WI County News July 2021

July 2021 FREE

Can you imagine my delight in
2019 when I received a letter from
National informing me that I had
won the Lady Denman Cup for 2019?

The topic – ‘A description of a
discovery or invention in the field of
science, real or imagined’.

Entrants had been asked to write a piece of
science, fact or fiction, describing a historic
breakthrough or a future invention as yet
unknown. I wrote ‘Shadows of the Future’,
a short story based on the futuristic idea
of gardens, fruit and vegetables that had
been regulated, restricted, even wiped out
and classed as dangerous or hazardous
chemicals by a committee of the European
& World Union. The twist in the story was
that a dangerous relic had been found and
needed investigation, an orange.

After receiving my letter and book vouchers
I was invited to attend the NFWI AGM
in London in 2020 to receive the Lady
Denman Cup.

Disappointingly, I then heard that however, the plans changed again because
everything was cancelled due to the Covid NFWI’s Insurance company advised that,
Pandemic, and no cups or prizes would be due to risk levels concerning cup values,
presented in 2020. this would not be a good solution. In the
end, I think it was for the best as I now have
I heard nothing more until in the middle of a very elegant Dartington Crystal clock that
May this year, when I received an email to has been nicely engraved ‘Lady Denman
say NFWI had decided to have replica cups Cup Competition 2019 WINNER' which I
made to be sent out to 2019 winners. We get to keep forever. Very pleasing indeed.
were asked to take a photograph with the
cup and return it to be shown at the AGM on In you’d like to read my entry and the
the 8th June 2021. I was delighted to realise judges’ comments, please use the link
my win of 2019 had not been forgotten below.
or fallen by the wayside. Two days later
Shirley Routley – Walton WI

www.mywi.thewi.org.uk/interests/culture-and-science/lady-denman-cup-
competition/first-place-denman-cup-2019-shirley-routley

Trustee Topics

FEDERATION OFFICE Hello everyone, firstly sad news I’m afraid. I have stood
down as Chair of Education. I’m sorry, I seem to have
SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road, let you all down, but it was my own health that was my
Bridgwater TA6 4BU undoing. I’m sure one of the other board members will
take it on.
Please continue to use temporary
phone number for the time being I’m still on the board as well as an adviser so will
continue to meet you all at some point in the future.
01278 287034 It will be lovely now we can meet up again, especially as the summer is here and
we do have some lovely weather at present. I’m off to a tea party this afternoon so
Don’t worry of you have already sent mail to I’m hoping for a slice of cake – as you know, I like cake!
Wilton Lodge as this will be automatically
forwarded to the new address. Sandra Ford [email protected]

Email: [email protected] 200+ CLUB WINNERS
www.womens-institute.org.uk/somerset June 2021

PL9.EC30lAoasmSedE-F3r.Ni3d0aOpymTE 29, Ann Durney,
Bruton WI £15
DFueTrhdienegTrEtahMteiPoOOnffRicSAeeRLcYorcOekftdfaiocrwe yn
TelepChoanseeNyuWmboerrrtaolclall is: 174, Rachel Hill,
Alcombers WI £10
C0le1ri2ca7l 8Ad2m8ini7st0ra3to4rs
Welcome back to WI! It is so or Committee members. We plan to hold
FederaJtioundSietchreLtaaruy:gChasteoynWorrall heartening to hear that many of Officer Training sessions in September
OfficAe hnonuersCrehmaadinwthiceksame: you have resumed your monthly for those who are interested. These could
meetings, albeit outside for be online or, hopefully, some will be in
9:30am - 3:30pm Mon - Thurs the time being. Lots of coffee person at our new County Office, 344
mornings, picnics and cream teas Bristol Road, Bridgwater. Please let Casey
COUCNlosTedYFriNdayEWS have been enjoyed and promises of or your Adviser know what you would like
other celebrations planned. Thank in the way of training.
Editor you for inviting us as Advisers to
Laura Balkwill join you; my diary is full with dates There is a wealth of information on ‘How
for summer meetings. I shall have to run your WI’ on the MyWI website. We
Email to find my pretty dress and sun hat!
[email protected] would love
We have some exciting new speakers to more of you
Tel: 07860 531998 help your programme planners. Many to learn how
will give online presentations as well as to use MyWI
Editorial for personally visiting your meetings. We and will be
COUNTY NEWS have learned during this last year that arranging
we can have interesting and unusual Question
should be received by the 1st of speakers virtually from anywhere. and Answer
the month preceding each issue, This offers all sorts of opportunities sessions to
by Email if possible to the Editor for different types of meetings and help you find your way around the MyWI
to recruit new members. Wouldn’t it website. Have you tried to log on?
or typewritten copy and printed be lovely if everyone brought along a
photographs to the Office at the friend as a guest to see how good it is It’s very straightforward and explains
being a WI member? ‘How to’ on the opening page of the
address at top of the page website.
It is super that some have already held
THERE IS NO ISSUE IN AUGUST their Annual Meetings and we would See mywi.thewi.org.uk
like to thank all of you for keeping in
Advertising for touch and supporting each other to Don’t forget the Membership
COUNTY NEWS keep your WI alive and well. Committee, made up of WI Advisers,
is here to help, support, solve problems
should be received by the 1st of We welcome and thank all those who and eat cream teas. Dare I mention a
the month preceding each issue, have stepped up to the mark and become glass of Pimms?! See you all soon.
by Email if possible to the Editor new Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers
Marilyn Symonds
Lineage: Cost per word On behalf of the WI Advisers
18p for WI members
30p for non-members

(or advertisements placed on behalf
of non-members.)

Display: Rates and sizes upon
application to the Editor

SCFWI does not accept responsibility
for goods or services advertised in

COUNTY NEWS

2 July 2021

Food & Garden

Chair: Annie Makepeace

Hauser July already and the nights are salad leaves for many weeks. Many of the
& Wirth starting to lengthen. Admittedly oriental leaves such as mizuna, pak choi,
only by a few seconds at first but this komatsuma and tatsoi can be planted now.
Wednesday soon accelerates and shortening days These seeds all germinate very rapidly and
25th August become more and more noticeable as give edible leaves in three to four weeks.
we go into August. Because of their rapid growth, keeping the
It now looks certain that our visit plants well watered is essential.
to this beautiful Garden and Art Plants also perceive this change in day
Gallery WILL take place – just length and this can be a key factor in Away from the vegetable garden, July is
what we need to lift our spirits initiating or inhibiting flowering in many the time when the fruit harvest starts in
after the gloom and despondency species. This opens up new opportunities earnest. So, before you get overwhelmed
of the past 16 months. for us gardeners if we know just the right with picking, sort and wash the jars ready
We are also delighted to announce that time to sow. for jams and chutneys and start stocking up
a visit to Westcombe Dairy and a on preserving sugar!
lunch laid on by Evercreech WI A great example is
will be included in this visit, as in 2019! Florence fennel (bulb
fennel). If the seeds
£25.00 germinate before the
summer equinox, the
for the whole day! plants are primed to
make flowers as soon as
Tea/coffee and biscuits on possible and will ‘bolt’
arrival at Hauser & Wirth before developing the
swollen edible stems.
at 10.00am. The first week of July is
plus... A tour of the Art the best time to sow which will give you
the longest time for growth with the least
Gallery and Garden chance of bolting.
Plus... A delicious lunch
laid on by Evercreech WI Some salad crops, for example rocket and
some spicy mustards, are also prone to
Plus... A guided tour bolting if sown in May or June but should
of Westcombe Dairy be fine from now on. Like most salads, it is
(just up the road) and their best to sow small amounts often to give a
underground cheese cellar, continuous supply of fresh leaves. Salads
with a chance to purchase also adapt well to growing in containers
some of their mouth- such as large pots or window boxes and if
you regularly pick the outer leaves carefully,
watering cheese the plants should go on providing fresh

Please register an interest Flower, Food & Craft Show
with Casey ASAP but
BY 4th AUGUST AT Saturday 18th September
THE LATEST
Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall
Casey will then contact you to collect
your money. There will be a ballot if Cheddon Fitzpaine,
Taunton TA2 8JY
applicants exceed 40.
I hope you are already sowing and
growing your flowers, fruit and vegetables

for our exciting show in September.

You can also get busy crafting for the
Creative Arts classes this year.

DON’T FORGET TO SEND IN
YOUR SCHEDULES

Casey can forward one to you
if you need it.

July 2021 3

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

 Cheddar WI made yards and yards of
 bunting to trim the Market Cross and the

telephone box in Tweentown to celebrate

Somerset Day on 11th May.

Sandra Lomas, a member of Lympsham WI,
officially opening the Lympsham Garden
Swap Shop. The telephone kiosk on Memorial
Corner had become very shabby so the WI
decided to do something about it. With the
help of a grant from the Nuttall Trust and
permission from the Parish Council, the kiosk
was refurbished. It was Sandra’s idea to
create a garden swap shop. This is an honesty
scheme (no money involved) where you leave
a plant or anything garden related and take
something in exchange.

Shepton Mallet WI holding their 2021 AGM in a member’s garden.

Glastonbury WI happy to meet in person once again! They shared a picnic in the grounds of Julie Sims of Alcomers WI introducing their
Glastonbury Abbey. new mascot, Ada. Made by a local artisan who
uses scrap metal to make characters he calls
4 July 2021 ‘Metal Heads’. Many local stores now have
their own customised figure and the WI has
joined them.

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

Walton WI Craft group has been busy knitting  Henstridge Flyers WI enjoyed finally
for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at meeting in person once again, despite the
Musgrove park Hospital in Taunton. damp weather!

Evercreech WI bought a local disused  Susan Wilson of Taunton Deane Divas WI
telephone box and turned it into a book swap and Taunton Early Birds WI has shared
shop. The response from the local community this tea towel she received from her late
has been fantastic. Aunt, Margaret Spiller. Sadly Margaret
died in November 2020 aged 92. She was
a member of the local WI in Taunton in
the Rowbarton/St Andrews area, and was
their President for several years. The Tea
Towel shows all the Somerset Federation
WIs around at the time it was made about
40 - 50 years ago.

Fourteen members of Pitney Lortie WI enjoyed lovely refreshments at The Lemon Tree Cafe at Coates English Willow Visitor Centre in their first 5
gathering since last summer.

July 2021

Community Projects

Ambassadors: Hazel Hillman, Mendip and Margaret Lomax, Taunton

Hello to you all, it is a lovely sunny Members in and around the Bridgwater In the meantime, I hope you all, when
day here on Mendip. area have had rotas but now we are possible, enjoy meeting up with friends
extending this to other areas of the county, and family and (it goes without saying)
At last, I have been able to catch up with we need to re-format our system! with your WI.
some members and have received some of
your creations. Still socially distanced and Please watch out for the flyer with the Best wishes
masked, but how lovely to see you. changes which is being sent to your WI
Secretaries. Hazel
I will be checking soon to see where and
when I can deliver and let you know what More news next month. 01761 241732
happens next month.
[email protected]
I was speaking to a friend recently who told
me of a young lad who was having surgery. Towels and cushions from Brent 
As it happened I had just picked up some Knowle WI for the YMCA appeal.
blankets from Brent Knowle WI and I gave
him one of their blankets to comfort him –  Brent Knowle WI member Margaret
it seemed a really good idea. Smith with two of their blankets.

If this happens when you are ‘out and
about’ just let me know.

BLANKETS
Thank you to:
Brent Knowle WI
Unmarked, so please do attach your name
as it’s so nice to know.
Donna Cooper, Puriton & District WI

TWIDDLE MUFFS
Thank you to:

Eva Stanley, Woolavington WI
Unmarked – see above

Donated to a private recipient by
Chewton Mendip WI

YMCA DONATIONS

We successfully delivered towels, cushions
and cakes to Bridgwater YMCA who are
so grateful that the WI in Somerset are
responding to their needs.

Forthcoming Events for your Diary

EVENT DATES VENUE CLOSING CN ISSUE
Hauser & Wirth + Westcombe 25 Aug Durslade Farm, Bruton BA10 0NL
4 Aug March

Flower, Food & Craft Show 18 Sep Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall, TA2 8JY March

SCFWI Annual Meeting 6 Nov Westlands, Yeovil, BA20 2DD July

Edwardian Tea and Talk Now held over to March 2022

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

6 July 2021

‘LET ME SHOW www.opengardens.co.uk/open_gardens.php?id-1902 THE UNITED KINGDOM
YOU WHAT A SOCIETY OF CELEBRANTS
WOMAN CAN DO!’ Want to advertise? THE UNITED KINGDOM
SOCIETY OF CELEBRANTS
The NFWI is pleased to announce Please contact Laura Balkwill on
that the Lady Denman Cup [email protected]
Competition 2021 will be held in
partnership with the National or telephone 07860 531998
Gallery. Using no more than 500
words, WI members are invited to
submit a piece of writing, fact or
fiction, in any style (story, poem
etc.) based on the below painting
by Artemisia Gentileschi.

Entrants must submit 4 copies of their SCFWI Annual Meeting 2021
entry, typed if possible, on A4 paper
to the Federation Secretary at 344 Westlands Entertainment Venue
Bristol Road. Your entry should have Westbourne Close, Yeovil BA20 2DD
an official entry form attached to the
top copy with your name, your WI and Saturday 6th November
Federation clearly written in the top left
hand corner. DO NOT put your name (times to be confirmed)
on the remaining copies. Each entry
must include a total word count; entries Sue O’Donnell
over 500 words will not be accepted.
Taunton Scrubbers
Entry forms will be available from your
WI secretary, from your Federation Alan Stewart
Secretary or can be downloaded from
the My WI website. Estate Head Chef at
The Newt in Somerset
Entries will initially be judged at
Federation level and up to three can go (Cost to be confirmed)
forward to the national competition.
The winner will be presented with the Let’s celebrate getting together again!
Lady Denman Cup at next year’s NFWI
Annual Meeting. 2023 Photographic
Calendar Competition
Entries can be submitted either
The subject for the WI 2023 Somerset County Calendar
via email or by hard copy. Photographic Competition is

To be received by ‘Somerset Towns & Villages’

30th JULY 2021 Send to SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road, Bridgwater TA6 4BU
by the end of January 2022

July 2021 7