W.I. Newsletter October 2025

There was even more activity than usual on Abbotts Ann W.I. Committee’s Whatsapp Group in the final week of the month.  Our brilliant Programme Secretary, Lynda Goldstone, was being sorely tested.  On the Monday prior to our meeting, she discovered that our scheduled speaker had moved and was now unable to attend our meeting.  What should she do?  Ever resourceful, Lynda started ringing around and Jill Bentall came to our rescue.  Relief all round.

Always looking ahead, Lynda tried to book us into Houghton Lodge for our June meeting in 2026, only to discover our meeting date was already taken.  More messages being exchanged.  In the end she managed to book us in for Friday 26^th June.  We needed members’ consent to this change of date and those attending our October meeting were consulted and they agreed.  Again, our Committee, and especially Lynda, sighed with relief.

Standing in for our President. Lynne Lucas, Sharon King, updated the members with all that is planned in the coming months including our Christmas Lunch at The Grey Hound in Broughton on 4^th December.  Members wishing to attend need to make their selections and pay their monies to our Treasurer please and then indicate if they are willing to drive or need a lift.

She also revealed that sadly our quiz team only came 12^th in the final of the HCFWI Quiz.  The team were disappointed with the result, but at least they won the first round and didn’t come last.

There was an opportunity for members to contribute to our poppy wreath which will be laid by Sue George on our behalf at the annual Service of Remembrance on 09 November in St. Mary’s Church.

A bouquet was presented to long-time member Sue Hancock who celebrated her 90^th birthday recently.  Her fellow members also sang Happy Birthday to her. 

Coming to our rescue our speaker Jill Bentall then rose to give her take on Pills, Potions, Prayer and Pandemic.  She had brought along many props and started with old fashioned home remedies with dubious packaging, long before the arrival of antibiotics and antiseptic. Who knew that when we talk about having a frog in our throat, this has some relevance.  Apparently, it was thought that a remedy for a sore throat would be to put a cold and slimy frog in the mouth for relief.  Her audience gasped in horror!  There were many other examples. When we sneeze, it is common for a bystander to say bless you.  This dates to the Black Death, as one of the first signs of the disease was sneezing, but the practice continues to this day.  

Jill then went on to talk about the trials and tribulations of the recent Covid Pandemic.  Having to wear masks, which hindered us being able to see our mouths move, this was particularly hard for those who were deaf or hard of hearing.  Wearing shields meant they steamed up, and we couldn’t see out.  On the plus sign she talked about people taking time out to listen to birdsong – no traffic on the roads made it more audible.  We were reminded that at this time we were encouraged to sing Happy Birthday twice whilst washing our hands.  So, Sue was sung to twice more during the evening whilst Jill sanitised her hands!

Jill also mentioned that some, but not all, take comfort in prayer and like to visit empty open Churches in silence.  Surprisingly, an open Church is less likely to be broken into than one that is kept locked.  This isn’t her opinion, but a statistic provided by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Company. 

Jill has a marvellous sense of humour and made us all laugh, much needed in today’s world, and she read out a few humorous poems relating to the taking of pills and how they work.  Lynda thanked Jill for stepping into the breach.

This month’s meeting is on 27^th November, and we will be making Christmas Cards with Pauline Foster (we hope!)   As always non-members are welcome, but we do ask for a £5 entry fee.  Please come and meet us.  

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