Poringland
WI Celebrate.
Poringland WI members celebrated Centenary plus 1 in style with lunch at Dunston Hall. This was our first full gathering for 18 months and 39 members and invited guests were welcomed with a glass of wine or soft drink on the terrace before sitting down to lunch in the bunting bedecked La Fontaine room. There was a lot of catching up, with chatter and happy smiling faces. We were especially pleased to welcome Margaret Collingwood ,
not only was it her birthday
(yes we did sing) but her own WI garden party, in her garden! After lunch members watched a photo montage
of WI events from the past before being entertained by the Black Cats Saxophone
Quartet.
The group got all our feet
tapping, and a few members dancing, to tunes from Ragtime to the Beatles. There was much light hearted repartee and a
singalong session caused some hilarity.
Hiring the group was inspired by the early days of Our WI, when they would
be regularly entertained by a local jazz band at social events:
In 1924, ‘A
Social and Dance took place in the Parish Hall in aid of the Local Funds – and
a very pleasant evening was spent thanks to the Jazz Band and other performers.
Clare and Margaret spent the morning in
beautifying the Room with flags borrowed from Rev H Smelt of Brooke.’ In 2021,
Pam and Lesley spent the evening before decorating the room with Centenary
bunting made by the members.
1924,
‘Mrs Page very kindly gave the Doll for Competition. Mrs Mitchell the sweets, Mrs Burgess the Cake
– all the members contributing to the refreshments an ample amount being forth
coming’. Expenses came to the grand sum
of £1/18/6 which included hire of the hall, prizes, lemonade and sweets.
This year, Pam kindly
donated the cake made by Nina, I donated compensation from Denman to pay for
the band, and Dunston hall kindly allowed us the use of the room free of charge. The cost of the event was rather more than £2,
but a good time was certainly had by all.
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