WI £15
meet once again to celebrate Christmas in
I hope you are all well and enjoying our beautiful Cathedral. Last year it was 142 - Margaret Casey
your gardens and going further afield. wonderful to be singing again after a long Hardington and
Thank you for your continued support. absence, so let’s make it even better this Pendomer WI £10
As you will see I have been collecting year!
and delivering on your behalf. When 20 - Connie Morley
you send your lovely crafted items, Taunton Deane Divas WI £5
just remember to put your name with
them, I like to know where they have September County News will have details of Federation Skittles
come from! all our Festival Choir rehearsals, which will Knockout Tournament
be held in St.Cuthbert’s Church, Wells on is back for 2022/2023!
Just a thought, I know so many of you Wednesday mornings from mid-October,
read this column, but make sure you and those around the Taunton area will Get a team together and send
see what else is going on in our lovely again have the chance to rehearse with Jan your application to the office by
County of Somerset. Even more so, Allen in Bishops Hull. Friday 5th August.
urge your fellow members to take a
look and read about our projects, and Full details will be in the September edition
the 'snippets' of information in County of County News.
News.
Calling all Stewards!
There is so much to see and to visit –
our Federation has so much to offer. If you’d like to steward for this year’s Carol
Festival then please send in your name and
Now my usual update: email /contact details to Casey our Fed.
Secretary who will collate and forward
ONCOLOGY them to the Head Steward.

Thank you to: LOOK OUT FOR YOUR We regret that applications received
Chewton Mendip after this date will not be included in
Ash Priors & Halse FREE this tournament.
North Petherton JUBILEE Note: Care should be taken by all team
SPECIAL members when participating that the
Dunster correct clothing and footwear is worn,
Litton & Hinton Blewett ISSUE IN AUGUST and that the correct equipment is used
at the venue.
TWIDDLE MUFFS Featuring lots of wonderful Kathryn Pugh, Organiser
photographs from your
Thank you to: Jubilee events in June. THANK YOU
Evercreech
Woolavington PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN A big Thank You to members of
Trull Trendles WI who helped to pack
HAND PUPPETS ONLINE ONLY ISSUE
the June edition of County News.
Thank you to:
Litton & Hinton Blewett July 2022 7

Evercreech
Hilary Tilley

BLANKETS

Thank you to:
Woolavington

Alcombers

I have delivered to:

Clare Hall Care Home,
Ston Easton

RUH, Bath

Three Ways Special School

Oldfield Park Infants
Special Needs

My very best wishes to you all, THANK
YOU.

Hazel

SCFWI 2024 Your celebration,
Photographic your way.
ANNUAL
Calendar www.jenthecelebrant.co.uk
ME2E0T2I2NG Competition @JenWhitworthCelebrant

Saturday 22nd October The subject for the WI 2024 07967 006362 - [email protected]
WELLSPRINGS Somerset County Calendar
Photographic Competition is THE UNITED KINGDOM
LEISURE CENTRE, SOCIETY OF CELEBRANTS
TAUNTON ‘Somerset Waters’
VOLUNTEERS
10.30am – 3.30pm Send to SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road, NEEDED!
Bridgwater TA6 4BU
£15.00 SOMERSET COUNTY SHOW
by the end of January 2023 Taunton Racecourse
We are delighted to announce
our speakers: Entries for the 2023 calendar have Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th Sept
been judged and the winners will be  We have been invited to participate
CHIEF CONSTABLE in the Show to be held at Taunton
SARAH CREW notified shortly.
Racecourse
Sarah became an officer with Avon and 2022 Volunteers are needed in the
Somerset Police in September 1994 refreshment area, inside, in the bar
and took on the role of Deputy Chief SUMMER COUNTY If you are interested, please contact
Constable in June 2017. In November Casey at County Office 01278 496400
2021 she became our first female Chief This year the County
Constable! And
Quiz will be held on TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW
REVEREND
KATE BOTTLEY Wednesday 29th June Vivary Park, Taunton
Friday 5th - Saturday 6th August
7.00pm start
Would you like to volunteer to sell
CALHNAeladCCcraKEotsLvOseLtnFhEBueeoSDcsoUoknDuiePnnaUgtPryEfyO!oorRTumOTs Raffle Tickets? Contact Casey at County

£9.50 are with your Office 01278 496400
Secretary
per team

member (Quiz open to
WI members
(includes a only!)
light supper)

Kate is a Church of England priest in Anne Chadwick with the floral decorations she created at our County
North Nottinghamshire, a role which HQ for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Anne is looking very floral herself
she combines with her other roles of too! One of our banners designed by Annie Makepeace in 2017 fits the
journalist, media presenter and reality bill as an extra Jubilee tribute.
television star. She appears frequently
on British television as well as featuring
on radio and in newspapers.

Closing date - Friday 7th October

8 July 2022