PORINGLAND WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

We welcomed Carolyn Williams to our July meeting. Her talk was on the origins of Nursery Rhymes. Some rhymes were to help children count and have good morals ie ding dong bell, pussy’s in the well, or to entertain ie pat a cake, pat a cake.

Humpty Dumpty is thought to refer to a big cannon called a boulder, which was used in the civil war and aimed at the opposite force’s wall until it fell down. During the uncertain times between Catholics and Protestants, in Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I times, there was a lot of resentment, but nobody could speak their minds on pain of death, so some nursery rhymes were composed to reflect their feelings without being prosecuted.

Trip to Bury St Edmonds 2011

After visiting the Newmarket Stud members had free time to look around the Church and Abbey Gardens.

Thurton Church Visit

Thurton is quite a large place, and just above the busy Norwich to Beccles road. The church stands below the village top road, the houses hidden in the valley.St Ethelbert is a very curious shape. The little tower appears to grow out of the thatch, and it also appears that they ordered it in the wrong size, and didn't bother to send it back. It is in two stages - at nave level it is probably 13th century, but the top bit is more recent. I've seen it described as early 16th century. It is one of those small towers that looks as if it was specifically designed for bell-ringing, although all the bells are early.

Poringland WI presents a bench to Poringland Parish Council

On Wednesday June 8th, Pam Cooper President of Poringland WI formally presented a park bench to Poringland Parish Council. The bench was paid for by the WI, Poringland Sand & Gravel Charity and Poringland Fuel Allotment Charity. Norfolk Homes installed the bench outside the Poringland Community Centre. John Ellis, chairman of the parish council, thanked everyone involved for their generosity.

Visit to Newmarket Stud and Bury St Edmunds

A unique opportunity to see behind the scenes of one of the most beautiful stud farms in the country. What you see during your visit will depend on the season but can include the superb Stallion Unit along with the stallions in residence, nursery yards and mares and foals in their paddocks.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We had an enjoyable evening at our May meeting but with reduced numbers due to various reasons. We discussed differing views on the two Resolutions to be discussed at our National Meeting in June. Our delegate from Newton Flotman was there to hear our discussions and how we wanted her to use our votes. The subjects were Mega farming and the future nationally of Public Libraries (both in the news a lot recently). Some lively discussion took place before voting.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We welcomed Mr George Rockingham from PACT (People for Animal Care Trust) Animal Sanctuary, Woodrising, Hingham. He kept us spellbound with tales of the abandoned animals which they keep. They never "put down" any animals (approx. 600 at the last count) unless they are very sick. As with other Charities they rely on donations. At the moment they are in the process of building the Rabbit Village. You may have read recently in the EDP about the 80 rabbits left at Horsford when the man who bred them had a stroke. A Cattery and more kennels are also in progress. They receive some very odd telephone calls - one lady said she had changed the decor in her lounge from chocolate to cream and could the Sanctuary change her chocolate labrador for a cream one!

As you can imagine, food and bedding prices keep rising and, of course, vets fees, so we did a quick collection to add to our normal donation. They are open to visitors Wednesdays to Saturdays between 12 mid-day and 3.30pm. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8 June at 7.30pm in the Community Centre. Our speaker will be Hannah Clay from the East Anglian Air Ambulance Trust.

Visitors are always welcome and any queries contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492156.

Shirley Shackshaft

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We welcomed to our March meeting Lynn Barrow who came in costume to talk about Victorian Tussie Mussies. They were very popular during Queen Victoria's reign. She explained that these were little nosegays or posies. They were used to ward off body odours and were pinned onto the top of the breastbone of the lady's dress or hem. Gentlemen used to have one on the top of their walking canes. The first one she produced and sent round for us to smell was little sprigs of sage, lavender, rosemary and chives bound together.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

I think we all enjoyed the talk about Mother Julian of Norwich, a renowned mystic who lived in the 14th century, given by Sister Pamela from All Hallows House.

WI Members attend the Tree Plaque placing on January 16th

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE.

Mr Howard Zelley, our speaker in January, proved to be a very interesting gentleman on the subject of Amber (fossilised resin from extinct pine trees). Apparently it all originated on the seabed and coastline of the Baltic area. Any small pieces we may find around our coast will have been washed over the centuries from that area. Occasionally larger pieces are picked up by trawlers. He passed many necklaces around for us to judge whether they were real amber. Many substitutes have been produced over the years. He was a mine of information.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Due to new deadlines for entries for the magazine, I am unable to give you a report on our Christmas meeting. Weather permitting I am sure we will enjoy it. I will tell you a little of that meeting in the January issue.

The English Whisky Co.

Members of Poringland WI, husbands and friends enjoyed a visit to the St George's Distillery.

Poringland Women's Institute Meeting

On 10 November we held our Annual Meeting and turned our attention once again to electing a Committee and President to run our Institute for the coming year. Happily, all but one of our existing Committee members agreed to continue for a further year, and the one member who was to retire, after giving 13 years of dedicated work to our institute, had well earned her retirement and was presented by a grateful membership with a pink rose tree, appropriately named 'Retirement'.

Moving the whole house - related by Christine Adams

Poringland Women's Institute

We anticipated hearing of a most unusual housing-moving experience, related by Christine Adams, at our October 13th meeting - moving the whole house. Housing moving is traumatic enough, what a brave and enterprising task to move everything, and one which most of us would find too daunting to contemplate. We were filled with admiration.