By Barbara Reid

Published at 15:39, Wednesday, 11 August 2010

AS THE date of the July meeting clashed with the Federation 90th Celebration Event at Greenhill, it was cancelled; any urgent business was discussed at our coffee evening the following Thursday.

The coffee evening opened with Eleanor Graham welcoming our members and visitors, then Jerusalem was sung.

Eleanor recited a poem on the WI that she had composed. The Group Meeting will be on November 3, which Lamplugh WI will host.

Cleator WI president, Mary Gregg, has recently celebrated her 90th birthday and was presented with flowers and cake. There was also a cake for the Federation 90th birthday that Nancy Todhunter, County Federation Vice Chairman received on their behalf.

Mrs Graham introduced the Reverend Richard Lee, Rector of Egremont. He told us a little of his very eventful life. He was born in Sunderland and ordained Anglican priest when in his early twenties. He had a great fascination with aeroplanes, and joined the RAF as a chaplain. He was stationed all over the world, and spent a lot of time attached to NATO. He ended his career as a Group Captain with overall charge of chaplain training. He was made chaplain to the Queen, which entitled him to wear a red cassock. When he retired he took the post in Egremont. He also told us of the renovation in Bigrigg church that involved installing ground source heating and insulation. The talk gave us many very funny tales and was a hugely entertaining evening.

The WI gave a donation towards the work in Bigrigg church, and also a donation to Bigrigg Village Hall. Margaret Bold gave the vote of thanks to the Rector.

Refreshments were served, and we were entertained with an English cheese quiz. Mrs Sue Davidson introduced Eleanor dressed in her Mad Hatter costume, which won 1st prize at the Federation 90th Event. Also Margaret Bold won second prize with her flower arrangement, and Eleanor was 4th with her rum butter. They were all warmly congratulated. Mary Taylor from Cleator WI read her entry for the short story competition. We then enjoyed a large raffle.

Mrs Todhunter, County Vice Chairman, thanked Woodend WI for a lovely evening, followed with thanks from Mrs Greg.

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