At our AGM in March members were reminded of the variety
At our AGM in March members were reminded of the variety and breadth of activities that our W.I. had undertaken over the preceding year. These have been reported in our monthly contributions to News & Views where highlights included our previous President’s successful initiative to apply for a grant from the Community Chest scheme run by South Cambs District Council, which enabled us to buy a sound system and projector, then in October we welcomed the flying visit of the W.I. Centenary Baton. Outings, monthly lunches and afternoon teas had been organised in a variety of venues, while the Papworth and Elsworth WI Choir had another busy year that culminated in their representing Cambridgeshire in the regional heats of the W.I. Centenary Choir Competition in Cambridge.
The speakers at our April meeting were the lively double act of Angela Wyatt and Hilary Moulds who entertained us with tales about their early careers as a hairdresser and dental receptionist respectively. Their experiences made us realise how such jobs have changed (mostly) for the better in the ensuing years. It will be difficult to forget the mental image of a poodle’s pom-poms being regularly re-dyed to match its owner’s hair – blue, then pink, then ….?
Eighteen of us were made very welcome by the new proprietors of the White Swan in Conington for our April lunch. It was a sunny day, the daffodils were in bloom everywhere and the food was absolutely delicious. What’s not to like! Our May lunch, which as usual takes place on the first Thursday of the month, will be at Slepe Hall in St. Ives.
Lunch at the White Swan
Two members joined a WI Federation tour to Bruges and the First World War battlefields in the Ypres Salient. The guided tour of the battlefield sites included Passchendaele and the Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial to The Missing. They were fortunate to be present for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate on ANZAC Day where they were enthralled with Maori Conch Shell blowing, some wonderful singing by ANZAC military personnel and the Last Post being played by eight buglers instead of the usual four. Altogether a very interesting, thought provoking and emotional trip.
Members attended the Annual Council Meeting of the Cambridge Federation of W.Is. at Comberton where the first guest speaker was David Whiteley from BBC Look East and the second was Prue Leith of cookery fame. The day ended with our Papworth & Elsworth W.I. choir entertaining everyone with their singing.
Our choir has several forthcoming public engagements which include singing in the Trinity Sunday service at Trinity Church, Elsworth and are especially excited to be performing at our Music Director’s Wedding in July where they aim to help make this a really special day for her. They will also be hosting a Festival of Choirs in the Village Hall in early October and singing at Ely Cathedral at the annual service for The Papworth Hospital Charity in December.