New Time for Monthly Meeting

All monthly meetings from January 2024 onwards will be on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 2pm, at Poringland Community Centre.

Latest News

April 11th speaker - Hazel Gillingham. The Quiet Suffragette - Millicent Fawcet

Thursday 31 July 2014

Kay Jeffords talks on Women who made unusual changes in their lives

She then spoke about the lives of British women joining their husbands in India - Honoria Lawrence went in 1827 and spent 7 years there, then in 1839 living in a mud hut near the Afghanistan border.  She then went to Simla, in India  which had a beautiful climate but unfortunately due to the Indian  uprising of the 16,000 there, only a few survived!
She then told us tales about the tr
Kay Jefford came and gave us a very interesting talk about women who have decided to make an unusual change in their lives.

Mary KIngsley twice went on a Big Adventure to West Africa in 1890 - she collected and conserved fish.  Very often she was on her own except for a porter.
Kay then spoke about Gladys Aylward who in 1936 went as Inspector of Feet in China and whose story was told in the film Inn of the Sixth Happiness - she trekked for 27 days with children when she was banned from China.  She returned after 17 years and died in Taiwan in 1970.
ansportation of British convicts to Australia,and  the assisted passage for £10 scheme which took place between 1945 and 1982.  It was far from a "milk and honey" life when they arrived for many of them
She finished with tales of the European trekking for 2,000 miles in North America in 1843 - the Indian people where friendly at first!
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 10 September at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Charlotte Philcox will come and speak about remedies and beauty treatment - should be interesting.
JUMBLE SALE
Our next Jumble Sale will be on Saturday 11 October in the Community Centre between 10.30am and 12.30pmLots of bargains and the usual Tombola and books.  Hope to see you there.
Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.  If there any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.
Shirley Shackshaft

Monday 14 July 2014

Written by Samantha Mosedale, Committee member of Poringland WI


When my friend suggested joining the Women's Institute I laughed it off. I mean, the WI is for old middle class women who are retired who knit and crochet, make cakes and calendars. Its not for someone like me - a middle aged working class women, who works full time and is bringing up a child. But, being a good and supportive friend, I decided to attend  a meeting at the Poringland WI with her. I thought one or two visits, then I would politely tell her that it wasn't for me and I wouldn't need to go again.  My friend appeared keen on having me stay though, and even offered to pay my subscription for a year. However, on my first meeting I met lots of women who were thrilled at younger women showing an interest. (I may be presumptions with the younger part as I am almost 40! But in comparison to some of the members, I'm a spring chicken!)

After visiting for a couple months with some very interesting and informative speakers, I found myself paying for a subscription and looking forward to the monthly meeting,. I even enjoyed singing Jerusalem at the beginning.

Each member is treated as an individual and there is almost a neighbourhood watch situation, if a member is ill, some one would check on them and keep the WI updated on them. The November meeting is when the members vote on a new committee. I was very surprised when many members approached me to ask if I minded if they voted for me. I was flatted to be voted onto the committee less then a year after joining.

Since being on the committee I have felt more involved in all aspects of the WI, from organizing the traditional jumble sale, to helping with the organising and arranging of the whole programme for next year, including speakers, competitions and exhibitions.

The WI began in 1896 to give women a voice, both politically and educationally. In those days it  was not commonplace for women to have access to much education so it was to empower women to realise their potential, but also realising the strengths of many women in home skills - cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting etc. In the 1945's Denham college was developed to continue encouraging women to further their knowledge and skills. Denham is still gong strong and offers  over 500 2-4 day courses for a reasonable fee (which includes all meals  and accommodation).

Poringland WI is 95 years old now. Speaking to some of the older members, there is a real concern of this particular branch literally dying out if younger members do not join. I have been desperately  trying to think of way to attract women of my own age to join, to dispel the assumptions that it is for old people. So, let me bullet point some advantages to joining  the Women's Institute.  

    *  The WI introduces you to a new range of friends and acquaintances.

    *   It helps women to have a voice, both politically and intellectually.

    *   It proves that some traditions  are worth keeping, but it is not averse to change and  
         modernisation.           

    *   It is a charitable organisation.

    *   It may help you to discover new interests and new places (outings to various places 
are


         arranged on a regular basis.  You do not have to to go every one!)       

     *  It is all-inclusive, and does not care about race, colour, experiences, situations.

     *  The members all care about each other, and are almost like another family.  

     *  The competitions and exhibitions are voluntary, but you gain points for entering.

There are many other advantages, but, like anything you get out what you put in.

In conclusion, the WI may be full of crotchety old women but that should be a testament to the institution that is the WI, as many of these women joined in their 30's. They are simply waiting for the baton to be taken up by the next generation, who will maintain  the tradition but also help to  make it more attractive to younger women. So, if you want to be a pioneer, just like our  predecessors and champion the Women's Institute, look up your nearest meeting on the WI website. (www.thewi.org.uk)

Samantha Mosedale

Aged: almost 40! 

   

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Jackie Aldous - Flower Arrangements.


Jackie Aldous came to our June Meeting.  She started by making an arrangement with an amazing variety of foliage and then added flowers.  When she had finished, she then produced two copies of the same arrangement but on a much smaller scale.
While producing two further beautiful arrangements, she told us about how she came to train as a florist.  She was also invited to produce a 9 foot high free flowering pedestal arrangement with the theme of a tribute to the Virgin Mary at Westminster Abbey - she said she felt immensely honoured to be invited.
All of the 5 arrangements went into the raffle and there were some delighted members who carefully carried their arrangements back home.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 13 August at 2.00pm at the home of Pam Lack, Hill Crest, Bungay Road, NR14 7WD.  Our garden meetings are always enjoyed.   Entry fee is £2.50  which includes tea and cake.  There will also be  a raffle and a Bring and Buy stall with produce and plants for sale.  All friends are welcome.
If there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.