WI County News DECEMBER 2022 8pp flip book

December 2022 Price 40p

The Dillington Residential
Weekend held on 29th - 30th
October was a great success

A full class of ladies (including your editor!) made a Willow
Reindeer with tutor Jo Sadler, which was great fun and
produced a super-cute deer for the garden. My effort, named
Raymond, now has pride-of-place in my garden. As you can see,
a sheep in the next-door field seemed rather suspicious of him!
Another class, tutored by Pam Martin, Textile Artist, made an
unusual ‘Kawandi’ quilt sampler. A picture of some of the quilts, an
extremely attractive ‘Work in Progress’, is featured! The ladies were
happy to take away enough fabric to complete their pieces at home.
The whole weekend was a great experience, with the chance to
learn a new skill, attractive and comfortable rooms and Dillington’s
usual fabulous food! So nice to meet members from other WIs too.

Trustee Topics

FEDERATION OFFICE Blimey, is it really December – where has this year gone?
Is it a case of blink and you miss it? Being able to meet family
SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road and friends and enjoy normal style WI meetings again – has
Bridgwater TA6 4BU this helped to speed this year along? Anyway, however it has
01278 496400 happened, we are in the last month and in preparation for the
festive season and a new year.
Email: [email protected]
www.thewi.org.uk/somerset Looking back through 2022, most of us will immediately think of September,
when we heard that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had died. The Queen was a
The WI – Somerset dedicated and supportive WI member throughout her long reign.

OFFICE OPEN Only a few weeks earlier, we were coping with the extremes of heat. Perhaps,
9.30am - 3.30pm, Mon - Thurs during these cold days, those sweltering days of summer don’t seem so bad! It’s
been a busy year in the Federation – Crocodile Lunch, Edwardian Teas, Jewellery
Federation Secretary Secrets, making Jubilee cards and bunting, three days providing refreshments
Casey Worrall at the Bath & West Show, a weekend of providing refreshments at the Somerset
County Show, 140 members lunching with the Rt Hon. Ann Widdecombe, the
Federation Administrator Annual Meeting with guest speakers The Rev. Kate Bottley and Chief Constable
Judith Laughton Sarah Crew, Craft Days, Garden visits, Officers Training, Speakers Previews,
Coffee and Chats, to name but a few. The year has also seen lots of new members
COUNTY NEWS and two very successful new WIs were formed in Wells and Yeovil. The County
News publication schedule means I’m writing this before going on our ‘fun packed’
Editor Turkey and Tinsel holiday to Torquay with over 30 members, which I’m sure will
Annie Makepeace be five days of festive fabulousness. When we return, we’ll still have the annual ‘roof
raising’ Carol Festival at Wells to attend. When I’m walking out of the Cathedral it
Email really heralds the start of Christmas for me.

[email protected] Currently our gardens look rather drab but, no doubt, you planted lots of WI bulbs
Tel: 01823 433393 last autumn to ensure a colourful spring. In fact, the Events Team has also been
planting some ‘idea bulbs’ during the autumn in the hope that we can offer you a
Advertising Assistant few exciting events next year.
and Gallery Co-ordinator
I’d like to ask a question. Not, ‘Should jam or cream be the first on a scone?’ or ‘Are
Laura Balkwill Jaffa Cakes biscuits or cakes?’ But ‘What events would you like us to organise that
Email you’ll enjoy and participate in?’ Your ideas and suggestions will be very helpful
and much appreciated. Why not give me a call on the number below for a chat or
[email protected] send an email? Thank you.
Tel: 07860 531998
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you an enjoyable festive season and
Editorial for COUNTY NEWS I truly hope 2023 will be a peaceful, healthy and successful year for us all.
must be received by the 1st of the
Judy Glossop – Events Team Chair [email protected]
month preceding each issue,
by Email if possible to the Editor PS ... Jam is always first on a scone!

or typewritten copy and printed Something
photographs to the Federation Office new for
Christmas!
address at top of this page
Somerset WI
Advertising and GIFT VOUCHERS
Gallery pictures
We can now supply beautiful
Advertising and Gallery must reach the
Advertising Assistant by the 1st of £5 WI Gift Vouchers
the month preceding each issue
. .to be used as: Trading Post items
Lineage: Cost per word
18p for WI members Gifts for WI friends and family Raffle Prizes
30p for non-members
. . . .or redeemed against anything SCFWI, in full or part payment for:
(or advertisements placed on behalf
of non-members.) Stationery Events Workshops Subscriptions Merchandise

Display: Rates and sizes upon Available all year round and valid for 2 years from date of issue.
application to the Advertising Assistant Contact the office on 01278 496400

SCFWI does not accept responsibility
for goods or services advertised in

COUNTY NEWS

2 December 2022

I should like to start with a ‘thank A big shout out to Somerset Federation 200+ CLUB WINNERS
you’ to my Board of Trustees, who of WIs for a hugely successful year. NOVEMBER
voted me in for a 3rd term as County SCFWI has recruited 799 new members
Chairman. They are a great team from September 2021 to October 2022, 9 Elisabeth Addicott,
and I look forward to another year including new WI’s Yeovil Wyvern and Chewton Mendip WI £30
working together for our members. Wells Monday, both daytime WI’s. We also
Sadly, Jen Whitworth stepped down had Wedmore WI revamp and re-brand 148 Trish Kennedy
from the board to concentrate on her to Women of Wedmore WI (WOW). All Crowcombe WI £20
business as a Celebrant, a role she is thriving and vibrant WI’s. In April 2022
truly suited to. We thank Jen for all alone we had 182 new members, a fantastic 125 Sandy Mawer
her hard work during her time on the number. Allerton WI had 7 new members Huish Champflower WI £10
board, especially organising the Zoom in October. Well done everyone, I applaud
speakers throughout the Pandemic. you all. My Challenge to you is to all take a 2024 Photographic
We wish her all the very best. friend, neighbour or family member along Calendar
to your WI.
If you missed this year’s Annual Meeting, Competition
you missed a great meeting! Held on 22nd Have a look on MyWI where there’s a
October at Wellsprings, Taunton, it was scheme to win £200 for your WI for the The subject for the WI 2024
a huge success and we have received so most new members in each subscription Somerset County Calendar
many messages from members, telling us year. This went live in April 2022 and will Photographic Competition is
how much they enjoyed it and will be sure run every year. How many can you enrol?
to attend next year. Spread the word – we ‘Somerset Waters’
would love to see more members joining us www.mywi.thewi.org.uk/interests/
next year. Do you know of any speakers you shows-and-competitions/wi- Send to SCFWI, 344 Bristol Road,
would like us to consider for next year? recruitment-award Bridgwater TA6 4BU
by the end of Jan 2023
Sarah Crew, Chief Constable of Avon & The Autumn Craft competition had 31
Somerset, was unavoidably late but she still entries, with a superb array of wonderful COMING SOON!
managed to inspire you all with insights exhibits.
into her work and her passion for stopping Sugar Paste
Violence against Women and Girls. We re- Shirley’s Creative Arts team’s fabric sale Demonstration
arranged the programme slightly whilst was a sell-out. Thank you to all who donated Sue Applegate
we waited for Sarah, and our very own Jan fabric and bought more. from Polden Wines
McNeil entertained us with popular songs Rapeseed Oil Farm visit
which had everyone on their feet dancing Your County teams are all working hard to
in the aisles! A big Thank you to Jan. The arrange events so please support us when with lunch
Rev Canon Kate Bottley was a whirlwind! we advertise them. With my ‘Vice Chair of
Her ministry is foremost in her day-to-day Events’ hat on, a big ‘thank you’ to members WATCH OUT FOR
work, but her sideline as a Radio presenter, who posted ideas on the Events Team table DETAILS IN COUNTY NEWS!
a regular on TV and Key Speaker inspired – lots of scope for us.
everyone, along with recounting her
journey to ordination. Her humorous banter We’re now in the countdown to Christmas.
had us all laughing we were certainly well SCFWI Carol Service, held in Wells
entertained. Thank you to Casey and Angela Cathedral on 7th December, is always a
for all the hard work behind the scenes. special day and there’s still time to buy your
ticket. 2023 Calendars are also on sale, a
super buy for Christmas presents for your
family or friends. Contact Casey at County
Office 01278 496400.

Enjoy all you are doing over the Christmas
period and a Happy Christmas to you all!

As always, please invite me to visit your
WI’s – it’s always a pleasure getting out
and about to meet you all.

Teresa,
SCFWI County Chairman
[email protected]

STUCK FOR Walking Netball is great exercise for
CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS? all ages and can enhance your life both
physically and mentally! It can be delivered
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE by a trained host in your area if there is
FOR SOLUTION FOCUSED
HYPNOTHERAPY sufficient support.
If you would like more information, please contact one of the following:
Help your loved one’s well-being
SCFWI office Tel: 01278 496400 Email: [email protected]
www.ljpsolution
focusedhypnotherapy.co.uk Pauline Phelps, Bicknoller WI
Tel: 01460 234455 Email: [email protected]
Tel: Lisa 07889 747512
[email protected] Linda Holden, Wellington WI Email: [email protected]

December 2022 3

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

When Hambridge and Westport WI celebrated their 70th year, some members took to a horse Kilmersdon WI morning social at Downside
and cart provided by 'Steel Suffolks' for a wonderful historic tour of 'Midelney Manor' followed Abbey, a very interesting guided tour followed
by a cream tea. by coffee and cake.

Members of Compton Dundon WI, with goody Joyce Pryor and Ruby Rollo of East Coker Mark WI President Anne Hanlon with speaker
bags after a very enjoyable, and tasty, visit to WI with their lovely floral baskets from Emma Britton (left), who has over 10 years’
the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company. members. Joyce and David Pryor celebrated experience as a BBC local radio presenter.
their 60th (Diamond) wedding anniversary
on 16th September and Ruby and Alex Now a celebrant, Emma told them about her
Rollo celebrated theirs on 15th September. new career and kept them entertained with her
Congratulations to both happy couples! sharp wit and bubbly personality.

Walton WI on their 'Explore Your Local Area' visit to the History Hut in Low Ham in September, Trull Trendles WI celebrated its 70th birthday
together with their guide Karen Cook in ATS uniform. this month, where Taunton’s mayor Sue Leas
and Casey from Somerset head office visited
4 December 2022 and shared in the festivities and cake cutting.

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

West & Middle Chinnock WI enjoyed an
interesting talk/demonstration on spinning
and the history behind the spinning wheel
and the wool trade. Afterwards members had
the opportunity to have a go at spinning yarn
from carded fleece.

Anstey WI enjoyed a summer outing in August. A two and a half hour trip on a horse drawn
barge along the Tiverton Canal – one of only two horse drawn barges left in the country.

Standerwick, Berkley and Beckington WI President Marion Oxlade cutting the cake at the 80th ‘Thinking caps on’ at St Audries WI! The
birthday party of the formation of the group. speaker cancelled at the last minute, due to
Covid, so President Isobel put together some
great fun quizzes!

Horton and District WI ladies and friends enjoyed a visit to Shepton Mallet Prison. Nobody was detained!

December 2022 5

Learn a language for free with

Your celebration, Somerset Libraries have launched a The service includes 120 languages so guests
your way. new Translation Service, giving free from many other countries will also have
access to an online language learning free access, simply by having a Somerset
www.jenthecelebrant.co.uk service. Libraries membership. It also enables
@JenWhitworthCelebrant anyone in Somerset to learn languages such
The service, which is available to all library as Ukrainian and Russian which could be
07967 006362 - [email protected] members, will work in a similar way to especially useful for sponsors and people
other online resources, giving Somerset supporting displaced people in the county.
THE UNITED KINGDOM library members (including those with full
SOCIETY OF CELEBRANTS or digital memberships) access to the free The Library Service is working with
service. which can be found at: colleagues in the Resettlement Team, so
Want to advertise? that the training regarding this service will
www.somersetlibraries.co.uk/ also include information about the various
Please contact Laura Balkwill on languagelearning Welcome Hubs and other support services
countynews.somwi aimed at guests from other countries.
@gmail.com Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset
or telephone County Council’s Lead Member with You can get a membership by calling into
responsibilities for libraries said: any Somerset library or online at:
07860 531998
“Language can be a real barrier for www.somerset.gov.uk/libraries
people across Somerset who do not have -leisure-and-communities/libraries/
libraries-services/library-membership/
English as their first language.

“This new initiative is offering a free and
easy to access solution for anyone who
wants to strengthen their language skills.”

The service is delivered by Transparent
language Online. Library staff have had
access to training materials to help them
understand what it offers so they can be on
hand to help members of the public sign up
for membership and then access the service.

CHRISTMAS
at the
PALACE
DECEMBER AT THE BISHOP'S
PALACE, WELLS

Join us for Festive Decorations in the medieval Palace
building, Outdoor Garden Illuminations, Music, Storytelling,

Creative Workshops and Festive Food & Drink!

More at: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

6 December 2022

Community Projects

As I write this it is the day after a Chair: Jo Stewart As the Festive season is fast approaching,
very successful Annual Meeting. It we, the Community Projects Team, would
has made me realise that Christmas feel impelled to say “THANK YOU” to the like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and
is only 8 weeks away and Lydeard St. many talented and generous members. a healthy and peaceful New Year! 
Lawrence WI will be busy sorting and
delivering the piles of Shoeboxes that Without the goodwill and talents of our Jo Stewart, Chair
you have so thoughtfully donated. members, nothing the Community Projects Community Projects Team
Team does would be possible. In the last 12
Where has the year gone? It seems like only months we have delivered a variety of items
last month that we were sorting Shoeboxes to YMCAs across the County. Household
in November 2021! So in the afterglow of a items, bedding, handmade cushions,
successful Annual Meeting, once again we notice boards and, in some cases, items of
winter clothing. Hazel Hillman has been
kept busy with deliveries of twiddle muffs,
knitted toys, blankets, oncology cushions,
quilts, bags for walking frames … the list
is endless… all beautifully made and given
with love.

We have provided thousands of items
of underwear for Ukrainian Refugees
living in our midst, with extras to make
starting a new life easier. We have enough
funds left over to provide 100 Christmas
Goodie bags for those whose lives have
been turned upside down. So, once again
on behalf of all the recipients of these
donations,'Thank You’!

Hello ladies, Ambassador: Hazel Hillman Quilts

It was so good to see so many of you at the Twiddle Muffs
Annual Meeting in November. Sampford Arundel

Look at some of the blankets I brought North Curry
back, which members have donated. Woolavington

Taken to:
Dementia Care, Wellington

THANK YOU to these WI's Driver Bags Thank you Joyce Harp of Dunster for
Oncology Yeovil Wraxhill making these.

Litton & Hinton Blewett Taken to: This has been an amazingly productive
Yeovil D Hospital, Breast Care year for the Somerset WI Community
Hand Puppets Projects. You, the members, make and
Litton & Hinton Blewett Driver bags create the most lovely things. I have the
joy of seeing their faces when I deliver
Blankets Project Linus them, and I THANK YOU ALL for that.
Litton & Hinton Blewett Just have a look at these lovely quilts.
They have been taken to Jaci Elliott of I have been taken aback by the response
North Curry Project Linus. for the Ukraine appeal, Shoeboxes and
Woolavington Bags, as Jo will tell you. Again, thank you.

Alcombers Let’s just keep doing what we’re doing,
Chard helping others less fortunate than
ourselves. I repeat something Jo has said
Taunton Deane Divas ‘Thank you just isn’t enough!’.

This is the season of goodwill and, if you
can, enjoy it with your friends and family,
as I shall be.

My very best wishes for the Festive Season
and the coming New Year 2023

Hazel

December 2022 7

Annual Meeting Review

SCFWI celebrated with its Annual Meeting held at Wellsprings,
Taunton on Saturday, 22nd October.

Along with the business of the day and the
presentation of certificates, the Creative Arts
Team competition, plus stands from all the
County Teams, Jan McNeil, from Misterton WI,
performed songs from her repertoire with the
audience joining in enthusiastically.

Guests Avon and Somerset Chief Constable
Sarah Crew and The Rev. Canon Kate Bottley
both entertained the gathering and were
welcomed and enjoyed enormously. Sarah is
our first female Chief Constable and gave a talk which both informed and inspired the audience.
Kate Bottley gave an amazing and hilarious account of progress to her present position in the Church
of England, and received a rapturous reception from the audience.

Competition

Thank you to all who entered to our competition at this
year’s Annual Meeting. It was wonderful to see such super
entries – 31 in total ranging from paper and leaves, to knitted
tea cosies, pastels and embroidery. The Competition was
judged by The Rev. Canon Kate Bottley who commented
that the entries were of such a high standard it was very
difficult to choose winners.

This year’s winners were:

1st Rosemary Speakman
Pitney Lortie WI

2nd Angela York Lympsham WI

3rd Clare Kerrie
Standerwick, Berkley & Beckington WI

Highly Commended -
Val Brading Ashcott & Pedwell WI

Commended - Linda Forsyth Wellington WI

Once again, our thanks to all who entered and a big ‘thank you’ to all
who brought fabric for the fabric sale.

We have a lot more exciting events taking place next year, such as
Screen Printing, The History of Knitting, a talk and demo by Artist
Kate Lynch and Autumn Craft Day. Also, of course, there will be
another competition at the 2023 Annual Meeting, so do keep your
eye on your County News and Bulletins.

Shirley Routley - Chair, The Creative Arts Team

Forthcoming Events for your Diary

EVENT DATES VENUE CLOSING CN ISSUE
Turkey & Tinsel 31 Aug November
SCFWI Carol Festival 28 Nov - 2 Dec Toorak Hotel, Torquay

7 Dec Wells Cathedral, Wells 1 Dec November

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

8 December 2022