WI County News MARCH 2022 8pp for flipbook

March 2022 FREE

£30Tickets Platinum Jubilee
Afternoon Tea
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In celebration of The Queen’s 70 years on the throne

Tuesday May 17
2:00 for 2:30pm

Old Oak Farm, Back Lane,
Curry Rivel, Langport,
TA10 0NY
(permanent marquee)

Guests

Deputy Lord-Lieutenant
of Somerset
and
Mrs Anne Jones, NFWI Chair

Dress code Platinum Jubilee CardsaddCrSAeahIslfrosldeuy3ctPdloafhasd4ouclahereey4cntdryoroeavysuWuBwpeoCsPlwlutedwiroIaollriHiplieblhiissuoledbnahlaHt–w,WebeeenoscsltnetaraoawoelaltaolruowsrdyllMglhResliyrdaiuessa’eesbwdtokibvreeapalzone,eoaernhdedlojydansiodyaeAsrywvoeyoudyv,esyy5neuemguaeeooBtondrhtsrsrubya1uufrciidtan1dunzy’caWoirr4steaordelottTd,ntticaWt7gIoahnflohkmracaw0eneeeceounrtsItaaeltJaaphteudldrcnrhheulnrmtashdseceitnetbcdctidkoPecokrwWeaiPfdlaater,napleohCroiayIagySeeednimtaoHedlscto5oAowuaeshitttemtrannfiheohcmhmrttitpthyeseeeuBeMtuoriMChncaarnmugnirsooaeosnttkcrtoraaujrtekrAeeSoieaynJenActciseninCtcn,actuteya5ttnlygrTFTuiaplObd!hsuncdeneAWoifiaaaezagfdsbl6imletcaeIr-armiM,e4ngdesa.atPteheBfe?aata,teimseinrUlstaoesryipwtcwnanuemeggiadrlnreloedebdfdseium

Smart | Fun | Appropriate
Hats, posh dresses, 1952 inspired
outfits, something red, white and blue!

• Display of WI’s Platinum Greeting
Cards for the Queen

• Raffle
• Anne’s Favourite Outfit Award

Apply to Casey in the office
by Friday 29th April

FEDERATION OFFICE Trustee Topics

SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road Are you like me and find it hard to believe it’s March already?
Bridgwater TA6 4BU I’m sure your gardens and local areas are full of wonderful
01278 496400 golden daffodils, nodding their heads gently in the breeze. You
may even be planning to plant some seed trays. The Events Team is already doing
Email: [email protected] exactly that, planting ‘Event’ seeds in the hope that through this and the coming
www.womens-institute.org.uk/somerset years we can grow a wide variety of events in different locations in the county!

OFFICE OPEN We’d love to hear your suggestions and ideas. There are only four of us in the team
and some extra support would be wonderful – perhaps you’d like to join us? We’re
9.30am - 3.30pm, Mon - Thurs a friendly little group and I’m sure you’d have an interesting and rewarding time –
Closed Friday there’s always a cuppa and slice of cake on offer.

Federation Secretary We’re now looking forward to our Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea and we can’t
Casey Worrall wait to see all the Queen’s Greeting Cards you will make. The new WI ‘red, white
and blue’ bunting will decorate the marquee, and later adorn our Bath & West
Federation Administrator stand. We’re certainly in for a very enjoyable and colourful time!
Judith Laughton
I look forward to meeting many of you at our County events, starting with the Food
COUNTY NEWS & Garden Edwardian Tea this month (there’s still time to book, see page 3).
I hope to see you there.
Editor
Annie Makepeace Judy Glossop – Chair, Events Team [email protected] 01458 270265

Email Dear members at the end of January (you will, of course,
be reading this at the end of February) by
[email protected] The Board of The High Sheriff of Somerset. It was a great
Tel: 01823 433393 Trustees recently surprise for Casey – I didn’t tell her until
had the pleasure the morning it was happening! Read more
Advertising Assistant and honour of from Annie about the award on page 6 with
and Gallery Co-ordinator hosting Thomas further photographs on page 4.
Shepherd, The
Laura Balkwill High Sheriff of Somerset, to SCFWI County It’s a joy to see that the Spring bulbs are
Email Office, where we enjoyed a chat with coffee popping their heads through. I love our
and cake. Thomas was our guest at our Wells seasons, the fresh greenery of spring,
[email protected] Cathedral Carol Festival, when I chatted with everywhere bursting with colour with so
Tel: 07860 531998 both him and The Deputy Lord Lieutenant much to look forward to and Summer
of Somerset about all things WI. around the corner. In the meantime, we
Editorial for COUNTY NEWS have enjoyed the Crocodile Lunch and The
must be received by the 1st of the Casey Worrall, our Federation Secretary, Edwardian Afternoon Tea is next on my list
was mentioned and The High Sheriff of events.
month preceding each issue, suggested she could be a candidate for The
by Email if possible to the Editor High Sheriff Award. I was very pleased to The Queen’s Platinum Celebration Tea is on
recommend Casey to the Board of Trustees 17th May when your newly designed bunting
or typewritten copy and printed for nomination. Annie Makepeace wrote will be displayed. Next up is the Bath & West
photographs to the Federation Office the nomination and submitted it on behalf Show 2nd-4th June, for which volunteers are
of Somerset Federation. We all felt Casey kindly coming forward. Thank you ladies,
address at top of this page was a thoroughly deserving recipient as she still room for more and for cake makers.
has kept the office running and supported
THERE IS NO ISSUE IN AUGUST members throughout the Pandemic, helped I hope to see you at all the events.
steer the move from Wilton Lodge to the new
Advertising and County office in Bridgwater and so much Stay safe and well.
Gallery pictures more. Casey was presented with the Award
Teresa, SCFWI County Chairman
Advertising and Gallery must reach the [email protected]
Advertising Assistant by the 1st of
the month preceding each issue Winners of the 2021 Christmas Quiz

Lineage: Cost per word 1st prize, £20
18p for WI members   Madge Chalwin, Shipham, Rowberrow & Star WI – 77/80
30p for non-members
Joint 2nd prize, £10 (each)
(or advertisements placed on behalf Carol Northover, West Coker WI – 76/80 & Caroline Harris, Leigh on Mendip WI – 76/80
of non-members.)
A huge ‘Thank you’ to Ann Beach of Taunton Deane Divas WI for her excellent work
Display: Rates and sizes upon in compiling this Quiz!
application to the Advertising Assistant
Quiz Answers will appear in April issue
SCFWI does not accept responsibility
for goods or services advertised in

COUNTY NEWS

2 March 2022

Food & Garden

Chair: Annie Makepeace

QGauredsetinoenrsT’ime Many of you will remember
Jill and Martin Jones’

knowledgeable and helpful
responses during our last
terrific GQT last year!

Get your questions ready and submit
to Casey in the office by email or phone
by Friday April 29th at the latest, when

questions will be selected.

There will also be some time at the
end for any questions that had not

been selected in advance.

Don’t miss this chance to solve your gardening problems FREE OF CHARGE!

Make thLeAmSToCstHoAf NouCrErTeOstoBrOeOd Kfreedom! Secrets of Jewellery

Lunch

‘Is it a diamond or a piece of glass?’

with Gemmologist
Richard Slater FGA DGA

Long Sutton Golf Club

Wednesday 15th June
11.00am - 3.00pm

More details next month

£1C5o.s0t 0 200+ CLUB WINNERS
member February
£1C7o.s0t0
menmobner 137, Kathryn Brown,
Chard WI £15
Apply to the Office by 12th March
112, Sue Creegan,
Long Sutton WI £10
187, Fiona Tipping,
South Petherton WI £5

March 2022 3

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

Henstridge Flyers WI raised some money with a plant sale and Above and below: Casey and the High Sheriff of Somerset, Thomas
commissioned Stalbridge Men’s Shed to build some bird boxes. Here Shepherd, showing off her award certificate. (Full story page 6).
they are putting them up in the community wood. Helen Isbell is their Members of the Board of Trustees were also in attendance at SCFWI
intrepid fixer! HQ, from left to right: Jo Stewart, Judy Glossop, Anne Chadwick,
County Chair Teresa Hemms, Vice County Chair Annie Makepeace and
County Treasurer Donna Cooper.

4 March 2022

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

Jen and Helen of Ilminster WI presenting a cheque for £105 to Ferne Litton & Hinton Blewett WI held a members’ supper in January
Animal Sanctuary. The group raised money through donations 2022, finding that a lasagne supper eases the trial of deciding which
received from the display of their Christmas tree at the Iminster Resolution to vote for!
Christmas Tree Festival.

‘Burns Night’ was the Shapwick Starlets WI at their Christmas party, playing a
theme for the Taunton drawing game which involved drawing on a paper plate!
Deane Divas WI January
meeting. Sarah Bell
(President) welcomed
guests Teresa Hemms (Fed
Chair), Anne Chadwick and
Judith Laughton before
they were piped in by our
piper. After a toast and
poem to address the haggis
food was served, followed
by Robert Burns poems.
The evening ended with the
piper playing Auld Lang
Syne. A very enjoyable
evening.

Walton WI members on their
Explore Your Local Area
walk around Catcott Nature
Reserve on a windy but dry
day in October 2021.

Julia of Wookey Hole WI modelled a beautiful
Russian beaded headdress during a talk about
Traditions of Slavic Costumes.

March 2022 5

The High Sheriff of Food & Garden
Somerset Award
Chair: Annie Makepeace
Our Federation Secretary, Casey
Worrall, recently received a great March is a busy time for gardeners with a For reliable colour, Dahlias are unbeatable
honour when she was presented with wide range of vegetable seeds to start off and if you have been storing tubers over
the ‘High Sheriff of Somerset Award’ inside with a bit of heat or, if the weather the winter, now is the time to get them into
for services to the community. permits, directly in the soil outside. It is growth. Started in pots they can be planted
Casey was put forward for the award by the also a very good time to have a look at the out into the borders once the risk of frosts
SCFWI Board of Trustees and was delighted flower borders and see where we can add is over or the pots can be dropped into a gap
when what she thought was purely a visit some drama for later in the summer. Here for instant colour.
from the High Sheriff, Thomas Shepherd, are three suggestions of how to get that
became an Award Ceremony with her as extra boost of colour. Begonias are another
the star! First off are summer bulbs that can be tuber which can be
Casey keeps our SCFWI office running like planted now. Lilies are large, showy and planted during March.
clockwork and is much appreciated by both exotic and can be planted up to May either
Trustees and members. She saw us through in the border or in pots. Gladioli, especially The third way to colourful
lockdown with ‘Business as usual’, working the tall varieties, may not be to everyone’s borders is free! Many
from home with a little help from Zoom! taste but the small magenta flowered herbaceous perennials
can be lifted and divided
A photographer from The Bridgwater Gladiolus byzantinus is delightful and now and replanted. Repeating the same
Mercury attended to record this prestigious works well with Salvias and Penstemons. flower along a border gives it rhythm and
event for our Somerset Federation. Casey Ranunculus (a corm) is easy, comes in a division every 2 or 3 years ensures vigorous
appeared in print within the Friday 4th wide range of colours and does well at the growth and extra flowers. Finally, if you
February edition and Robert Hemms took front of borders and in pots. But for real haven’t done so yet, complete pruning of
this picture. More pictures on page 4. drama, why not try Eremurus (Fox tail lily) your bush roses which again will enhance
which forms tall spires of vividly coloured the size and quality of the flowers.
flowers?
Martin and Jill Jones

Forthcoming Events for your Diary

EVENT DATES VENUE CLOSING CN ISSUE
Edwardian Tea and Garden Talk 26 Mar Walton Village Hall, Street 12 Mar Page 3

Gardeners’ Question Time 4 May on Zoom 29 April Page 3

Platinum Jubilee Cards 5 May Sent to H.M.Queen Elizabeth II 5 May Page 1

Tea-riffic Jubilee Tea 17 May Old Oak Farm, Curry Rivel 29 April Page 1

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Bunting May/June Displayed at all Celebrations 5 May Page 8

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

6 March 2022

Public Affairs

Chair: Lynda Norton

Women’s Rights In 2022, women are still having to fight THE POWER OF
for gender equality. On March 8th, COMMUNITY
Amidst ‘Partygate’, tax hikes and yet women around the world will be crossing
another Covid omicron variant, there are their arms in a show of solidarity against Celebrating the Queen's Jubilee,
more reports of physical violence, rape and discrimination. It would be great to see supported by The Big Jubillee
murder of women in the UK. These are just photographs of groups striking the pose Lunch, using no more than
the cases that are reported! Women are which I could send on as part of the global 500 words, WI members are
becoming scared to go out for that leisurely protest. invited to submit a piece of
jog, go clubbing or to the pub with their writing, either comical, serious,
friends and some are frightened within their Go online and check out what events are fact or fiction, which reflects
own homes. For years women have suffered being held, many which are virtual. Search the powerful impact of when a
all around the world. They have been using the hashtag #BreakThe Bias. community comes together.
subjected to all sorts of atrocities, some so Entry requirements have changed
horrific it’s hard to even comprehend. I hope you all managed to ‘Show the Love’ considerably this year and entries must
in February. Don’t forget to send your now be sent direct to National rather
We are the biggest women’s organisation photos in and, whilst you are at it, why than each federation undertaking the
and surely therefore, we should have not show a bit of love for your federation's initial judging process. The preferable
the loudest voice for women! This year’s Public Affairs team and join me in being a method of entry is via email, however,
International Women’s Day theme carries voice for women in our county and across it is appreciated that this is not an
the tag line #BreakTheBias. the world? We need you! option, or favoured by all, and postal
copies are still welcomed. However,
Meeting room for Hire PLEASE ASK YOUR SECRETARY
FOR MORE DETAILS AND AN
SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road, Bridgwater TA6 4BU ENTRY FORM AND SCHEDULE or
download one from the My WI website
We have a pleasant and comfortable meeting room to suit up to as the exact address for entries has yet
10 people available for hire at our SCFWI headquarters to be confirmed.
at 344 Bristol Road, Bridgwater. Book tokens will be given as prizes: 1st
We also have a conservatory suitable for larger numbers prize, book tokens to the value of £75;
Disabled access and WC – Kitchen facilities included 2nd prize book tokens to the value
of £50 and 3rd prize book tokens to
£5 per hour for WI members, the value of £30. The winner will be
£7.50 per hour for non-members presented with the Lady Denman Cup
at the Annual Meeting 2023.
For more information contact Casey on
Closing date Friday 29th July
[email protected]
or ring 01278 496400 Want to
advertise?
Community Projects
Please contact
Chair: Jo Stewart Laura Balkwill on

Ambassador: Hazel Hillman always needed. They are so pleased and countynews.somwi
grateful. @gmail.com
Hello Ladies
I have taken blankets and twiddlemuffs to or telephone
Catkins and snowdrops are in the Keinton Mandeville. It was my first visit 07860 531998
hedgerows, spring is on its way. I have to Castle House Nursing Home and also
collected a few items from you this month. Beech Tree House, a specialist dementia
care home.
THANK YOU to:
Please tell me if you know somewhere I
Chewton Mendip WI for oncology can take your lovely creations ladies.
cushions and blankets
Best wishes and I look forward to more
Litton & Hinton Blewett WI for oncology goodies from you.
cushions and hand puppets.
Hazel
I have visited the RUH in Bath taking
heart cushions and driver bags which are

March 2022 7

The Bishop's Palace & Gardens, Wells

A memorable visit to 14 acres of
tranquil gardens, moat and medieval
Palace in the heart of historic Wells

Guided Tours - open air music and theatre - garden workshops -
exhibitions - family events - The People's Ticket: includes 12
months of return visits on normal sightseeing days

01749 988111
www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Make some Bunting

for the

We are asking for as many Somerset WI’s as possible to make a piece THE UNITED KINGDOM
of bunting of approximately 12 to 18 pennants in red, white and blue. SOCIETY OF CELEBRANTS
You can have any design in these colours. On the first pennant please put your WI
name and year established. A template is available – measurements should be top Let’s get
width 6½ inches, height from middle point up 9½ inches, with a half inch gap Please phone: going again!

between each pennant. David Andrews – 01935 814288
The finished bunting will be hung at our Platinum Jubilee celebrations

and at the Royal Bath and West Show.
All bunting should be ready for the 5th May.
Bunting can be either posted to or dropped off at SCFWI Office in Bridgwater.

Collection can be arranged if required.
Shirley Routley,

Chair, Creative Arts Team

8 March 2022