PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Our August Meeting was a Garden Party held in  Pam and Raymond Lack's beautiful big garden.  It certainly looked a picture with all the gazebos decorated with union jack flags and bunting in honour ot the Queen's Jubilee.

Over 50 ladies and gentlemen were there, most dressed in red, white and blue. We certainly had a lovely afternoon with lots of delicious cakes and scones - the weather could have been kinder but it didn't actually rain, which was a bonus.

Thank you Pam and Raymond for letting us use your garden and to the ladies who worked so hard bringing us such a lovely repast.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 10 October at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Malcolm Metcalfe will be giving us a slide show called Riding the Iron Horse across America - sounds very interesting.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on  01508 492155 

Shirley Shackshaft

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We learned a lot about royal wedding dresses when Jean Smith came and gave an illustrated talk on the dresses worn starting with Queen Victoria to Catherine.

Queen Victoria was married in the Royal Chapel and she wore an off the shoulder cream dress with Honiton lace with a Spitafields silk veil and orange blossom head-dress.  The lace panel down her skirt featured on several dresses she wore subsequently. 

Princess Alexandra of Denmark wore an off the shoulder dress with a tiered skirt with orange blossom on each of the layers when she married Bertie, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. in 1863.  She was given a Norwich Shawl made in  Danish colours.

Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, was engaged to Prince Albert, who unfortunately died and so eventually she married his brother Prince George in 1893.  Her dress featured flowers from waist to hem.  Some of you will remember the high toque hats she always wore in later life.

In 1923 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert. Her dress was quite different being on medieval lines.  It was short sleeved with beading on the bodice and a single layer down the skirt - very strking.

Princess Elizabeth had a Dior/Hartness design when she married Prince Philip  in November 1947.  It was a heavily embroidered affair with 10,000 pearls, long sleeves and a sweeheart neckline - I wonder how many hours they took to stitch on! 

We were then shown all the royals wedding dresses after that period. up to and including Catherine last year. 

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 12 September at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Frances Mobbs will be coming once again to give us a cookery demonstration - she always produces some delightful food.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.