Christmas Fair at Ararat

Whitchurch WI took at stall at the Ararat Christmas Fair. It was well supported by sellers, with stalls occupying three halls at the church. It was also well supported by those looking for present ideas and browsing the interesting variety of items for sale across the event, and was already busy at opening time.

The WI stall was a wealth of donated items. Many thanks to all who gave an item for selling. Thank you also to all members who helped on the day, and those that came and bought things.

My Life as a Puppeteer – Helyn Latimer

 

At the November 2023 meeting, Helyn Latimer informed the members of Whitchurch WI that becoming a puppeteer combined her three passions: drama, art and craft, and teaching.

Helyn explained that puppets are found in all cultures across the world.

She invited members to remember experiences of puppets in their lives, and this led to a lively discussion of childhood memories of puppets, and of their use in theatre and television.

A wide range of different types of puppet were shown. These included:

- simple puppets made during workshops with children, built on a stick with two more sticks to manipulate their arms

- puppets with strings

- glove puppets

- flat shapes, like shadow puppets

- and also detailed and complicated examples used in professional productions.

 

The puppets, ranging from an exquisite tiny mouse to a little horse nearly the size of a Shetland pony, all came to life in Helyn's expert hands. Her skills as actor, artist and teacher were indeed demonstrated as she spoke through the personality of the puppets. She was perfectly correct when she said that the puppeteer disappeared as the audience interacted directly with the puppet as a character in its own right. It was a most enjoyable and informative talk.

 

 

 

Newsletter 176 – November 2023

WELCOME!    

GLAMORGAN FEDERATION QUIZ – October 2023

Gill Irwin, Marilyn Roberts, Gay Thomas and Liz Jervis thoroughly enjoyed representing Whitchurch WI at this quiz, despite the dreadful weather on the journey there! The event was well supported by various WI's throughout Glamorgan. Coity were the winners, scoring 101. Our team had a respectable score of 87 – and a safe journey home.      

CHRISTMAS FAIR at ARARAT: Saturday 25th November 12.00 – 4.00pm             

We are hiring a table for this Christmas Fair.  If you are bringing home-prepared produce for sale, this will need to be labelled with ingredients, and postcode. A period of help during the fair, 12.00 - 4.00pm, is most welcome.  Please let a committee member know.       

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

A wreath was laid at the remembrance service at the library on behalf of Whitchurch WI.

ACWW       

Have you noticed a jar containing some coins in a jar marked ACWW? The letters stand for the Associated Country Women of the World which advocates for women in rural and remote communities to be recognised for their global importance all year round.  W.I.’s  have long supported this and you are invited to add some money today before we submit this year’s contribution from Whitchurch W.I.      

GROUPS: Dates for your diaries   
        
St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 14th Nov  2023 10.00 am. 
    A working party, suitable for all activity levels.
Book Group:  Wednesday 15th Nov 2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara
Craft Group: Monday 20th Nov 2023  at 10.30am 18 Heol Stradling
Poetry and Prose:  Monday 20th Nov 2023 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat
Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 26th Nov  2023 at 1.00pm at The Pantmawr Inn
Family History: Thursday 14th Dec 2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

BLOG

All activities are listed on our blog, along with reports and photos from previous meetings – visit whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com

NEXT MEETING:

Monday 11th December 2023 at 2pm - the Christmas party with musical entertainment.

As usual, we will have a sharing buffet.
Last but not least, we invite members to wear something Christmassy !

Glamorgan Newsletter snippets — Oct/Nov 2023

Glamorgan Federation of Women’s Institutes

Newsleter Volume 14 issue 9     October/November 2023

 

Not in my Name Competition

The 2023 competition is to ‘Design and Make a Tote Bag’ depicting the Not in my Name campaign to end violence against women.
Any Craft medium and technique accepted.

The closing date for entries to reach NFWI-Wales is Friday 3 November 2023

The competition guidelines can also be accessed at https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/wales/nfwi-wales-campaigns-and-projects/not-in-my-name

Candlelight vigil 

to mark 

International White Ribbon Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

20 November 2023 

NFWI-Wales, in partnership with Joyce Watson MS, is organising a candlelight vigil at the Senedd on Monday 20 November 2023.
The event will begin at 6pm and end by 7.30pm.
Confirmed speakers include Jane Hutt MAS, Minister for Social Justice and
Derek Walker, White Ribbon Ambassador and Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. We will also hear from a survivor and a representative from each of the political parties.
WI members are encouraged to join us to show solidarity with survivors of violence
against women across the world and to spread the message that violence against
women is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Diary dates—2023

Federation Quiz—£10—Hi Tide, Porthcawl—Tuesday 24 October 2023
Closing date 29 September 2023

Seasonal Dabble Day—£20 Murton Methodist Hall—Saturday 4 November 2023 Closing date 2 October 2023

Tai Chi Taster Day—£5—Pencoed Welfare Hall—Saturday 11 November 2023 Closing date 31 October 2023

Learn to play whist—£5—Ystradowen Village Hall—Saturday 18 November 2023 Closing date 1 November 2023

Christmas Miscellany—Hi Tide Inn, Porthcawl—Thursday 23 November 2023

Christmas Tree Festival—All Hallows Church, Miskin—Saturday 16 Dec 2023 Closing date 3 November 2023

Amy Dillwyn presented by Debra John

Debra John as Amy Dilwen, the Victorian philanthropist

At the October meeting, Debra Dillwyn, dressed in the style adopted by Amy, spoke as if looking back from the age of about 50, musing on the main events and influences on her life. 

Key events, such as the birth of a sister when she was seven, the marriage of her older sister, and the loss of her fiancé, all caused her to question her role within the family and in wider society. 

She remained single and struggled to find a role that was permitted for a female. She wrote feminist novels and joined the suffragist movement. Amy was close to her father and on his death she inherited his factory, and his debts, and became a successful industrialist and philanthropist.

 

This complex person was brilliantly and sympathetically brought to life through Debra's presentation. 

Also at this meeting, Lynette Chappin gave a short talk about The Family History coffee morning and showed the members one of the knee shawls that she finishes off. She crochets together squares knitted by the members, which then go to the residents of Nazareth House care home. 

Ararat Christmas Fayre - Saturday 25 November

 

message to all members

Our WI will be taking a table at the Ararat Christmas Fayre on Saturday 25 November to raise funds for our three charities. We envisage selling a range of items with a Christmas theme - for example, gifts, decorations and food. 

This will not be a bric-a-brac stall. 

Please bring non-perishable items to the next WI meeting.
Food items would be very welcome on the day.

If you are bringing chutneys, jams or baked goods please say on the label if it contains nuts, dairy or gluten, and include your postcode and date of product.

This will be our last chance to raise money for this year's charities which are: Alzheimer's Cymru, The Wallich Centre and the City Hospice, so:

• reach for those jars of home-made produce sitting on the top shelf of the cupboard
  
• fetch out those items you have acquired that would make good presents for someone else
  
• you crafty people get creative: tree decorations, cards, etc, etc

thank you - we look forward to all your contributions,

Glenys & Chris

Newsletter 175 - October 2023

For the October meeting: a treat

Debra John gives us another dramatic presentation, this time about Amy Dillwen,  the Edwardian Philanthropist.

Smarties Tubes - fundraising for our charities

We are delighted to announce that this fundraising effort was very successful, with a magnificent £387.92 collected at the main meeting on 11th September 2023.  Thanks to all who participated.  

By the way, it’s not too late to hand in your contribution!

Members - important - please note

If your home/email address, mobile or landline number changes, please let one of the Committee know.

 

In case you are not aware of it, Committee members wear an orange badge at the meeting.  Also, for the first time today, you may see some people with a yellow badge. This means they are visitors to our meeting, so please make them feel welcome.  

                           
Whitchurch W.I. ‘Blog’ 

Apologies that the demonstration of the Blog to members at the last meeting failed for technical reasons - (nothing to do with the blog!).  We encourage you to look at it - and leave a comment perhaps?  
   
Details of how to access it:    
Use whitchurch-wi-cardiff.blogspot.com  which either links you automatically or you may also just need to click on Whitchurch/Glamorgan.  Among other things, you will find information on previous meetings (including photos), details of future meetings, our various interest groups, and the names of your committee. In fact, this newsletter will be available there as well.              

St Mary’s Gardens    

Some of you may know that it was members of the W.I. (Zoe in particular) who took the initiative to do something about the neglected state of St Mary’s Gardens in Old Church Road.  

There is now a ‘Friends’ group. Anyone interested in St Mary’s Gardens is warmly invited to their AGM, which includes an illustrated talk by Rhodri Hughes, Community Park Ranger, on the future of the gardens and a photography display.  Do come along. Awen are hosting the event .  Tea and coffee available.

The AGM is on Wednesday November 1st - 7pm - at Whitchurch Library Hub.

Groups: Dates for your diaries   

Book Group:  Wednesday 11th Oct  2023  at 11.00am at La Cucina da Mara 

Craft Group: Monday 16th Oct 2023  at 10.30am at 18 Heol Stradling

St Mary’s Gardens:  Tuesday 17th Oct  2023 10.00 am.  A working party, suitable for all activity levels.

Sunday Lunch Group: Sunday 22nd Oct  2023 at 1.00pm at Llanishen Golf Club

Poetry and Prose:  Monday 23rd Oct 2023 11.00am at the Ark, Ararat

Family History: Thursday 2nd Nov2023 at 10.30am at 113 Pantbach Road

* * * * * * * * * * * 

Our next meeting:  

Monday 13th November 2023 at 2pm

Subject:  My life as a Puppeteer.

Speaker: Helyn Latimer