WHITLEY WI

The Gardening Interest Group (suggested by Pat Sharp) had its first meeting this week. Twenty members are making plans to visit a number of local open gardens on weekends in May, June and July and also plan to visit the Southport Flower Show in August. Members will also be selling their plant cuttings at the monthly meetings – increasing WI funds.

The Craft and Chat group had its second meeting this month at the home of Annette Minor, who is kindly leading this project. Demonstrations of tapestry and knitting were given to eager members. There was a discussion between members about projects and visits to Craft exhibitions. The group will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at Whitley Village Hall

On Tuesday April 10th, Whitley WI members Joan Blackshaw and Susan Burtonwood visited the Warrington Museum display focusing on the Women’s Suffragette Movement.
There was a defaced 1903 penny on display — Women Suffragettes stamped the words ‘VOTES FOR WOMEN’ across the head of King Edward VII on one penny coins. Then when the coins were circulated they hoped to get more support from the public.
In 1910 a group of women in Warrington took part in an election. With dismay they discovered their election costs were £15; they made a collection of £5 towards the cost and one lady made a cookery book ( which was on display ) She sold copies and gave the total of £3 towards the election costs.
There is a new 50p coin this year recognising the bravery of the suffragette movement.

Chris Jones passed on a message from Joan Blackshaw our President, who was unfortunately absent, thanking us for the 80th birthday card and present that we gave her recently. Chris Jones and Anne Kennedy then informed us of our numerous forthcoming events and activities. Our new craft club is having it’s second meeting on April 11th and a new garden interest group has it’s first meeting on April 13th. As usual we have our monthly book club and monthly walk. On May 9th we have our Spring Outing to Llangollen, the Culture club goes to see the Titanic at the Lowry on May 12th and Pat Sharp is organising a ‘Behind the Scenes at the Albert Hall’ trip to London on June 23rd.

We then had an interesting talk by Rosalie Gorton regarding the link between Venice and the Egerton family of Tatton Park. Samuel Egerton went to Venice in 1730 to work as an apprentice to the art dealer and connoisseur Joseph Smith. Later when Samuel inherited the estate, much of the knowledge and artefacts that he acquired in the five years that he was in Venice, were used in the many improvements that he began to make to the house etc. from 1758. The portrait is of Samuel Egerton in Venice and can still be seen in Venice. In the house at Tatton Park there is Venice scene painted by Canaletto which was commissioned from the artist by Joseph Smith, whilst Samuel was in Venice.

We all met at Ann O’Brien’s for tea and cake then made our way to Wigg Island. The day started off dull and damp, but the sun eventually appeared.

As well as the scenery, we were also keen to get a glimpse of the ‘much talked about’ new Runcorn bridge. You can just about see it on the group photo in the background.

We came across a beautiful swan , which very kindly posed for a photo.

It was a very pleasant walk great opportunity to chat to each other whilst taking in the lovely scenery.

After the walk we made our way to the TEN LOCK FLIGHTS for lunch.

Here are the results of the resolutions shortlist selection process for the 2018 Annual Meeting.

Mental health matters is ahead of the second placed resolution by over 14,000 selections.

This year’s total is the most selections cast since the individual selection process was introduced, and the first time over 100,000 selections have been cast by members.

The NFWI Board of Trustees has reviewed the results and agreed that one resolution (Mental Health Matters) will go forward to the Annual Meeting.

The wording of the resolution is as follows:

Mental health matters

Mental health matters as much as physical health. The NFWI urges all WI members to recognise the importance of parity between mental health and physical health, and take action to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health issues as much as physical health issues, and to lobby government for better support for mental illness.