Storytime!

Marian Leaper lead us into a fantasy world when she told magical and mysterious stories, inspired by her late Mother’s stories when she was a child, including fairies,colours and ”the cat in the kitchen’.   Marian puts her amazing storytelling  skills down to her past teaching profession, but mostly memories of her Mother’s most wonderful stories.

Remembrance Sunday   To commemorate the centenary of the First World War wreaths were laid at Peter’s Church in Papworth including a wreath on behalf of Papworth Everard WI laid by our member Jenny Wilson.   This was followed with a parade down to the Village Hall for the 11 o’clock for a very moving memorial service.

It is hoped that a Remembrance Parade will take place each year in the future.

This month lunch was enjoyed by many at the Waresley Garden Centre in Waresley,followed by a little early xmas shopping!

Julia Payne was an English/Russian translator during the Cold War years and for our May meeting she gave a fascinating talk on her work and experiences.  She clarified how the Cold War started and with the aid of excellent visual aids and interesting anecdotes we learnt how the various sectors apportioned out the City of Berlin and the affect this had locally and politically.   Despite this, Julia feels that it in some ways it was a safer climate then as the countries involved played to “certain rules” whilst today things are very different.

We kicked off in early April with our monthly luncheon and this time around 20 members enjoyed a scrumptious meal at The King of the Belgians in Hartford. As you can see from the pictures below – nobody went hungry!

Monthly Meeting: Following the normal business, we were given a most fascinating and interesting talk by Paul Browning on the history and making of wigs.   Paul brought along many samples of wigs, both men and women’s, in various colours and styles, and explained in detail how they were made in Germany (not from real hair) for his many clients. He went on to say that he had people from all walks of life, not necessarily those whose hair was thinning, or lost, but business people who wanted to look well groomed every day for work and these people often had 2 or 3 different colours and styles. The wigs can cost anything from a couple of hundred pounds up to and above a couple of thousand!

RUTH HURST 91 YEARS YOUNG CELEBRATES 70 YEARS as a member of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes

Ruth celebrating her birthday and with her daughter Catherine

Ruth was born on 17^th October 1926 and grew up in Waltham Abbey, Essex.  As a young woman Ruth worked locally and recalls the time when, during the second world war, she was walking to work wearing her tin helmet when shrapnel landed on her head.  A narrow escape for sure. 

Ruth married Norman, a Horticulturalist, in April 1946 and moved to Upshire in Essex. She joined the Upshire Women’s Institute in 1948 following a knock on her front door by a District Nurse and Lady Eva Buxton – her neighbours – who invited her along to a meeting.  In those days, Ruth explains, the WI was so very different from today with members being mostly typical country ladies who cycled to the Village Hall for the meetings.  Ruth was lucky enough to have a car! along with one other member, and was therefore always on call to pick other ladies up and take them to the various meetings.  She described the experience for the ladies as ‘taking them to places they had never been before’ as they were rarely able to leave the village due to lack of transport – our Ruth put an end to all that!!  During her time at Upshire Ruth was President of her Institute on more than one occasion.  They used to travel around to other WIs within what was called ‘The Cripsy Group’ and share ideas and crafts.  Upshire WI was formed in 1927 under the Presidency of a Mrs P Howell with 23 members.  Sadly it closed in 1994. 

Ruth and Norman retired to Frinton on Sea in Essex where, once again, Ruth joined the WI and again became President during her time there.

Ruth with her husband at Frinton on Sea

Ruth enjoyed living by the sea but due to her husband’s poor health, they moved to Papworth to be close to their daughter.   We are now privileged to have Ruth as our most senior member at Papworth Everard WI and would like the whole of the National Federation to offer their heartfelt Congratulations ON HER 70^TH ANNIVERSARY as a member.

Ruth on International Women’s Day in March

To recognise Ruth’s loyalty and service to the WI, members and friends of Papworth Everard WI presented Ruth with an engraved spectacle case and bouquet of flowers at our April meeting.   Long may she continue to be a member and friend to us all.

Presentation to Ruth

Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 16^th May.

PAPWORTH EVERARD WI –MARCH 2018 REPORT

What was more appropriate on International Women’s Day than a delicious lunch with around 20 members at the newly refurbished ‘Redhouse’ at Longstowe.

We were entertained at the start of our March meeting by the Papworth Hand Bell Ringers who gave a varied and delightful performance to our members, many of whom sang along to some of the popular tunes. This was followed by our AGM when the Committee and President for the coming year were voted in and various issues discussed.

Members were surprised to be handed an Easter Egg before leaving at the end of the evening.

Next Meeting:   – our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 18^th April when our speaker will be Paul Browning talking on the History or Wigs and Wig Making!

Happy Easter Everybody

To find out more about what is going on you can log on to our website at www.papwortheverardwi.org.uk or if you are 18 or over just come along to one of our meetings at 7.15 for 7.30 on the third Wednesday of each month in the Studio next door to the Library. You can be sure of a warm welcome.  The visitor’s fee is  £4.00 including refreshments.

In the first week of February around 20 members had an enjoyable lunch at the Barley Mow Pub in Hartford accompanied of course by plenty of conversation and laughter.

Our speaker this month was Angela Collins, Puppeteer who entertained us tirelessly throughout the evening. Starting with her early career in London’s Oxford Street as a Hairdresser, with many amusing stories, she went on to tell us how she became involved in making Puppets and putting on puppet shows.   Angela and her (now third!) husband travel the length and breadth of the country holding workshops for children at all sorts of venues, including country houses, schools, fetes etc. teaching children how to simply make puppets of their own. Angela brought along the puppet theatre and gave us glimpses of what her puppet shows entail (as you can see below)! They work extremely hard, and bring fun and laughter to so many children, and parents alike and, not least, to our members on the night.

Next Meeting:   on Wednesday 21^st March we will hold our AGM when the committee are voted in by the members for the coming year.   Preceding the AGM we will be entertained by the Papworth Everard Handbells who will bring a joyous mood to the evening before the serious side of the meeting takes place!!