Published at 11:08, Thursday, 07 June 2012

PRESIDENT Mrs Judy Hall welcomed members to the May meeting and thanked everyone who took any part in providing the refreshments on the Sunday afternoon of the St Cuthbert’s Flower Festival.

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS: Arrangers preparing flower displays in St Cuthbert's Church, Seascale, last month. The ladies from Seascale WI provided the refreshments for the event

It had been a lovely afternoon with those serving being kept pretty busy resulting in a good sum of money being raised for the church.

Names were taken and transport organised for members to attend the Esk Group Meeting when Jan Hawkins from the ‘Pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance’ was to be the speaker.

Names were taken for the trip in September to the Theatre by the Lake to see a performance of Dry Rot with tea at Hundith Hall Hotel afterwards.

The voting on the resolution for the NFWI AGM in June was taken. The resolution reads: “There are chronic shortages of midwives. The NFWI calls on the Government to increase investment in the training, employment and retention of midwives in England and Wales to ensure services are adequately resourced and are able to deliver a high standard of care.”

The resolution was carried almost unanimously. This decision would be passed on to the delegate from Beckermet who was to represent our group of WIs.

Two members of the WI had attended the opening of the new fitness centre in Seascale and said they had been most impressed at the excellence of the centre and the equipment provided. Those involved in the setting-up of the centre were to be commended.

Mrs Hall announced that Seascale WI’s offer to be responsible for the Esk Group Carol Service would be presented to the Group Meeting. The suggested date, which she was sure would be accepted, would be on Sunday, December 2, at 2.30pm at the Methodist church.

The speaker for the evening Mrs Gaynor Davies with ‘Humour and Hats’ gave a delightfully funny and poignant presentation.

The special Silver Spoon competition was won by Mrs Sylvia Thompson with her beautifully delicate cup and saucer. The competition for a hat was won by Mrs Judy Hall with a sailor hat, 2nd Mrs Rose Bewick with a lovely wedding hat and 3rd Mrs Maureen Eccles with her bowling hat.

MRS Hall welcomed members to the April meeting and asked members to remember Mrs Rita Varty, a past long-time member who had moved away from the area and had sadly died recently.

Mrs Hall said that November 30 was a confirmed date for the visit to Muncaster Castle.

Mrs Hall presented her report on the County Spring Council Meeting and said that those who had attended had enjoyed the day very much. Bootle WI, one of our Esk Group WIs, had won the County Team Darts Trophy.

Mrs Hall said that there had been a large mailing from the NFWI (National Federation of WIs) which included a beautiful poster highlighting honeybees and what plants to put in your garden to encourage them. One item for discussion was where to hold the centenary AGM in 2015. Because this was a tremendous achievement they wished to mark the occasion in a big way. WIs were being asked to choose between the O2 Arena, the Wembley Arena or one of the usual venues, The Royal Albert Hall. Were we to choose the O2 Arena every single WI would be able to send a delegate. After a discussion Seascale WI decided that it would be good to hold it at the O2 arena.

Our speaker, Christine Fawcett, told us what plants would thrive and grow well in West Cumbria. She showed some lovely slides of shrubs and the subject generated much conversation and many questions which she answered very well. Mrs Barbara Armstrong thanked her for this most useful information.

The competition, a posy of flowers, was won by Mrs Allison Hanshaw, second Mrs Eireen McClellan and equal thirds Mrs Sylvia Thompson and Mrs Maureen Eccles.

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