November 2023
How many of you have been told to “keep quiet” or “mime” during singing lessons at
school? Apparently this was the advice given to many WI members when they were
young. Did this happen in any other subject? Were you advised to ‘pretend’ or not to
‘bother participating’ in Maths, or Geography, or English?
What a damning indictment!
Our September speaker, Beccy Burgess, is director for Vale Voices, a community
choir for anyone who loves to sing. Her theme for the meeting was “So you think
you can’t sing?” First she dispelled some myths about singing, extolled its benefits,
and gave us a series of exercises designed to make singing FUN! Breathing,
pretending to chew, repeating tongue twisters at increasing speed . . .
The first song she gave us to sing was ‘My Bonny lies over the ocean’, only with a
twist – a clap for every word beginning with B, a thigh slap for every word beginning
with an O. Much concentration needed, many giggles induced.
Then it was concentration but with melody and harmony as Beccy taught us a round
called “Bella Maria” – simple melody with, eventually, beautiful 4 part harmony.
“Swing low . . .”, When the saints . “. and “I wanna sing” are well-known and quite
simple. Beccy took them a step further by introducing us to a ‘Mash-Up’, in which all
3 are sung - at the same time. The roof of Shelford village Hall was in danger at
some point . . .
Everyone then rehydrated with a cuppa, after which it was listening time, as Beccy
serenaded us with a beautiful rendering of a piece from The Greatest Showman.
We can sing (after a fashion) but perhaps not quite as well as Beccy.
Down to earth – well, maybe not, as the sunflower competition winner grew to more
than 3 metres!! It towered over the trees and, indeed, the grower, Maureen Harper.
And Jan Sanderson’s mighty beast, at more than 2 metres, was almost as majestic.
The secret of their success? It’s . . .a secret.
October’s competition – from the tall to the tiny. How many objects can you cram into
a jar designed to hold an individual portion of jam? I reckon there should be a
special prize for the poor person delegated to count the objects!
PS I quite like little flowers and my puny 1.38 metre specimen at least attracts the
low-flying insects
school? Apparently this was the advice given to many WI members when they were
young. Did this happen in any other subject? Were you advised to ‘pretend’ or not to
‘bother participating’ in Maths, or Geography, or English?
What a damning indictment!
Our September speaker, Beccy Burgess, is director for Vale Voices, a community
choir for anyone who loves to sing. Her theme for the meeting was “So you think
you can’t sing?” First she dispelled some myths about singing, extolled its benefits,
and gave us a series of exercises designed to make singing FUN! Breathing,
pretending to chew, repeating tongue twisters at increasing speed . . .
The first song she gave us to sing was ‘My Bonny lies over the ocean’, only with a
twist – a clap for every word beginning with B, a thigh slap for every word beginning
with an O. Much concentration needed, many giggles induced.
Then it was concentration but with melody and harmony as Beccy taught us a round
called “Bella Maria” – simple melody with, eventually, beautiful 4 part harmony.
“Swing low . . .”, When the saints . “. and “I wanna sing” are well-known and quite
simple. Beccy took them a step further by introducing us to a ‘Mash-Up’, in which all
3 are sung - at the same time. The roof of Shelford village Hall was in danger at
some point . . .
Everyone then rehydrated with a cuppa, after which it was listening time, as Beccy
serenaded us with a beautiful rendering of a piece from The Greatest Showman.
We can sing (after a fashion) but perhaps not quite as well as Beccy.
Down to earth – well, maybe not, as the sunflower competition winner grew to more
than 3 metres!! It towered over the trees and, indeed, the grower, Maureen Harper.
And Jan Sanderson’s mighty beast, at more than 2 metres, was almost as majestic.
The secret of their success? It’s . . .a secret.
October’s competition – from the tall to the tiny. How many objects can you cram into
a jar designed to hold an individual portion of jam? I reckon there should be a
special prize for the poor person delegated to count the objects!
PS I quite like little flowers and my puny 1.38 metre specimen at least attracts the
low-flying insects
October 2023 Link Article
August 23rd. The day of the Shelford WI Garden Party. About 30 ladies gathered in member and Vice-President Carole Fisher’s garden in East Bridgford. We knew the garden would be beautiful. We hoped the weather would be fine – and if it rained there was a Plan B, Shelford Village Hall. We hoped that Federation Chair Dr. Helen rose, and Treasurer Jenny Bailey would come to present the trophy to the winners of the county Quiz. We hoped the food, from Morrison’s, would prove to everyone’s taste. We rather hoped the tombola, organised by LINK contributor Barbara Deavin, would raise some funds.
All of the above hopes were satisfied. Helen Rose, in very smart dress and hat, presented Linda, Helen, Jo and Jackie with their trophy (102 teams took part –well done Shelford!), President Elaine, in eye catching pink, welcomed everyone, the sun shone, and it was warm enough for most ladies to turn out in their smartest dresses.
What no one expected or hoped for was the sudden arrival in the sky of the Red Arrows aerobatic team. Followed by the Battle of Britain flight of two Spitfires and a Lancaster (or was it two Lancasters and a Spitfire?) Had Carole ordered this? Does she have influence with the RAF? Apparently they were practising in the area . . .but what a tremendous treat.
A memorable day.
So what next for Shelford WI? Well, there’s the judging of the tallest sunflower at our September meeting, Mine has now sulked its way to a height of 1 metre; but I hear that quite a few seeds never made it to the ground so it might just come 10th.
The subject of the monthly meeting talk is “So you think you can’t sing?” (If the rendition of “Jerusalem” is anything to go by, our ladies certainly can)
Both of these will be in the past by the time you read this. However, the title of the October meeting, “What has drug discovery ever done for us?” is very enticing.
Very much not just Jam and Jerusalem.
Do come and see what we get up to. Meetings are in Shelford Village Hall and start at 7.30 pm, usually on the first Thursday of the month. The refreshments almost always include delicious homemade cake – and your fit visit is free!
All of the above hopes were satisfied. Helen Rose, in very smart dress and hat, presented Linda, Helen, Jo and Jackie with their trophy (102 teams took part –well done Shelford!), President Elaine, in eye catching pink, welcomed everyone, the sun shone, and it was warm enough for most ladies to turn out in their smartest dresses.
What no one expected or hoped for was the sudden arrival in the sky of the Red Arrows aerobatic team. Followed by the Battle of Britain flight of two Spitfires and a Lancaster (or was it two Lancasters and a Spitfire?) Had Carole ordered this? Does she have influence with the RAF? Apparently they were practising in the area . . .but what a tremendous treat.
A memorable day.
So what next for Shelford WI? Well, there’s the judging of the tallest sunflower at our September meeting, Mine has now sulked its way to a height of 1 metre; but I hear that quite a few seeds never made it to the ground so it might just come 10th.
The subject of the monthly meeting talk is “So you think you can’t sing?” (If the rendition of “Jerusalem” is anything to go by, our ladies certainly can)
Both of these will be in the past by the time you read this. However, the title of the October meeting, “What has drug discovery ever done for us?” is very enticing.
Very much not just Jam and Jerusalem.
Do come and see what we get up to. Meetings are in Shelford Village Hall and start at 7.30 pm, usually on the first Thursday of the month. The refreshments almost always include delicious homemade cake – and your fit visit is free!
July 2023
I recently received my copy of the programme to next April so thought I would share with you the feast of monthly meetings in store for us.
In July we’ll learn about the wonderful organisation Maggie’s – “everyone’s home of Cancer Care”.
There’s never an August meeting but in September Beccy Burgess challenges us with the rhetorical question “So you think you can’t sing?!” At the end of that evening we’ll either know we can’t sing or she’ll have shown that we can, in fact.
Another question posed at the October meeting: “What has drug discovery ever done for us?”Now that should be fascinating.
November brings another strand of potential healing, when Amanda Carter-Beckford, former police officer turned therapist, tells us “how mindfulness keeps me sane”.
In December and January we don’t usually have speakers, as December is Party Time and January our AGM.
In February next year we haven’t an invited speaker, but a Games Evening could encompass much (and probably will, knowing Shelford WI members!)
March has an admirably environmental theme – the Keyworth Hedgehog Highway. Which isn’t, I imagine, anything like the scheme whereby stoic volunteers hold up traffic on busy main roads in order that toads can be carried safely over, in buckets, to continue the toad heritage.(Rumour has it that some can’t wait and begin in the bucket)
And the programme year ends with “Resilience – the North Pole.”
Not forgetting the June meeting, early enough this month to catch the copy deadline. The Maids of Clifton didn’t just entertain us- they wowed us with a dazzling display of clog dancing it was a miserably chilly evening and we shivered outside 9except the sensible ones who heeded the warning and brought blankets and warm coats) but the dancers brightened up the evening not only with their dancing bt with their red clogs and skirts. We were allowed to join in, one dancer quickly realising that Shelford WI ladies don’t always conform (“Behave, you lot at the back!”), but no blood was shed, no one fell over and no sticks were used against another dancer! All that and delicious cakes and cuppas to warm us up – what more could you want?
Come along and see what we get up to. Usually the first Thursday of the month, at Shelford Village hall, 7.30 pm.
In July we’ll learn about the wonderful organisation Maggie’s – “everyone’s home of Cancer Care”.
There’s never an August meeting but in September Beccy Burgess challenges us with the rhetorical question “So you think you can’t sing?!” At the end of that evening we’ll either know we can’t sing or she’ll have shown that we can, in fact.
Another question posed at the October meeting: “What has drug discovery ever done for us?”Now that should be fascinating.
November brings another strand of potential healing, when Amanda Carter-Beckford, former police officer turned therapist, tells us “how mindfulness keeps me sane”.
In December and January we don’t usually have speakers, as December is Party Time and January our AGM.
In February next year we haven’t an invited speaker, but a Games Evening could encompass much (and probably will, knowing Shelford WI members!)
March has an admirably environmental theme – the Keyworth Hedgehog Highway. Which isn’t, I imagine, anything like the scheme whereby stoic volunteers hold up traffic on busy main roads in order that toads can be carried safely over, in buckets, to continue the toad heritage.(Rumour has it that some can’t wait and begin in the bucket)
And the programme year ends with “Resilience – the North Pole.”
Not forgetting the June meeting, early enough this month to catch the copy deadline. The Maids of Clifton didn’t just entertain us- they wowed us with a dazzling display of clog dancing it was a miserably chilly evening and we shivered outside 9except the sensible ones who heeded the warning and brought blankets and warm coats) but the dancers brightened up the evening not only with their dancing bt with their red clogs and skirts. We were allowed to join in, one dancer quickly realising that Shelford WI ladies don’t always conform (“Behave, you lot at the back!”), but no blood was shed, no one fell over and no sticks were used against another dancer! All that and delicious cakes and cuppas to warm us up – what more could you want?
Come along and see what we get up to. Usually the first Thursday of the month, at Shelford Village hall, 7.30 pm.
February 2023
Christmas – but that’s ages ago! Nevertheless, as our party came after the deadline for the January issue, here’s my account of it.
We always start the party with a flourish – mulled punch (non-alcoholic but still guaranteed to bring a smile to faces and a flush to cheeks); but it nearly didn’t happen.
Shelford village doesn’t have gas - the villagers, and the Hall, rely on bottled gas. There are clear instructions above the cooker on how to operate the cylinders and controls. When you’re hard pressed and cold, and ladies are clamouring gently for a glass, you don’t always read them properly. Luckily, a member of the storytelling group had arrived early and was directed outside with a torch to turn the lever controlling gas output, and within seconds all was well.
After that small hiccup everything went smoothly. The Workhouse Storytellers portrayed life in and out of the Victorian workhouse vividly, by turn sad, humorous, poignant and downright rude!
The food was of course excellent and plentiful and all went away full of Christmas cheer.
Now we look forward to a year of speakers, activities and workshops. Main meeting entertainments include: the Power of Drums, Clog Dancing, Bingo, the development of a Covid Vaccine and – Rubbish!!
We always start the party with a flourish – mulled punch (non-alcoholic but still guaranteed to bring a smile to faces and a flush to cheeks); but it nearly didn’t happen.
Shelford village doesn’t have gas - the villagers, and the Hall, rely on bottled gas. There are clear instructions above the cooker on how to operate the cylinders and controls. When you’re hard pressed and cold, and ladies are clamouring gently for a glass, you don’t always read them properly. Luckily, a member of the storytelling group had arrived early and was directed outside with a torch to turn the lever controlling gas output, and within seconds all was well.
After that small hiccup everything went smoothly. The Workhouse Storytellers portrayed life in and out of the Victorian workhouse vividly, by turn sad, humorous, poignant and downright rude!
The food was of course excellent and plentiful and all went away full of Christmas cheer.
Now we look forward to a year of speakers, activities and workshops. Main meeting entertainments include: the Power of Drums, Clog Dancing, Bingo, the development of a Covid Vaccine and – Rubbish!!
September 2022
All voluntary organisations need – well, organising, and have a committee of members who do the organising. Indeed, we couldn’t function as a WI without a President and a Secretary, as the Constitution forbids it.
Our committee works extremely hard, and though we’re lucky enough to have 10 members there’s always plenty to do.
So they deserve a treat sometimes, and this summer they had one. An outing to Naturescape, the wonderful wildflower centre near Langar. Not only are there acres of wildflower fields to explore, there’s also a tea room – what could be better?
An unexpected treat was in store for 10 members who joined a Skills coaches outing to Sandringham Flower Show. Who else should be there but Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. What’s more, they spoke to and shook the hands of a couple of members. (Quote from one: ‘he has a very firm handshake’). Dare we ask if she’s washed that hand, when we see her next?!
Rather less illustrious but no less ‘regal’ is our workshop leader for the Bollywood Dance Workshop on September 22nd. Vina Ladwa, director of the Manushi Dance Company, will be introducing us to South Asian Dance, demonstrating the moves and .teaching us the basic movements of a North Indian folk dance called Dandiya Raas. There will also be saris to try on and possibly purchase.
So if you spot ladies sashaying down Main Road in saris, you’ll know they’re Shelford WI ladies!
Our September evening meeting will be uplifting, being about bras – but not just how to make the most of your assets. Janice Rose not only fits them, she sends pre-loved ones to Uganda, where they serve a vital purpose in helping keep girls and women safe.
Last time the Tour of Britain cycle race rolled through Shelford, we made bunting by knitting little yellow and green jerseys. Being thrifty, we’ve hung on to them and embroidered ‘”WELCOME TO SHELFORD WI” on some. So if you drive through Shelford on or around September 8th, watch out for our jaunty little jumpers suspended from lamp posts or hedges – and let’s hope the TV doesn’t go to a commercial break this time just as the cyclists are hot pedalling down Shelford Hill!
Our committee works extremely hard, and though we’re lucky enough to have 10 members there’s always plenty to do.
So they deserve a treat sometimes, and this summer they had one. An outing to Naturescape, the wonderful wildflower centre near Langar. Not only are there acres of wildflower fields to explore, there’s also a tea room – what could be better?
An unexpected treat was in store for 10 members who joined a Skills coaches outing to Sandringham Flower Show. Who else should be there but Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. What’s more, they spoke to and shook the hands of a couple of members. (Quote from one: ‘he has a very firm handshake’). Dare we ask if she’s washed that hand, when we see her next?!
Rather less illustrious but no less ‘regal’ is our workshop leader for the Bollywood Dance Workshop on September 22nd. Vina Ladwa, director of the Manushi Dance Company, will be introducing us to South Asian Dance, demonstrating the moves and .teaching us the basic movements of a North Indian folk dance called Dandiya Raas. There will also be saris to try on and possibly purchase.
So if you spot ladies sashaying down Main Road in saris, you’ll know they’re Shelford WI ladies!
Our September evening meeting will be uplifting, being about bras – but not just how to make the most of your assets. Janice Rose not only fits them, she sends pre-loved ones to Uganda, where they serve a vital purpose in helping keep girls and women safe.
Last time the Tour of Britain cycle race rolled through Shelford, we made bunting by knitting little yellow and green jerseys. Being thrifty, we’ve hung on to them and embroidered ‘”WELCOME TO SHELFORD WI” on some. So if you drive through Shelford on or around September 8th, watch out for our jaunty little jumpers suspended from lamp posts or hedges – and let’s hope the TV doesn’t go to a commercial break this time just as the cyclists are hot pedalling down Shelford Hill!
JULY 2022
Every year the National Federation of WIs asks members to vote on a Resolution. Resolutions are chosen from a list submitted by WIs around the country and in the past have included subjects such as the closure of High Street shops, the banning of microplastics and the early recognition of cervical cancer.
This year’s resolution was: Women and girls with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention- Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder) - under-identified, under-diagnosed. The Nottinghamshire Federation of WIs assists groups in their voting decisions by holding a meeting with Powerpoint presentation and will provide an expert to guide us through the process, but ex-President Liz had done her research and gave us an eye-opening, meticulously organised springboard for debate. It’s always useful when members have personal experience of the topic under discussion and our several ex-teachers were able to provide case histories of students both male and female who had exhibited traits of both. The vote was pretty unanimous and, though no one from Shelford will be at the Conference where the final decision is made as to whether to campaign on the issue, the delegate from our group will be in no doubt which way to cast her vote.
After all that serious stuff we welcomed the light relief supplied by readings of the two (mysteriously unsuccessful) Shelford WI entries for the Canada Cup, accounts of meetings that went hilariously awry. Then, over much-needed tea and cake, there was a WI-themed quiz set by the current President.
Our June meeting is all about bees, then in July there’s clog dancing! (outside).! August no meeting, but a guided walk of Shelford is planned
We’re also planning ahead for September’s talk by “the bra lady” who, as well as fitting bras, also sends used ones to her charity in Uganda. So we’re all looking out those that are worn, but not too worn. Last time, our A to G cups were full to overflowing and we were uplifted by the robust collection we amassed.
This year’s resolution was: Women and girls with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention- Deficit /Hyperactivity Disorder) - under-identified, under-diagnosed. The Nottinghamshire Federation of WIs assists groups in their voting decisions by holding a meeting with Powerpoint presentation and will provide an expert to guide us through the process, but ex-President Liz had done her research and gave us an eye-opening, meticulously organised springboard for debate. It’s always useful when members have personal experience of the topic under discussion and our several ex-teachers were able to provide case histories of students both male and female who had exhibited traits of both. The vote was pretty unanimous and, though no one from Shelford will be at the Conference where the final decision is made as to whether to campaign on the issue, the delegate from our group will be in no doubt which way to cast her vote.
After all that serious stuff we welcomed the light relief supplied by readings of the two (mysteriously unsuccessful) Shelford WI entries for the Canada Cup, accounts of meetings that went hilariously awry. Then, over much-needed tea and cake, there was a WI-themed quiz set by the current President.
Our June meeting is all about bees, then in July there’s clog dancing! (outside).! August no meeting, but a guided walk of Shelford is planned
We’re also planning ahead for September’s talk by “the bra lady” who, as well as fitting bras, also sends used ones to her charity in Uganda. So we’re all looking out those that are worn, but not too worn. Last time, our A to G cups were full to overflowing and we were uplifted by the robust collection we amassed.
June 2022
We're now almost back in the routine of face to face meetings, though we are still careful.
And the warmer weather has brought with it our programme of walks, now organised into
monthly events. They alternate between Heritage Trails in either Newark or Southwell, and
countryside walks. So far we've explored Art Deco features in Newark (on an
unseasonably cold and windy day) and bluebells and other Spring flora in Ploughman
Wood, on this occasion a bright, warm day. In June it's another Newark Trail, this time
with the intriguing title of "Curlosities"!
We're also back to normal with our programme of speakers. In April Alan Gray gave us a
fascinating peek into the world of tennis umpires, and in June we'll learn about Life with
Bees. Very topical.
Our meetings are usually at 7.30 pm on the first Thursday of the month, in the Village Hall.
The June meeting Is an exception - It's on June gin.
And the warmer weather has brought with it our programme of walks, now organised into
monthly events. They alternate between Heritage Trails in either Newark or Southwell, and
countryside walks. So far we've explored Art Deco features in Newark (on an
unseasonably cold and windy day) and bluebells and other Spring flora in Ploughman
Wood, on this occasion a bright, warm day. In June it's another Newark Trail, this time
with the intriguing title of "Curlosities"!
We're also back to normal with our programme of speakers. In April Alan Gray gave us a
fascinating peek into the world of tennis umpires, and in June we'll learn about Life with
Bees. Very topical.
Our meetings are usually at 7.30 pm on the first Thursday of the month, in the Village Hall.
The June meeting Is an exception - It's on June gin.
April 2018
There’s been quite a lot in the news recently about waste, especially that of food. Until our April meeting we possibly hadn’t realised just how much food is wasted by supermarkets. Our speaker, though, represents an organisation that tries to do something about a small percentage of this waste by serving meals made entirely from surplus food. Super Kitchens’ primary aim isn’t, though, to feed the poor; rather it’s to reduce social isolation by bringing people together over a 3-course meal that costs the princely sum of £2.50. Anyone can go; you don’t have to be poor to enjoy their meals. Super Kitchens started in Nottingham and has now spread over the Midlands. Theirs is an inspiring, uplifting story which has some relevance to the WI, as last year’s Resolution concerned the alleviation of loneliness.
Our May meeting will be devoted to debate and discussion of the 2018 Resolution; again a topic under public scrutiny, that of mental health.
This year Shelford WI is 90, and as part of our celebrations we’re having a film show followed by a birthday tea at which there will, of course, be cake. I’d hazard a guess that there’ll be no wasted food on that occasion!
We could also be celebrating the success of our Darts team. They’ve already come top of their league and are in line to come top of the whole of Nottinghamshire. So no cake for them, they’re in training!
Our May meeting will be devoted to debate and discussion of the 2018 Resolution; again a topic under public scrutiny, that of mental health.
This year Shelford WI is 90, and as part of our celebrations we’re having a film show followed by a birthday tea at which there will, of course, be cake. I’d hazard a guess that there’ll be no wasted food on that occasion!
We could also be celebrating the success of our Darts team. They’ve already come top of their league and are in line to come top of the whole of Nottinghamshire. So no cake for them, they’re in training!
March 2018.
Our February speaker was Jeanette Orrey, who inspired Jamie Oliver to take up the cause of school dinners. She proved to be a passionate and very entertaining speaker with a wealth of stories.
By the time you read this we should have enjoyed a lovely walk from East Bridgford – unlike the previous occasion when we endured (stoically – we are the WI!) rain of Biblical proportions.
Last year it was toiletries for a women’s centre; this month it’s frogs, 100 of them, which we’re helping to knit for children in Uganda – a tool to help with their reading.
On March 1st we welcome Thomas Bell to tell us the history of Boots the chemists. We also have a very special evening on Tuesday March 13th when Debra Osborn will lead us in a M|indfulness session. She’s so popular it’s the only evening of the year we could book her! She’s assured us we can wear comfy clothing and sit on chairs – it’s not Hot Yoga!
You can follow us on Facebook or on our website; we also tweet very occasionally. Or come along to one of our meetings.
By the time you read this we should have enjoyed a lovely walk from East Bridgford – unlike the previous occasion when we endured (stoically – we are the WI!) rain of Biblical proportions.
Last year it was toiletries for a women’s centre; this month it’s frogs, 100 of them, which we’re helping to knit for children in Uganda – a tool to help with their reading.
On March 1st we welcome Thomas Bell to tell us the history of Boots the chemists. We also have a very special evening on Tuesday March 13th when Debra Osborn will lead us in a M|indfulness session. She’s so popular it’s the only evening of the year we could book her! She’s assured us we can wear comfy clothing and sit on chairs – it’s not Hot Yoga!
You can follow us on Facebook or on our website; we also tweet very occasionally. Or come along to one of our meetings.
January 2018
Our members have always proved extremely generous and this Christmas is no exception. We’ve decided to support the work of the Nottingham Women’s Centre. They said the most useful gift they could have would be single-use toiletries, so we set about collecting items for 50 toiletry care bags. Flannels, soap, shampoo, conditioner, body spray, tooth brushes, sanitary wear, shower gel, brushes and body lotion have been donated, and Dent Blanche kindly gave us lots of small tubes of toothpaste. Being the WI, we didn’t want to put them all in plastic bags, so we’ve made brightly coloured drawstring bags from scraps of fabric which, with the help of money also donated by members, we plan to fill and deliver in time for Christmas. I’m sure they’ll be gratefully received, and the WI member who has spearheaded the collection and assembly of the items will be equally delighted to have her (very large) table back!
November 2017
Twice a year WIs get together for a Group Meeting. Our Group comprises Burton Joyce and Bulcote, East Bridgford, Gunthorpe and
Shelford. The most recent meeting was hosted by East Bridgford, who had invited a speaker from the Medical Detection Dogs charity. They are a very small charity but with enormous potential training dogs to use their incredibly powerful sense of smell to detect minute odours associated with many cancers and other diseases.
They also train Alert Assistance Dogs to support people with, for example, type 1 diabetes and severe nut allergies, again using their powerful scenting ability to detect tiny odour changes that could indicate an impending emergency.
We were moved and inspired by the speaker, who used no notes yet spoke with knowledge and passion about their work. The charity is slowly gaining recognition – its patron is the Duchess of Cornwall and two ambassadors are Jo Malone and Betsy Duncan Smith.
Somewhat of a contrast – next Spring it’s our turn to host, and we’ve invited Charles Hanson to be our speaker.
Shelford. The most recent meeting was hosted by East Bridgford, who had invited a speaker from the Medical Detection Dogs charity. They are a very small charity but with enormous potential training dogs to use their incredibly powerful sense of smell to detect minute odours associated with many cancers and other diseases.
They also train Alert Assistance Dogs to support people with, for example, type 1 diabetes and severe nut allergies, again using their powerful scenting ability to detect tiny odour changes that could indicate an impending emergency.
We were moved and inspired by the speaker, who used no notes yet spoke with knowledge and passion about their work. The charity is slowly gaining recognition – its patron is the Duchess of Cornwall and two ambassadors are Jo Malone and Betsy Duncan Smith.
Somewhat of a contrast – next Spring it’s our turn to host, and we’ve invited Charles Hanson to be our speaker.
June 2017
What was Shelford WI like in the past? Well, fifty years ago the speaker was a Mr. Weston, who “spoke on Handy Household Jobs, but unfortunately was hindered for some time while he investigates an electricity failure.” One hopes he was able to fix it, otherwise his credibility might also have been hindered. At the same (May) meeting, the winner of the competition for “a hat made from one sheet of newspaper and three pins” was Mrs. Voce. She seems to have been a very determined and enterprising lady, as she won the competition again the following February with “113 items in a matchbox” and then again the following July with a “12 foot weed”.
Fashions change in some respects – how enthralled would our present-day members be by “two jolly little sketches entitled ‘Neighbours in Gooseberry Court’ and ‘Impossible Perkins’, on offer at the 1930 Christmas Party, or a “demonstration on passpartout” in August the same year.
Some things, though, never change. It was reported sadly in July 1938 that “two persons frequently coming to the meetings have not yet paid their subs. It was decided to give a very broad hint at the next meeting.”
These and many other gems are from our archive of Minutes. Back to the present day, and we welcome Victoria Hurst and Ann Gerty, formerly on the Criminal Justice Service, to give an address on “Rehabilitation or Retribution?”, a subject which could spark a lively debate.
Fashions change in some respects – how enthralled would our present-day members be by “two jolly little sketches entitled ‘Neighbours in Gooseberry Court’ and ‘Impossible Perkins’, on offer at the 1930 Christmas Party, or a “demonstration on passpartout” in August the same year.
Some things, though, never change. It was reported sadly in July 1938 that “two persons frequently coming to the meetings have not yet paid their subs. It was decided to give a very broad hint at the next meeting.”
These and many other gems are from our archive of Minutes. Back to the present day, and we welcome Victoria Hurst and Ann Gerty, formerly on the Criminal Justice Service, to give an address on “Rehabilitation or Retribution?”, a subject which could spark a lively debate.
February 2017
At our Annual Meeting in January we welcomed Liz Burr as our new President and Linda Moxon as Secretary.
We are becoming a group of recyclers (plastic that can’t go on the blue bin), collectors (bras and pants for Uganda, stamps for Oxfam) and makers (teddies for Uganda)
Our February speaker was John Parker from St Ann’s Allotments. Who’d have guessed that there were 32 miles of hedgerow so near the centre of Nottingham! Hopefully later in the year we’ll follow up his excellent talk with a visit to the allotments.
As well as our March speaker, John Devlin of Nottingham Blood Bikes, we are also planning our birthday meal at the Earl of Chesterfield (we’re 89 this year) and some of us will be attempting to guess whodunnit at our Group meeting, hosted by Gunthorpe WI.
Dinah Wilcox
We are becoming a group of recyclers (plastic that can’t go on the blue bin), collectors (bras and pants for Uganda, stamps for Oxfam) and makers (teddies for Uganda)
Our February speaker was John Parker from St Ann’s Allotments. Who’d have guessed that there were 32 miles of hedgerow so near the centre of Nottingham! Hopefully later in the year we’ll follow up his excellent talk with a visit to the allotments.
As well as our March speaker, John Devlin of Nottingham Blood Bikes, we are also planning our birthday meal at the Earl of Chesterfield (we’re 89 this year) and some of us will be attempting to guess whodunnit at our Group meeting, hosted by Gunthorpe WI.
Dinah Wilcox
Article written by Liz Burr
127126 Private John Flint Notts & Derby Regiment 21st July 1920
Having recently joined the war graves rota, which Shelford WI members contribute to, I was curious about Private Flint who died two years after the end of WW1 and whose grave is on the northern edge of Shelford graveyard.
From The records of his army service that I could decipher, available on the Ancestry website, John Flint was an unmarried collier/ coal miner from Annesley Woodhouse, who was recruited on January 18th 1915, aged 34 years and 11 months. His medical examination records in 1919 describe him as: height 5’7’’, weight 148 lbs, of fresh complexion and eyes blue.
He was born around 1880 in Kirkby in Ashfield. The 1891 census records 11 year old John as one of 13 children between the ages of 20 years and 3 months old, living in Portland Row, Selston, Notts. His father and four eldest brothers were all coal miners. By 1911, the census records John, aged 29, also as a ‘colliery labourer’, boarding in Portland Row with a Mr and Mrs Tepon and two other miners.
He signed up at Derby and was posted on 23.1.1915, transferred to the Northampton Regiment and posted with the ‘Med Exp Force’ – Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 28.8.1915. Could this be to Gallipoli and Salonika?
On 8.12.1915. he was posted home and on 30.12. 1915. posted abroad again.
In 1916 he was part of an Expeditionary Force sent to France. The Battle of the Somme dominated military operations that year. Was he digging trenches or tunnels I wonder?
At the end of the war, on 14.1.1919, Private Flint was finally transferred to ‘Class Z’, which I believe was the Army Reserve, but before the end of the year was discharged; DAH being the reason given. ‘Disorderly action of the heart’ or ‘soldier’s heart’ was the result of stress or fatigue. He had previously been a casualty on a number of occasions; one record sees him in hospital at Rouen, one of the British base hospitals in northern France. He is classed as PB on one record: Permanent Base; this could be to convalesce, but implies he was not fit for full service
On 25.7.19. despite his medical condition he re-enlisted with the infantry of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Sherwood Foresters and was posted with the 3rd Battalion to Liverpool. (I believe this was a reserve battalion)
The final record is of his discharge on 2.7.1920., the occasion of his death. However a newspaper article appeared with details surrounding this. Private Flint had been on leave and witnesses reported seeing him the day after he should have returned to barracks, apparently in good spirits. There was a suggestion that he was due to be posted abroad again, to Ireland or Turkey. However his body was recovered from the River Trent at Stoke Bardolph nine days later, this is perhaps why he is buried at Shelford and not his home. No-one knew if it was suicide although the writer posed this as a possibility. This may explain why his grave is on the north side of the church; I understand the south was considered the holiest, plots to the north reserved for the unbaptised, ostracised or deaths from suicide if they received a church burial. Interestingly the Army must have paid for this, although he didn’t die on active service.
Although soldiers were encouraged to write a ‘soldier’s will’ when they enlisted, there was not one on record for Private Flint. His next of kin was given as his brother Thomas Flint of Hampden St., Kirkby in Ashfield and it appears two of his brothers; Samuel, a brewer, and Arthur Flint, were both of Bromley Place in Nottingham.
I know that a number of you take particular care of his grave and hold a certain fondness for him. I shall leave you to ponder on his life and what the future may have held for him.
If I have made historical errors please correct me. Liz Burr, President Shelford W.I.
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/what-were-vdh-and-dah/
The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs by Tristan Gooley
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-
127126 Private John Flint Notts & Derby Regiment 21st July 1920
Having recently joined the war graves rota, which Shelford WI members contribute to, I was curious about Private Flint who died two years after the end of WW1 and whose grave is on the northern edge of Shelford graveyard.
From The records of his army service that I could decipher, available on the Ancestry website, John Flint was an unmarried collier/ coal miner from Annesley Woodhouse, who was recruited on January 18th 1915, aged 34 years and 11 months. His medical examination records in 1919 describe him as: height 5’7’’, weight 148 lbs, of fresh complexion and eyes blue.
He was born around 1880 in Kirkby in Ashfield. The 1891 census records 11 year old John as one of 13 children between the ages of 20 years and 3 months old, living in Portland Row, Selston, Notts. His father and four eldest brothers were all coal miners. By 1911, the census records John, aged 29, also as a ‘colliery labourer’, boarding in Portland Row with a Mr and Mrs Tepon and two other miners.
He signed up at Derby and was posted on 23.1.1915, transferred to the Northampton Regiment and posted with the ‘Med Exp Force’ – Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 28.8.1915. Could this be to Gallipoli and Salonika?
On 8.12.1915. he was posted home and on 30.12. 1915. posted abroad again.
In 1916 he was part of an Expeditionary Force sent to France. The Battle of the Somme dominated military operations that year. Was he digging trenches or tunnels I wonder?
At the end of the war, on 14.1.1919, Private Flint was finally transferred to ‘Class Z’, which I believe was the Army Reserve, but before the end of the year was discharged; DAH being the reason given. ‘Disorderly action of the heart’ or ‘soldier’s heart’ was the result of stress or fatigue. He had previously been a casualty on a number of occasions; one record sees him in hospital at Rouen, one of the British base hospitals in northern France. He is classed as PB on one record: Permanent Base; this could be to convalesce, but implies he was not fit for full service
On 25.7.19. despite his medical condition he re-enlisted with the infantry of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Sherwood Foresters and was posted with the 3rd Battalion to Liverpool. (I believe this was a reserve battalion)
The final record is of his discharge on 2.7.1920., the occasion of his death. However a newspaper article appeared with details surrounding this. Private Flint had been on leave and witnesses reported seeing him the day after he should have returned to barracks, apparently in good spirits. There was a suggestion that he was due to be posted abroad again, to Ireland or Turkey. However his body was recovered from the River Trent at Stoke Bardolph nine days later, this is perhaps why he is buried at Shelford and not his home. No-one knew if it was suicide although the writer posed this as a possibility. This may explain why his grave is on the north side of the church; I understand the south was considered the holiest, plots to the north reserved for the unbaptised, ostracised or deaths from suicide if they received a church burial. Interestingly the Army must have paid for this, although he didn’t die on active service.
Although soldiers were encouraged to write a ‘soldier’s will’ when they enlisted, there was not one on record for Private Flint. His next of kin was given as his brother Thomas Flint of Hampden St., Kirkby in Ashfield and it appears two of his brothers; Samuel, a brewer, and Arthur Flint, were both of Bromley Place in Nottingham.
I know that a number of you take particular care of his grave and hold a certain fondness for him. I shall leave you to ponder on his life and what the future may have held for him.
If I have made historical errors please correct me. Liz Burr, President Shelford W.I.
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/what-were-vdh-and-dah/
The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs by Tristan Gooley
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-
January 2017
The festive season is fading and the New Year is upon us. Our 2017 programme promises to be interesting, informative and entertaining; John Parker from St Anns Allotments will be talking to us about Heritage Gardens and in April we will hear about The Great War and the impact of those left behind. We are looking forward to a varied line up of speakers from Gorillas to Coco Chanel.
If you’d like to see what else we get up to find us on facebook - www.facebook.com/shelford.wi
Our new year starts on January 12th in Shelford village Hall at 7.30pm with our annual meeting when we elect our new committee.
We wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Ann Keen
If you’d like to see what else we get up to find us on facebook - www.facebook.com/shelford.wi
Our new year starts on January 12th in Shelford village Hall at 7.30pm with our annual meeting when we elect our new committee.
We wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Ann Keen
October 2016
We celebrated WI sports week with a ‘silly sports evening’. Minutes of preparation went into preparing ourselves for the challenges that lay ahead. We practised holding our breath for the straw and pea event, standing upright for the ‘beanbag on your head’ race and keeping our eyes open for the cup and ball contest.
At our meeting in October we had a Members’ Evening to highlight some of the talents and interests of our members. Ann completed a diamond challenge to celebrate 60 years of the Dof E award scheme. Carol entertained us with stories of her disastrous holidays. Heather told us about her award-winning beans. Dorothy showed us her exquisite stumpwork and needlelace. Fiona told us about the quinoa she farms locally. Liz talked to us about her holiday in Uganda. Joy explained her day as a magazine cover girl. Liz gave us an insight into life as a nurse. Andrea, talked on climate change in WI National Week of Action. Helen told us about her lunch at 10 Downing Street.
What a talented and interesting crowd we are ! Our next meeting will be Dr Martin Hewitt talking to us on The History of the Children’s hospital at 7.30pm in Shelford Village Hall.
Ann Keen
At our meeting in October we had a Members’ Evening to highlight some of the talents and interests of our members. Ann completed a diamond challenge to celebrate 60 years of the Dof E award scheme. Carol entertained us with stories of her disastrous holidays. Heather told us about her award-winning beans. Dorothy showed us her exquisite stumpwork and needlelace. Fiona told us about the quinoa she farms locally. Liz talked to us about her holiday in Uganda. Joy explained her day as a magazine cover girl. Liz gave us an insight into life as a nurse. Andrea, talked on climate change in WI National Week of Action. Helen told us about her lunch at 10 Downing Street.
What a talented and interesting crowd we are ! Our next meeting will be Dr Martin Hewitt talking to us on The History of the Children’s hospital at 7.30pm in Shelford Village Hall.
Ann Keen
May 2016
With the Olympics in Rio ringing in our ears we had a chance to go back to 1960 and hear about our own Olympian Joy Jordan. At this time, she joined an elite group of British women who had set individual world records. During the period of 1958 to 1962, she was the untouchable force of middle-distance running in Britain.
Some of our members helped to Clean for the Queen and picked up litter on the streets of Shelford. For a small village we filled an amazing 16 black plastic bags. Much of this had obviously come from people passing through the village and throwing rubbish out of their car windows or fly tipping.
Our next meeting will be on May 12th at Shelford Village Hall at 7.30pm. The meeting in May is always an opportunity to discuss the resolution being put forward to the National AGM in London. Resolutions form the basis of campaigning and awareness- raising activities in the years ahead.
Ann Keen
Some of our members helped to Clean for the Queen and picked up litter on the streets of Shelford. For a small village we filled an amazing 16 black plastic bags. Much of this had obviously come from people passing through the village and throwing rubbish out of their car windows or fly tipping.
Our next meeting will be on May 12th at Shelford Village Hall at 7.30pm. The meeting in May is always an opportunity to discuss the resolution being put forward to the National AGM in London. Resolutions form the basis of campaigning and awareness- raising activities in the years ahead.
Ann Keen
March 2016
Bob Wilcox held us spellbound with descriptions of illnesses and the treatments that Victorian doctors used to treat their patients. Tetchy children were given a mixture of codeine, heroin, morphine and opium – not to be recommended today. We heard about the development of the medical profession which made us feel lucky that we have modern medicine and the NHS.
Some of us went for a trip on the newly constructed tram system. A word of warning: you need to move quickly when getting on the tram otherwise you will be waving goodbye to companions on the platform as the tram moves off.
As usual, our monthly meeting will be at Shelford Village Hall at 7.30pm. On April 7th we will be listening to our own Joy Jordan who made it through to the Olympic final in Rome in 1960 having ran an 800m personal best of 2:07.29 in her heat. Just a matter of weeks later, it was her turn to enter athletics history and produce the only world record performance ever at Welwyn Garden City. She ran 2:06.1 for the 880yards, beating the time of 2.06.6 by Nina Otkalenko, of the Soviet Union, more than four years earlier.
Some of us went for a trip on the newly constructed tram system. A word of warning: you need to move quickly when getting on the tram otherwise you will be waving goodbye to companions on the platform as the tram moves off.
As usual, our monthly meeting will be at Shelford Village Hall at 7.30pm. On April 7th we will be listening to our own Joy Jordan who made it through to the Olympic final in Rome in 1960 having ran an 800m personal best of 2:07.29 in her heat. Just a matter of weeks later, it was her turn to enter athletics history and produce the only world record performance ever at Welwyn Garden City. She ran 2:06.1 for the 880yards, beating the time of 2.06.6 by Nina Otkalenko, of the Soviet Union, more than four years earlier.
January 2016
We started the New Year with our AGM. As always we start our meetings by singing Jerusalem. People often ask why Jerusalem was chosen as the WI song. The short version is: The decision to choose Jerusalem came as a result of a letter to Home and Country (the WI magazine), prior to the 8th national AGM, from Vice Chairman Grace Hadow suggesting its use. The NFWI ran a competition for an 'Institute song', hoping that it might produce a good but unknown poet. Many poems were sent in but nothing suitable was found; it was after receiving a verse that began, 'We are a band of earnest women' that Grace Hadow, the Vice-chairman, suggested that Jerusalem should become the WI song. Jerusalem had been used by the National Union of Suffrage Societies in the 1918 celebrations of women's enfranchisement. Many of the leaders of the NFWI had been part of that struggle to win the vote for women. The rest is history.
At the end of our January meeting we amused ourselves by knitting with match sticks; it might be a while before we finish the jumpers though.
We will be singing Jerusalem again at Shelford village hall on February 4th at 7.30pm. Our speaker will be Helen Phillips talking on: ‘Towards the Himalayas’ – sounds like another ‘earnest woman’.
At the end of our January meeting we amused ourselves by knitting with match sticks; it might be a while before we finish the jumpers though.
We will be singing Jerusalem again at Shelford village hall on February 4th at 7.30pm. Our speaker will be Helen Phillips talking on: ‘Towards the Himalayas’ – sounds like another ‘earnest woman’.
November 2015
The nights are drawing in and Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night have past. At our last meeting, to the background noise of fireworks, David Brailsford kept us entertained. He is a member of a newly formed storytelling group which consists of an amalgamation of the Nottingham and Derby storytellers. He regaled us with amusing stories of Egyptian holidays, monks and burials.
Our contact with Matakana WI, a small group in New Zealand, continues and as usual we will be exchanging Christmas gifts with them.
Our next meeting will be our Christmas party when we will be going back to playing some old fashioned games. We wish you all a Happy Christmas.
Our contact with Matakana WI, a small group in New Zealand, continues and as usual we will be exchanging Christmas gifts with them.
Our next meeting will be our Christmas party when we will be going back to playing some old fashioned games. We wish you all a Happy Christmas.
October 2015
To celebrate the WI’s centenary we are trying to complete 100 challenges. Some of Shelford’s contributions so far have been: being interviewed on radio 4 and making a wedding cake. As part of our centenary celebrations we will hold a joint tea party with East Bridgford WI. The entertainment will include a look back at our histories. Our predecessors had some interesting times, for example, they held a competition for the ‘Best Letter of Complaint to the Ministry of Fuel’. Mm, sounds like something we could resurrect.
Our next meeting will be on October 1st at 7.30pm in Shelford Village Hall. Our speaker will be Michael Brown and his talk is entitled, ‘In a Monastery Garden’.
Our next meeting will be on October 1st at 7.30pm in Shelford Village Hall. Our speaker will be Michael Brown and his talk is entitled, ‘In a Monastery Garden’.
June 2015
June has been a very exciting month; we’ve been to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. 8,000 ladies from the WI were invited to the garden party attended by various members of the Royal family. We set off armed with fascinators and dressed in our Sunday best. Whilst there, we did our best to eat as many cakes and crust-less sandwiches as possible. The afternoon was spent enjoying the music of two military bands, admiring the gardens and keeping our fascinators under control in the high winds.
Several members of the Royal Family, including The Queen, are members of the WI and attended the 100th AGM at the Royal Albert Hall in London. One of our members was lucky enough to attend the AGM and received a piece of anniversary cake. Those of us who couldn’t go to London went to cine world in Nottingham and enjoyed a live streaming of the event.
Some of us had a go at tractor driving as part of our Centenary Challenge to do something new. So go carefully if you are travelling through Shelford and keep your eyes open for strangely driven tractors. ( Don’t worry, we were safely out of the way and in the middle of a field)
Twelve members enjoyed a trip to the BBC studios in Nottingham. Jo Davies very kindly showed them behind the scenes and they even managed to sit on the red sofa.
Our next meeting will be on 2nd of July at 7.30pm when we will be flower arranging with Ruffy.
Ann Keen
Several members of the Royal Family, including The Queen, are members of the WI and attended the 100th AGM at the Royal Albert Hall in London. One of our members was lucky enough to attend the AGM and received a piece of anniversary cake. Those of us who couldn’t go to London went to cine world in Nottingham and enjoyed a live streaming of the event.
Some of us had a go at tractor driving as part of our Centenary Challenge to do something new. So go carefully if you are travelling through Shelford and keep your eyes open for strangely driven tractors. ( Don’t worry, we were safely out of the way and in the middle of a field)
Twelve members enjoyed a trip to the BBC studios in Nottingham. Jo Davies very kindly showed them behind the scenes and they even managed to sit on the red sofa.
Our next meeting will be on 2nd of July at 7.30pm when we will be flower arranging with Ruffy.
Ann Keen
May 2015
This is a busy time for Shelford WI and we have some exciting events ahead of us. We had hoped to prepare ourselves and create a calm state of mind by spending an evening learning Tai Chi. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the event. We will just have to content ourselves with watching ITV’s new series ‘Home Fires’, which is based on the WI during WW2.
On June 2nd the WI has been invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party as part of the WI centenary celebrations. One of our members will be travelling down to London to air their summer frocks and get their heels stuck in the royal lawn.
We will be looking forward to our next meeting in Shelford village hall on June 4th at 7.30pm. Julie Ede will be talking to us about Beth of Hardwick, a notable figure of 16th century Elizabethan English society.
On June 2nd the WI has been invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party as part of the WI centenary celebrations. One of our members will be travelling down to London to air their summer frocks and get their heels stuck in the royal lawn.
We will be looking forward to our next meeting in Shelford village hall on June 4th at 7.30pm. Julie Ede will be talking to us about Beth of Hardwick, a notable figure of 16th century Elizabethan English society.
April 2015
Shelford WI is looking forward to another birthday. We are now 87 years young and not doing badly for our age. We never miss the opportunity to celebrate with a good meal. Future plans include a session of Tai Chi and a visit to BBC Nottingham. We continue to challenge ourselves; in the WI’s hundredth year we are attempting to complete 100 challenges to go beyond our comfort zone. Singing at the Albert Hall in Nottingham and driving a tractor feature amongst these. Angela Unwin and Maureen Harper already have a start on this. They won the Notts WI pairs darts competition. Congratulations. Is there no end to their talents ?
Every Spring we attend the Nottinghamshire Annual Meeting which takes place at the Royal Centre. This year we were treated to a visit from our national chair, Janice Langley and historian Ruth Goodman. Ruth has appeared in many BBC educational documentaries such Victorian Pharmacy and Wartime Farm. She told us about the life of ladies living in rural areas at the time that the WI started; no running water, outside toilets and isolation, to name but a few of their challenges. The WI has always fought for women’s rights as well as national and international issues. We continue to campaign for improvements. At our next meeting in Shelford village hall on May 14th at 7.30pm, we will be talking about the resolution to be discussed at the annual meeting in the Albert Hall in London.
Every Spring we attend the Nottinghamshire Annual Meeting which takes place at the Royal Centre. This year we were treated to a visit from our national chair, Janice Langley and historian Ruth Goodman. Ruth has appeared in many BBC educational documentaries such Victorian Pharmacy and Wartime Farm. She told us about the life of ladies living in rural areas at the time that the WI started; no running water, outside toilets and isolation, to name but a few of their challenges. The WI has always fought for women’s rights as well as national and international issues. We continue to campaign for improvements. At our next meeting in Shelford village hall on May 14th at 7.30pm, we will be talking about the resolution to be discussed at the annual meeting in the Albert Hall in London.
March 2015
In order to celebrate the centenary of the WI we started to research the minutes of our own WI’s history. Wow, what an amazing set of ladies .Their exploits and courage made us feel quite insignificant. In hard times these ladies kept the country going. They ferried planes around in the 2nd world war. They provided eggs and potatoes for the hospital. In 1942 they helped to make the 300,000 tons of jam needed to cover the rations. That’s a lot of fruit picking.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s they had a surprisingly international flavour to their lives: they entertained students from Scandinavia, Greece and France; they sent periodicals to German women in the late 1940s. They also constantly received cake and tins of dripping from Australia. I hope it was fruit cake as the journey would have taken some time. In 1945 they responded to an appeal for help for the Women of France.
The National Federation of WIs have produced a cookbook this year called, ‘The First 100 Years.’ So the story continues.
At our meeting on April 2nd Gabrielle Middleton will give us a taste of belly dancing. How times have changed.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s they had a surprisingly international flavour to their lives: they entertained students from Scandinavia, Greece and France; they sent periodicals to German women in the late 1940s. They also constantly received cake and tins of dripping from Australia. I hope it was fruit cake as the journey would have taken some time. In 1945 they responded to an appeal for help for the Women of France.
The National Federation of WIs have produced a cookbook this year called, ‘The First 100 Years.’ So the story continues.
At our meeting on April 2nd Gabrielle Middleton will give us a taste of belly dancing. How times have changed.
February 2015
Professor David Walker from the School of Medicine at Nottingham University talked to us about teenage cancer at our last meeting. It is saddening to think that around seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer every day in the UK. He works with The Teenage Cancer Trust who provide expert treatment and support from the moment the young people hear the word ‘cancer’.
By March we hope that spring will be on its way. According to one quote, ‘Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush’. We look forward to that. At our meeting Ginny McGivern will be talking to us about, ‘ Complementary Therapy and Massage’.
Ann Keen
By March we hope that spring will be on its way. According to one quote, ‘Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush’. We look forward to that. At our meeting Ginny McGivern will be talking to us about, ‘ Complementary Therapy and Massage’.
Ann Keen
January 2015
Happy New Year to everyone. With the party season well and truly behind us we start the New Year with our AGM. The Women’s Institute is celebrating its centenary this year. It was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK.
At Shelford, we have a broad and varied programme of events planned for 2015 from belly dancing to talks on Bess of Hardwick, the teenage cancer trust and complementary therapy. Well, we had better get started.
Have you thought of joining us ? Come along to the village hall on January 8th at 7.30pm.
Ann Keen
At Shelford, we have a broad and varied programme of events planned for 2015 from belly dancing to talks on Bess of Hardwick, the teenage cancer trust and complementary therapy. Well, we had better get started.
Have you thought of joining us ? Come along to the village hall on January 8th at 7.30pm.
Ann Keen
November 2014
The nights are drawing in and what else could we do but eat chocolate ? Jenny Ellis from the chocolate shop in Radcliffe told us the story of chocolate and plied us with samples of her wares. We have also enjoyed a fabulous evening of ukulele playing with Burton Joyce WI. We sang, tapped our feet and were transported to another era by songs whose words we all knew by heart.
However, we are all very saddened by the fact that the lovely village of Shelford is in danger. Shelford Valley could be defaced because of gravel extraction, not to mention the noise, pollution, increased traffic and inconvenience to the local residents. Please support this historic village by visiting www.saveshelfordvalley.org
Our next meeting will be our Christmas Party with the usual delicious food and refreshing drinks. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ann Keen
However, we are all very saddened by the fact that the lovely village of Shelford is in danger. Shelford Valley could be defaced because of gravel extraction, not to mention the noise, pollution, increased traffic and inconvenience to the local residents. Please support this historic village by visiting www.saveshelfordvalley.org
Our next meeting will be our Christmas Party with the usual delicious food and refreshing drinks. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ann Keen
October 2014
After knitting bunting to celebrate the WI centenary, we decided that it should be recycled. One of our members,
Pat Thompson, crochet all the triangles together and hey presto, we had useful blankets ! These were donated to
Bingham Inner Wheel who would put them to good use for orphaned children in Romania.
The knitted poppies that we made were also recycled. Initially they were attached to the railings of the war memorial
in Shelford to commemorate the lives lost in WW1. Then we donated them the BBC poppy appeal to be sold for the
British Legion.In the autumn, Nottinghamshire WIs meet together in Newark. This year we enjoyed
a presentation by Lucy Adlington and Meridith Towne from ‘The History Wardrobe’. Complete with genuine clothing
from WW1, they educated and amused us with tales of women at that time.
Everyone knows about the Sheriff of Nottingham but few of us knew about the High Sheriff before Nicky Weston
talked to us about the role at our last meeting.We wait with bated breath for our meeting on November 6th as it is
entitled, ‘Chocolate’. What more could we ask !
By: Ann Keen
Pat Thompson, crochet all the triangles together and hey presto, we had useful blankets ! These were donated to
Bingham Inner Wheel who would put them to good use for orphaned children in Romania.
The knitted poppies that we made were also recycled. Initially they were attached to the railings of the war memorial
in Shelford to commemorate the lives lost in WW1. Then we donated them the BBC poppy appeal to be sold for the
British Legion.In the autumn, Nottinghamshire WIs meet together in Newark. This year we enjoyed
a presentation by Lucy Adlington and Meridith Towne from ‘The History Wardrobe’. Complete with genuine clothing
from WW1, they educated and amused us with tales of women at that time.
Everyone knows about the Sheriff of Nottingham but few of us knew about the High Sheriff before Nicky Weston
talked to us about the role at our last meeting.We wait with bated breath for our meeting on November 6th as it is
entitled, ‘Chocolate’. What more could we ask !
By: Ann Keen
September 2014
Although we don’t hold a meeting August, never-the-less the summer was a very busy time. The WI entered an arrangement in Shelford Flower Festival, held in the beautiful Church of St. Peter and St. Paul's Our entry was entitled ‘Gardener’s World.’ Continuing in the gardening theme, Patsy Rayner delighted us with her talk on Japanese Gardens. Some of us took the opportunity to visit the Japanese Garden in North Clifton.
Keen to make the most of summer, we helped Burton Joyce and Bulcote WI celebrate with an evening of Pimms, Pate & Prose. In August one of our members organised a walk around her potato fields. After such energetic activity we needed refreshment and retired to The Earl of Chesterfield for a meal and revitalising beverages.
To commemorate the centenary of World War 1, we attached 100 hand-knitted poppies to the railings around Shelford War Memorial. We read poems and observed a minute's silence in respect of those who lost their lives.
At our next meeting on 2nd October Nicky Weston will talk to us on the Role of the High Sheriff.
Ann Keen
Keen to make the most of summer, we helped Burton Joyce and Bulcote WI celebrate with an evening of Pimms, Pate & Prose. In August one of our members organised a walk around her potato fields. After such energetic activity we needed refreshment and retired to The Earl of Chesterfield for a meal and revitalising beverages.
To commemorate the centenary of World War 1, we attached 100 hand-knitted poppies to the railings around Shelford War Memorial. We read poems and observed a minute's silence in respect of those who lost their lives.
At our next meeting on 2nd October Nicky Weston will talk to us on the Role of the High Sheriff.
Ann Keen
August 2014
The WI will be 100 years old next year and celebrations started with a baton relay around Britain. The baton reached Shelford on Friday 13th June; certainly our lucky day. Passers-by wondered in amazement as a group of ladies dressed in 1920s costumes ‘yarn bombed’ the millennium stone and surrounding area. Knitted bunting adorned anything it could be attached to. We then boarded a bus to East Bridgford and serenaded our fellow passengers with rousing war time songs. On to East Bridgford WI, where we were greeted by our ‘first president, Mrs Clark.’ Our journey through history continued and we passed the baton to East Bridgford WI. They provided us with a delicious supper.
We look forward to the next hundred years of the WI.
In the meantime, we enjoyed another brush with history in the form of the Workhouse Storytellers who regaled us with tales from life in the workhouse. From piss pots to the devil’s hand, we learnt about their sorry lives and Matron’s struggle to keep them all in order.
There will be no meeting in August but on September 4th Patsy Rayner will talk on Japanese Gardens.
Ann Keen
We look forward to the next hundred years of the WI.
In the meantime, we enjoyed another brush with history in the form of the Workhouse Storytellers who regaled us with tales from life in the workhouse. From piss pots to the devil’s hand, we learnt about their sorry lives and Matron’s struggle to keep them all in order.
There will be no meeting in August but on September 4th Patsy Rayner will talk on Japanese Gardens.
Ann Keen
June 2014
In May we armed ourselves with ‘cupcake containers’, oasis and armfuls of colourful flowers and set off for a flower arranging workshop. Supported by Rosemary, we made lovely creations representing the wealth of spring flowers available. Our efforts can be seen on our website or follow us on Facebook and twitter
At our June meeting Carole Kirk kept us enthralled with pictures of her climb up Kilimanjaro and to Everest base camp. She succeeded in overcoming a variety of hazards and challenges, not to mention flying into the world’s most dangerous airport.
We look forward to our next meeting on 3rd July when we will have a visit from the paupers and Matron at the National Trust’s Workhouse at Southwell. The Workhouse Storytellers will take us back to the 1840s and entertain us with tales of workhouse life.
At our June meeting Carole Kirk kept us enthralled with pictures of her climb up Kilimanjaro and to Everest base camp. She succeeded in overcoming a variety of hazards and challenges, not to mention flying into the world’s most dangerous airport.
We look forward to our next meeting on 3rd July when we will have a visit from the paupers and Matron at the National Trust’s Workhouse at Southwell. The Workhouse Storytellers will take us back to the 1840s and entertain us with tales of workhouse life.
April 2014
The highlight of this month has been the visit by the BBC’s Des Coleman to our WI. He entertained us with tales of his colourful life. Des has appeared in numerous stage musicals and played the role of Lenny Wallace in BBC's EastEnders. In 2007 he became the weatherman for BBC's East Midlands Today and now works on shows such as The One Show.
Several of our members went on an interesting day to enable us to set up a website for our WI. After many biscuits, chatter and laughter, we succeeded. If you would like to see what we did, log onto www.shelfordwi.weebly.com or follow us on Facebook and twitter.
Having made the decision to yarn bomb ourselves and a future event in Shelford, we then thought we ought to learn to knit. We spent a fun-filled evening going back to childhood knitting strange shaped objects with very big needles. We now have metres of knitted bunting in a variety of patterns and colours.
At our May meeting we discussed the National WI’s resolution, "We call on every member of the WI to make their wishes regarding organ donation known, and to encourage their families and friends, and members of their local communities to do likewise." On a more cheerful note we ended the meeting with a sing song.
We look forward to the meeting on June 5th when Caroline Kirk will be talking to us about, ‘ Climbing Kilimanjaro’.
Several of our members went on an interesting day to enable us to set up a website for our WI. After many biscuits, chatter and laughter, we succeeded. If you would like to see what we did, log onto www.shelfordwi.weebly.com or follow us on Facebook and twitter.
Having made the decision to yarn bomb ourselves and a future event in Shelford, we then thought we ought to learn to knit. We spent a fun-filled evening going back to childhood knitting strange shaped objects with very big needles. We now have metres of knitted bunting in a variety of patterns and colours.
At our May meeting we discussed the National WI’s resolution, "We call on every member of the WI to make their wishes regarding organ donation known, and to encourage their families and friends, and members of their local communities to do likewise." On a more cheerful note we ended the meeting with a sing song.
We look forward to the meeting on June 5th when Caroline Kirk will be talking to us about, ‘ Climbing Kilimanjaro’.
March 2014
The speaker at our March meeting was Nigel Lowey who gave an excellent talk on St Pancras, an incredible mid-Victorian Gothic railway station and hotel. He expertly described how the long-neglected building has undergone a breath-taking transformation.
Several of our members are looking forward to a day at the Royal Centre to listen to Julie Summers, who wrote Jambusters: The Story of the Women's Institute in the Second World War. No doubt, she will remind us that the WI has always been a force to be reckoned with and food has always been at the heart of our activities. Shelford WI celebrates its 86th birthday this year and as usual we will mark the occasion with a meal.
The title of the talk at our meeting on April 3rd will be ‘Musket, Fife and Drum’. It will be given by Paul Stevens who is a member of The Sealed Knot
Several of our members are looking forward to a day at the Royal Centre to listen to Julie Summers, who wrote Jambusters: The Story of the Women's Institute in the Second World War. No doubt, she will remind us that the WI has always been a force to be reckoned with and food has always been at the heart of our activities. Shelford WI celebrates its 86th birthday this year and as usual we will mark the occasion with a meal.
The title of the talk at our meeting on April 3rd will be ‘Musket, Fife and Drum’. It will be given by Paul Stevens who is a member of The Sealed Knot
February 2014
At Shelford WI we never like to miss the chance of a good laugh. Trying to answer the questions at our quiz night gave us plenty of opportunity to do that.
One of the highlights of the year is our federation’s Annual Meeting held at the Royal Centre in Nottingham. We support the women in remote villages of Southern India through the ‘Associated Country Women of the World’. We are proud to support them in trying to improve their livelihoods by creating small businesses.
The speaker at our March meeting will be Nigel Lowry who will be telling us the fascinating story of St Pancras Station and hotel.
One of the highlights of the year is our federation’s Annual Meeting held at the Royal Centre in Nottingham. We support the women in remote villages of Southern India through the ‘Associated Country Women of the World’. We are proud to support them in trying to improve their livelihoods by creating small businesses.
The speaker at our March meeting will be Nigel Lowry who will be telling us the fascinating story of St Pancras Station and hotel.
January 2014
Winter causes hardship to many people and we wanted to help the vulnerable. With this in mind we have donated warm clothes and food to the Friary Drop-In Centre in West Bridgford.
However, not wanting to completely dispel our Jam and Jerusalem image, some of our members spent a day at Denman College Jam Festival. Denman College is the WI’s own College near Oxford. It is a graceful Georgian house, set in 17 acres of beautiful grounds, named after the first Chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes. The highlight of our day was the cookery demonstration by John Whaite who won the third series of The Great British Bake Off.
Following our AGM, we welcomed our new president Dinah Wilcox. We look forward to our next meeting which will be a light-hearted quiz on the theme of ‘food’. Well, we are the WI.
However, not wanting to completely dispel our Jam and Jerusalem image, some of our members spent a day at Denman College Jam Festival. Denman College is the WI’s own College near Oxford. It is a graceful Georgian house, set in 17 acres of beautiful grounds, named after the first Chairman of the National Federation of Women's Institutes. The highlight of our day was the cookery demonstration by John Whaite who won the third series of The Great British Bake Off.
Following our AGM, we welcomed our new president Dinah Wilcox. We look forward to our next meeting which will be a light-hearted quiz on the theme of ‘food’. Well, we are the WI.