This is your opportunity to publicise yourselves. Send in photos and articles to WI House, marked for the attention of our Federation Webmaster, Sue Lobb, or better still email or send direct to Sue (contact details in the Yearbook) and she will make sure you go global!
SWANNINGTON WI BUZZING OFF TO BROOKSBY...
Following the 2009 Resolution "SOS for Honey Bees" Swannington WI decided to show a practical interest in supporting the honey bee. Brian Cramp, Apiary Manager for the Leicestershire and Rutland Bee Keepers' Association, was delighted with their plan to donate a hive and Queen Bee in support of the Association's work. Ten more bee keepers per year can now be trained with the extra hive and requests for taining course places through Brooksby Agricultural College are at an 'all time' high.
Swannington WI raised the money needed by holding a market stall and a Valentine's coffee morning - local honey was sold at both events. A delightful time was spent at Brooksby Bee Yard near Rearsby, having a talk, slide show and home-made tea.
Donning bee keepers' gear and viewing the inside of a hive, with all its activity, was the highlight of a great afternoon out!
GREAT BOWDEN GO FOR THE WI TRI
Great Bowden WI met outside Homebase on Tuesday 10th August and cycled on the old railway line from Market Harborough to Kelmarsh, stopped at the Bell for coffee on the way back (we all did about 10 miles each) - and that included going through the Oxenden tunnel twice 484 yards each way pitch black!!! %231%23.jpg)
On Thursday 19th August 8am in Mkt Harborough swimming pool Great Bowden met to swim one mile each. We them spent the next hour having coffee and debating WI matters (as you do) and the others have since returned to do the rest. (1)%231%23.jpg)
KILBY WI VISIT THE ALPACAS
A couple of months ago Shirley Bettison-who runs the Toft Alpaca Farm with her husband Rob and family came to give a talk at Kilby WI. We were so impressed with the pictures of her gorgeous Alpacas and her enthusiasm for them that we asked if we could visit the farm. In July, members visited the Farm in Dunchurch.
Rob showed us around the farm as Shirley was acting as nursemaid to two premature babies born that day. It’s a real family business as their daughter Kerry manages the Alpaca produce and shop and Grandma Myra is the herd’s lady! 
We saw at least 100 alpacas raging from the two new born babies to the senior old men of the tribe - who are around 16 years old. They are really lovely animals and very gentle. As you can see from the photos they all have fluffy fringes: when they are shorn the fringe is left -
for no purpose other than to look cute!
The female Alpacas are pregnant for 11 months and following the birth soon get pregnant again; however they very seldom have more than one baby at a time.
Alpacas come in all colours from jet black to white, with all shades of caramel, grey and brown in between. Their fleeces are very warm and soft and are made into stylish shawls, scarves, handbags, teddy bears etc. which are sold at their on-site shop.
After our walk round the farm we returned to the farmhouse for refreshments (just missing a downpour) and had a look around the shop. Yes I definitely couldn’t resist a lovely Alpaca scarf and if I had the space and the money would probably have bought a couple of Alpacas as well!!
Helen Disley, Kilby WI
BREEDON ON THE HILL WI - ASHBY SHOW ACHIEVEMENTS!
Breedon entered a number of classes at the recent Ashby de la Zouch Show with exceptional results. Their entry in the cookery competition ' A Shakespeare Play' was a Macbeth themed display which won 'The Spooner Trophy' with a score of 155 points out of a possible 160! That, with the points scored in the handicraft section, gave them enough to gain 1st place overall in the show, for which they were awarded the 'Wood Lake Shield'. Several members also had personal successes in the individual competitions. 
Jan Jones proudly holding both the Spooner Trophy and the Wood Lake Shield .... 
... and Gilli Schofield looks absolutely delighted with her individual trophy.
Monica Wakefield, Breedon on the Hill WI
ULLESTHORPE WI ANNUAL STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM TEA
This delightful annual event this year took place in the garden of Mary Petch. Special guests were Sue Lobb (Federation Vice-chairman), her husband John and Rector Carol Brennand. Yet again we were blessed with excellent weather.
June Whiting, Ullesthorpe WI
WIGSTON MAGNA WI BOTANICAL GARDENS VISIT
Members spent an enjoyable sunny afternoon with a guided walk around the Botanical Gardens in Oadby.
An interesting display of sculptures were on view and the gardens were lovely, if rather in need of some rain!
The afternoon finished with tea and cake. A worthwhile visit and highly recommended.
Judy Day, Press Officer, Wigston Magna WI
OAKHAM WI VISIT GRIMSTHORPE CASTLE JULY 2010
Members enjoyed a pre-booked tour of the castle as well as a coach drive around the 3000 acre parkland, lunch and a wander in the gardens of this beautiful old house which dates back to the 13th century. Everyone agreed it was a lovely day out and thoroughly recommend a visit.
Angie Humphreys, Oakham WI
ULLESTHORPE WI COUNTY WALK JUNE 2010
Ullesthorpe WI organised this County Walk in glorious weather, with Frolesworth Village Hall serving as the start and finish.
Walkers enjoying the 5½ mile walk on paths largely across fields 
The Ullesthorpe Refreshment Team! 
Walk Organisers Doreen Hayes (left) and Jill Tallis.
QUORN WI COMMEMORATE 40th ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE
At their 40th birthday celebrations in 2009, members of Quorn WI, friends and visitors were invited to embroider a square, which would eventually be put together to be made into a tablecloth. Everyone showed great enthusiasm for this project. President Georgina Glover sewed all the squares together and the finished article can be seen in the picture together with some of the ladies who had contributed a square.
Unfortunately, shortly after the tablecloth had been finished, the WI logo was changed, however the cloth will be a lasting reminder of the Institute's special birthday. It will be used every month on the top table where it will be admired for many years to come.
Christine Cox, Quorn WI
BREEDON ON THE HILL OPEN GARDENS
The above event took place on the weekend of 5th and 6th June and is an annual fund raising event in aid of Breedon on the Hill's historic parish church. In recent years the WI has helped out by providing a focal point on the village green selling 'passports' to the various open gardens, also for sale were cakes, plants and soft drinks. The event was blessed with warm, sunny weather and a good turn out of interested visitors.
In the photograph : WI members and helpers
KEEPING FIT THE WI WAY!
Breedon on the Hill WI members undertook a 12 mile round cycle ride recently, stopping only for a pub lunch on route. It was a glorious day and as you can see, from the photograph, pretty scenic too!
In the picture (l to r) Diana Wilkins, Gill Simkiss, Doretta Butler, Claire Phillipson and Helen Halls.
BARRY COLLETT ON RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Looking forward to a talk by Barry Collett is reminiscent of waiting for one's favourite teacher to come to the classroom - you know that you're going to learn a lot, be infected by his enthusiasm and enjoy every minute of it. The session on 28th April was an introduction to the work of Rimsky-Korsakov and was his fourth (in what is fast becoming a series) arranged by Margaret Hine of the Federation's Leisure Activities Committee. There is no pomposity or pretentiousness about these talks - they are an expression of natural delight in listening to lovely music. The undoubted scholarship of the lecturer is carried with charm, grace and humour.
Dr Collett's experience means that he accurately pinpoints the likely knowledge of his audience but, before the evening is over, he will, no question, have extended it. Thus, hands went up and 'The Flight of the Bumble Bee' and 'Scheherezade' were named as well-known compositions by Rimsky-Korsakov. We were soon made aware also of his immense operatic output and his self-taught mastery of orchestration as well as of his strong nationalism and interest in folk music - an interest prevalent in other countries in the 19th century (especially England) but, with its political implications, not designed to curry favour in Czarist Russia. He continued, however, to compose copiously and is specially loved for the drama and 'scene painting' of his music. The occasion ended with an exercise in double enjoyment as we relived one of his operatic stories (involving bucolic scenes and a wild ride on the Devil's back!) whilst listening to a shortened orchestral version of the work. Another delightful evening.
Jean Bantock
Gaddesby WI
JERUSALEM JAMMERS
The Jerusalem Jammers spent Saturday 17 April in Bury St. Edmunds at a Morris dance Festival. There were 52 Morris teams in the town centre and we danced at 5 different locations for 50 minutes each. 
Jammers performing a dance called Conington
Each time our team was introduced as a team from the Women’s Institute - at which many ladies present cheered. The sky was a clear blue all day. At each location there were 3 or 4 teams so we didn’t have to dance all the time - which was just as well!! The photo was taken in front of the old Abbey Gate where we danced on quite a slope.
The next day Sunday we were dancing at Ravenstone at the village’s St. George’s Day Festival. We again had the maypole with us and dancing round it were many children and adults including the jester and other local St. George’s Day figures.
Jammers performing a dance called Grenoside.
Jammers performing a dance called Black Rod
The two photos show the Jammers at Ravenstone where we enjoyed an excellent afternoon’s dancing despite a sudden heavy shower. Fortunately we were in the refreshment marquee at the time - consuming tea and cake!
Mary Oughton
FROM HUNCOTE'S POET LAUREATE!
How do I prune clematis?
Under some leaves there are bugs.
North facing walls need flowers,
Come, tell how to shift ants from tubs.
Other questions also got answers,
Trees, bushes and flowering shrubs,
Even tonic for plants with diseases,
We learnt about numbers on tags.
Ian came from Palmer’s Nurseries
- for which we were all very glad.
Chrys Palmer
Huncote WI
EARL SHILTON EVENING WI CELEBRATE IN STYLE!
Earl Shilton Evening WI celebrated their 14th Birthday by welcoming Graham Mainwaring to the meeting who had been a steward for 6 years aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, and to add ambience to the occasion, members dusted off their 'posh' hats and wore them with pride. Graham described how he came to be invited to join the crew during his career with the Royal Navy, and how on his first duty at a cocktail party, he almost fell over Her Majesty whilst carrying a tray of drinks! Graham spoke fondly of his time aboard the Royal Yacht, and showed members photographs of Prince Charles and Princess Diana during their honeymoon spent on the Yacht, many of which had not been seen in the public domain. An interesting glimpse into the life of the Royals.
Members of Earl Shilton Evening WI all dressed up for their birthday celebrations.
SPRINGBROOK & SCRAPTOFT MERCY KNITTING CIRCLE
This is surely one of the most heart warming stories so far this year: the members of Springbrook & Scraptoft WI have been busily knitting woolly coats for rescue hens. The birds have all been rescued from battery farms and usually have few if any feathers. These small coats will keep them warm whilst new feathers grow as they settle down in their new home. |