By Kathleen Cook

Published at 11:06, Thursday, 22 March 2012

THE president Mrs Angela Walls welcomed 11 members to the January meeting.

After the singing of Jerusalem, the business part of the meeting commenced.

Mrs Walls thanked Jean Cowman for her many years as secretary and welcomed Ceri Jackson as the new secretary.

The minutes of the December meeting were read and agreed as correct. In the correspondence, there was an invitation from Lamplugh WI to a Pie, Pea, Pudding and Poetry event on March 23 (a list to be circulated later of those wishing to attend).

There was a Christmas card from our link in Angaston Australia, and a thank you card from Elsie Jenkinson after her recent eye operation.

There was also a letter from the Beckermet Reading Room committee advising about the increase in rent.

The secretary was asked to find out about the wool to knit cushions for the Olympics as mentioned in The County News. This was followed by a discussion of the arrangements for the Christmas lunch at the Manor House St Bees.

There was a reminder that the monthly soup lunches were to start in February, jointly run by the WI and St John’s Church.

Beckermet WI was hosting the February one.

The president then introduced Mr Alan Kiel of Beckermet First Responders.

He explained why it was set up in the first place; to cover a need in case the ambulance could not arrive immediately. It was hoped to start a unit at Thornhill and volunteers had come forward.

He also demonstrated some of their equipment, including the defibrillator and the model they use for CPR.

He also gave each member a container to place in the fridge with medical details. He was thanked by Elsie Jenkinson.

It was agreed that the WI would sponsor the rental of a pager for 2012.

The competition for an old wives’ remedy resulted: 1 Doreen Head, 2 Brenda Powe 3 Elsie Jenkinson. The hostess was Kathleen Cook.

The February meeting was attended by 12 members and the previous minutes were read and agreed.

Correspondence included a letter from Copeland Amateur Theatrical Society on its forthcoming Wizard of Oz production in April.

A letter was received from Eleanor Graham about the president and secretary’s meeting on February 24 and about the spring meeting on April 26 at Bigrigg.

The County News was read and discussed.

We had applied to serve refreshments at the Farmers’ Markets in Egremont market hall; the dates will be confirmed.

A reminder that Brenda Powe was still the programme secretary although not on the committee.

Arrangements were discussed for the visit to the mayor’s parlour and lunch beforehand.

The craft group, open to everyone, not only WI, will be held on the third Thursday. All are welcome.

The raffle to sponsor Alice Reay for her trip to Morocco will be held in March.

The speakers for the evening, Alan Cleaver and Lesley Park, were introduced. Their talk was on the fairies and boggles of Cumbria.

A boggle was anything odd and strange, animal or human, which appeared where they were not expected. The folklore was either written down or part of vocal tradition.

It was amazing how many places in Cumbria had such legendary creatures, from places like Muncaster, Ennerdale, Saltom rocks and Ewanrigg Hall.

They were thanked for their entertaining talk by Angela Walls.

The competition for a fairy ornament resulted: 1 Kathleen Cook, 2 Elsie Jenkinson, 3 Doreen Head. The hostess was Jean Cowman.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk