WI Newsletter – November 2005

In November each Institute holds its Annual Meeting, this is a chance to reflect on the previous 12 months as well as look forward to the coming year. Any changes to the committee take place this month and an election for President takes place.

For us there are very few changes this year. Two members stood down from the Committee, Sue Farr and Judy Wickham, both are very enthusiastic and I am sure they will both continue to be actively involved in all we do, but we are delighted to welcome Cecilia Cotton and Val Downing. I was re-elected as President and later in the evening, the new committee voted for Sue Hancock and Jill Reynolds to continue as Vice-Presidents.

Most other duties will be allocated at our January Committee Meeting.

In an attempt to lighten the mood of the evening, once the formalities were over, we had invited Jacquie Wilson (a member of our Institute) to give us an insight into an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. It all started with the momentous day, earlier in the year, when her husband received a letter from Buckingham Palace asking if he was minded to accept an OBE should one be offered to him, his reply being yes please. However, until it was formally announced, they had to keep it all to themselves. They then had to wait to hear from the Palace as when the Investiture would take place, but on 28th October, accompanied by Jacquie and their two daughters, John received his OBE from HRH The Prince of Wales. They further celebrated by going out to lunch with their son and his family. Jacquie had brought along some photographs of the occasion and they both looked splendid.

We had also asked Susan Hibbert, another of our members, to explain how she came to appear on the BBC Programme South Today earlier this year. To mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the programme made an appeal asking for viewers’ memories of the momentous day. Susan of course was in the thick of it, being in France and typing the documentation that declared the War had ended. South Today, were delighted to hear from her and filmed her return to the town of Reims, she was later invited back to receive a medal from the City in recognition of her contribution, and this was also filmed by the BBC.

Earlier this in the evening the Pamela King Bursary had been presented jointly to June James and Muriel Spanholtz. June is taking three courses at the Museum in Andover and Muriel is coming to grips with the Internet and email at Cricklade College. We were delighted that Pamela’s husband George King was able to join us to make the presentation.

To finish the evening on a humorous note, whilst the refreshments were being prepared, I shared with the members a few funny stories, which I think they appreciated as they did, very kindly, laugh!

Coming Up:

08 December – Christmas Party – 7 p.m. Village Hall

2006

26 January – C Ingram – Cheese Tasting

23 February – Jill Liddell Japanese Traditional Designs

Next month’s meeting takes the form of a Christmas Dinner – all provided and cooked for us by an excellent caterer from Totton.

Sharon King