Newsletter – September 2026

Have you had a wonderful summer break? Did you enjoy the heat? Some people found it a bit too hot, but the sun-lovers should be well satisfied. 

Welcome back to Whitchurch WI with a full programme up till July 2027. 

We are very sad to report the recent passing of Jean Bendoui, a longstanding member of our WI. She had been unwell for several years, but still attended our meetings whenever she could. 

May we remind members that we are in need of a new treasurer. Our WI is not allowed to continue without a treasurer and will simply be closed in May if no one comes forward to take over the role. 

September 14th meeting: 

The speaker is Ted Richards who will be talking to us about 'Captain Scott'. 

Events:   

The trip to Duffryn Gardens to view the costumes from the recent television production, 'The Other Bennett Sister', was a great success. 

A trip is proposed to the RWCMD to see 'Christmas on Broadway'. It will be on Friday 11th December at 2 pm. Tickets are £23. Sandra can reserve 20 tickets but only has a week to confirm that number. So to guarantee a place, please pay the full amount at the September meeting, or at least half and the rest by 21st September. There will be a tick list at the meeting. 

The Bus Pass Group is back! There will be a trip to Penarth on Friday 25th September. Meet at Cardiff bus station at 10:30. 

Our charity: 

Please remember to bring your Smartie Tube' filled with cash to the September meeting. This is a major fundraiser for our charity, Parkinsons UK Cymru. If you forget in September, please bring it to the October meeting at the latest. Thank you. 

The committee has decided not to take a stall at the Christmas Fair at Ararat this year. Instead, we will have a Bring and Buy sale at the January meeting. Hang on to those unwanted Christmas presents until then! 

Another way to help raise funds for our charity, is to put a donation in the pot on the refreshments table if you have a drink and a biscuit. We do not ask for a payment for refreshments, but the charity will appreciate a donation. 

Groups: 

    Book Group: Wednesday 16th September / 11.00 am / La Cucina da Mara 

    Family History: 7th September / 2.00 pm / 113 Pantbach Road 

    Poetry and Prose: Monday 28th September / 10.45 am The Ark coffee bar, Ararat
    Topic: favourite poems and poets 

    Craft: Monday 21st September / 2 pm / 18 Heol Stradling 

    St Mary's Gardens: Tuesday 13th October / 10 – 12; this meeting will also be the
    AGM of Friends of St Mary's Gardens over lunch at the Fox and Hounds. 

    Sunday lunch group: 27th September / 1 pm / Butcher's Arms, Rhiwbina 

Following meeting: 

    Monday 12th October; Ararat Church Hall, Whitchurch Common, 2 pm. 

    Speaker: Fauve Birch: 'Sewing, and The Great British Sewing Bee'

Duffryn Gardens

On August 3rd a group of members visited Duffryn Gardens to see the exhibition of the costumes from the BBC production 'The Other Bennet Sister'. It was a small but delightful exhibition. 

July meeting

The July meeting was our summer party. Glenys and Gay reported on events they had attended. Then everyone enjoyed playing Beetle, trying to complete a quiz and eating lovely cake.

Whitchurch Fete – July 4th

The summer fete on Whitchurch Common is one of our primary fundraisers of the year. This year we are collecting for Parkinsons UK Cymru. The weather was glorious—if a little windy at times for the gazebo—and a good number of items had been donated for us to sell. The theme of the stall was 'Anything Welsh'. The Welsh cakes and bara brith sold out quickly and Jenny's daffodils were very popular. We raised £200 for our charity. 

Thank you to everyone who donated an item to sell, and to those who helped on the day.

Brecon Canal Outing – June 2026

 On June 29th about 25 members enjoyed an outing to Brecon. We travelled there in two minibuses, arriving in good time to have a cuppa by the canal before boarding our boat. 

Our afternoon tea was ready and waiting for us on the tables.

We then enjoyed a gentle trip along the canal aboard 'Dragonfly'. The boatman told us not to panic and flap about if we fell overboard – but to just stand up! The water was not very deep!

The trip included navigating one lock, which was an interesting experience.  We then continued a short distance to a turning place. A number of us got off the boat to stand on a little bridge and watch the boatman skilfully manoeuvre the barge. Then it was back through the lock, (it was a bit smelly at the bottom of the lock!) and back to the wharf and the minibuses.

It was a very relaxing and peaceful day and everyone enjoyed it. The weather was lovely. Thank you Sandra for organising it.

June Meeting – Period Dancing

Our co-President, Nor'dzin, introduced to members to period dancing at the June meeting. She talked about the principles of good manners, polite behaviour, honour, dignity, elegance and integrity that are key features in the novels of Jane Austen. Nor'dzin suggested that Austen presents an image of a potentially ideal society. Landowners and the well-to-do look after their tenants and the local community,  recognising the good fortune of their own situation. Emotions are controlled rather than expressed, allowing politeness and dignity to prevail. This idyll is a fantasy created in her novels, rather than a true reflection of how society was in the time she was writing. 

Film and television productions of Austen's books have upheld this atmosphere of elegance and refinement. This is particularly demonstrated in some of the dances that have become associated with these production, even though these dances are not historically accurate for that time. Nor'dzin was accompanied by friends from 'My Lady's Dancers'  – a group led by Phillipa Waite, and internationally acclaimed teacher of period dance. Three dances were demonstrated: The Earl of Essex Measure, Hole in the Wall, and Mr Beveridge's Maggot. After this members joined in to learn the first two of these dances. It was a most enjoyable afternoon.

Many thanks to Sheila for the photographs.

Newsletter – July 2026

July 13th meeting:

This is the last meeting before the summer break. At the meeting there will be a quiz, a beetle drive, and cake to enjoy at our summer party. Please also pick up a copy of the new programme of meetings for this September through to July 2027.

Events 

The trip to Duffryn Gardens to view the costumes from the recent television production, 'The Other Bennett Sister', will take place on August 3rd. Thank you to those members who have offered the possibility of a lift to those who need one. Sandra and Sheila will organise who is travelling with whom. There is no charge for the exhibition itself, but there is an entrance fee to Duffryn Gardens. It is a National Trust property for those who are members. It has been suggested that we arrive around 1 pm.

Our charity:

We will be doing the fundraiser 'Fill a Smartie Tube' again this year as it is such a successful and simple way to raise funds for our charity, Parkinsons UK Cymru. Please take a Smartie tube at the meeting, eat the sweets, and bring the tube back to the September meeting filled with cash.

Information

    Link to the Glamorgan Newsletters.

    MyWI site (registration and log in required)

Groups:

    Book Group: Wednesday 15th July / 11.00 am / La Cucina da Mara

        NB this is a week later than usual.

    Family History: TBC / 2.00 pm / 113 Pantbach Road

    

    Poetry and Prose Group: Monday 27th July  / 10.45 am

    The Ark coffee bar, Ararat / Topic: wild animals

    Craft Group: Monday 20th July / 2 pm / 18 Heol Stradling

    St Mary's Gardens: Tuesday 24th July  / 10 – 12; Open Day 18th July / 10 - 3 pm

    Sunday lunch group: 26th July / 1 pm / Butcher's Arms, Rhiwbina

 

Following meeting:

    Next meeting: Monday 14th September – no meeting in August; Ararat Church Hall, Whitchurch Common, 2 pm. Speaker: Ted Richards on 'Captain Scott'.