Our September meeting began well with an entertaining evening of flower arranging by Marilyn Ottewell, who regaled us with stories of her travels whilst producing some stunning displays. In October we had an interesting talk by a well-known local magistrate. We gained a valuable insight into the contributions made by her and other public-spirited individuals. We are now looking forward to our events in the winter months, which will include the Christmas Fair, the Christmas Party and the Carol Service in Lichfield. Some members will be travelling to see the Nutcracker Ballet in Birmingham or Christmas by Candlelight at Chatsworth.

2010 will be an important year for our W.I. as we will be celebrating our 75th Anniversary. To mark the occasion we will be having a special celebration during our February Meeting. We have an interesting speaker, Suzanne Morgan, who is a Lady Pawnbroker. There will be a competition for the Barbara Reynolds Plate. We have invited some special guests who will join us in a toast to our W.I. and sample some of Janet Neal’s special cake! A celebratory meal has been booked at The Hilton Hotel and our after dinner speaker will be Peter Slack. He is a farmer from the Peak District and he will be exclaiming, “I’m not lost, I just don’t know where I am!” We are looking forward to socialising with each other in a relaxed atmosphere.

February is proving to be very busy with many members spending a weekend away in Norwich. We hope the weather will be kind to us!

An interesting programme of speakers and events have been planned for 2010 and beyond.

If you would like to join our go ahead W.I. please come along to any meeting on the first Monday of each month at the J. of R. School, Chapel Lane at 7.15 p.m. where you will be made welcome. Details are posted on the village notice board.

Jenny Phillips

Summer Treats

Rolleston W.I. members have been treated to an action-packed summer this year. Our May meeting featured Mrs. Denise Whelan, a freelance fitness instructor, who put us through our paces whilst we sat on our chairs. Our annual competition featured photography, craft and flower arranging and this year the Cath Gamble Plate was awarded to Elaine Toon. Members have been singing in the choir, walking and helping with village events. In June our speaker was Mrs. Turner-Hicks whose subject was ‘ A weekend away and nothing to wear.’ Six items of co-ordinated clothing were expertly modelled by Ann Haywood who was hoping to impress Sir Cliff with her outfits!

On a beautiful evening in June we visited the National Arboretum at Alrewas. Help was at hand in the form of a golf buggy to transport members to the new W.I. memorial seat, built in Derbyshire stone walling in the shape of an S. We sat together on the seat enjoying our picnic tea and reflecting on the unselfish work of W.I. members past and present. The seat is in a beautiful spot beside the river and next to a wildflower meadow.

The next day a small party of us had an interesting tour of the historic town of Stafford and an exclusive visit to the Ancient High House, whose creaks and groans and distinctive age gave us an eerie feeling of being taken back in time. Members visited Burrows Gardens in Brailsford where Mr. Dalton showed us his exotic plants and trees, set amongst immaculate lawns and gave us tips about gardening in Derbyshire. Our President represented us at Evensong in Lichfield Cathedral, marking 90 years of the Staffordshire Federation.

You may have seen our W.I. Scarecrow on Gardens Sunday. She resembled all that is praiseworthy in the W.I. apart from her looks!

Our speaker at the July Meeting was Mrs. Noreen Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of the BAC O’Conner Centre in Burton. She gave us a very interesting and informative account of her achievements whilst working with addicts in the Burton area and gave us a glimpse into her motivation for founding the centre. She explained the underlying concepts and difficulties of rehabilitation into the community. Noreen Oliver has received many awards, culminating in a royal visit and an MBE in 2009.

Her talk was very inspirational and drew a large number of questions. We enjoyed our traditional strawberries and cream and later in the month we gathered for our Summer Party.

Members will be visiting Hatfield House on 6th September and our next meeting on the 7th will feature Mrs. Lynda Duncan who will be speaking about Traidcraft. Plans are in hand for our Christmas Fair in November and our 75th Anniversary Celebrations in February. We have an interesting programme of events planned for the Autumn so please join us on the first Monday of the month at the John of Rolleston School Alderbrook site. Visitors are always welcome. For further details contact the secretary on 01283 530824.

Jenny Phillips

Cancelled due to snow! Rolleston W.I. got off to a disappointing start due to the bad weather we had during the first week of February and all the best laid plans were put on hold. However, March looked a lot brighter and members turned out in force to welcome Bridget and Angela, the daughters of Barbara Reynolds, who judged the competition held in their mother’s memory. This year members knitted over a hundred baby hats to help save the lives of premature babies overseas. Congratulations to Annette Styne who won the Barbara Reynolds Plate this year.

The Annual Meeting was held in March. Four officers retired and new members were welcomed on to the committee. We said goodbye to Sue Bould, who will be leaving the village in the near future. Elsie Wraight received a certificate marking sixty years membership of the W.I. The Amy Everette Rose Bowl, presented for the highest score in monthly competitions, went to Barbara Evans and the Denman Bursary was awarded to Cynthia Bates and Joyce Lockley. Sue Fraser was thanked for her work as President and re-elected for a second year. Mr. C. Hobday kindly agreed to give his talk in March, taking us on a seasonal tour of Bavaria through a series of slides which illustrated the beauty and ruggedness of Bavaria with its churches, towns, countryside and spectacular mountains. Fish and chips were re-ordered and enjoyed by all.

W.I. members have been out and about this year, staying in Liverpool, visiting Lichfield Cathedral and watching a performance of Calendar Girls in Nottingham. We couldn’t resist joining in with ‘Jerusalem’ as the curtains opened and revealed the famous and talented cast.

An exciting and extensive programme of events promises to make the next few months a time of opportunities not to be missed. There are interesting speakers booked for the monthly meetings. A competition will be held for the Cath Gamble Plate, awarded for the first time in memory of a dedicated W.I. member and plans are in hand for the 75th Anniversary Celebrations. We are going to visit gardens at Brailsford, have a guided tour of Stafford and enjoy a Summer Party. Our Picnic Supper will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum, where we hope to catch a glimpse of the W.I. seat, built in local stone walling and designed to commemorate the unselfish work of W.I. members past and present. The season will cumulate with a visit to Hatfield House in September.

At home, members have attended a Group Meeting, sung in the choir and gone for walks. We continue to look to the wider world and have recycled items which are not collected, raised money and made cakes for St. Giles Hospice and contributed to village events. Our Resolution this year is concerned with the accelerating decline in the honey bee population and to press for more research into Bee Health.

If you would like to join our go ahead W.I. please come along to any meeting on the first Monday of each month at the John of Rolleston School, Chapel Lane at 7.15 p.m. where you will be made welcome. Details are posted on the village notice board.

Jenny Phillips

As ever Rolleston W.I. members have been busy taking part in village activities, as well as enjoying a very varied programme of speakers at their monthly meetings.

In November two members, Sue Underhill and Ann Haywood, gave demonstrations of different flower arrangements, which were inspirational and gave ideas to help everyone present flowers beautifully. It was great for us all to have the opportunity to share the skills of Sue and Ann.

Mr Wells took us back in time in December to a Victorian Christmas, when he gave us an insight into the customs and traditions that have built up over time. Prince Albert brought the Christmas tree over from Germany and the Victorians were the first to send Christmas cards and pull crackers.

It was not ‘memories’ of the past that Mr J. Price talked about in January but the way to improve our own memories. Mnemonics can help with spellings and remembering phrases but you can train yourself to recall lists by inventing stories or ‘putting your words around the room’. As you look around you think about the words you need. Mr Price’s tips certainly helped everyone to play ‘Kim’s Game’ for social time organised by Sue Fraser. The competition for the ‘worst lapse of memory’ flagged up forgetting a new baby at the shops and forgetting that you should have been dining with friends!

Our greatest fund raiser each year is the Christmas Fair in November, when we welcome our friends from the village to join us at Rolleston Club to spend their money. As ever, this was a pleasant afternoon for us all and a very successful one.

Christmas celebrations started in earnest, when the ‘crafty’ ladies decorated our W.I. tree beautifully for the Christmas Trees and Wreaths Festival at St. Mary’s Church. Of course our own W.I. Christmas party, with food prepared by members was a great success. The evening always ends with the Christmas card game, which caused much hilarity. The Rolleston W.I. Choir sang at the Forest and Vale Group Carol Service held this year at Hanbury Church. Several choir members also joined a larger choir and sang at Lichfield Cathedral for the Staffordshire Federation Carol Service.

In January members and friends really enjoyed a chance to get together to sample wines and discuss their merits before having delicious refreshments, including bread and cheeses. There was a great deal of merriment and a good time was had by all.

At the February meeting we are looking forward to a fish and chip supper and a chance to enter the Barbara Reynolds Plate competition, with knitted baby hats to help babies in Africa. The theatre visit to Nottingham to ‘Calendar Girls’ and the weekend away in Liverpool are scheduled for February too.

If you would like to join our go ahead W.I. please come along to our meetings on the first Monday of each month at 7.15pm at the John of Rolleston School or ring 01283 813414 for more details.

Verity Conner

Return to Village Website Home Page, Organisations Page or WI Home Page

Last updated: 29 December 2009