Main Meeting – Sept 2024 – The Walton Lea Partnership

Our speaker Dave McClure, a volunteer at the Walton Lea Partnership, told us about the work they do with Adults with Learning Disabilities in the beautiful Walled Garden adjacent to Walton Gardens. The learners gain skills and accreditation in a variety of activities including Gardening, Upcycling furniture, bike repairs, hospitality and Arts and Crafts.

Dave’s specialism is teaching learners and the public about resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator. It was a bonus that he shared this training with us. He brought along a number of Manikins and we all had the opportunity to learn what to do if we came across a person who is ‘unresponsive’, how to apply resuscitation and how easy it is to use a defibrillator. Now, instead of thinking this is a complicated and scary process, we learnt that, as Dave said, doing ‘something’ has to be better than doing nothing. We won’t do any harm worse than just standing by and watching somebody die.

One of our newer members, a paramedic, reminded us that we can look at what Dave was teaching us online at on the British Heart Foundation website on https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/how-to-do-cpr/learn-cpr-in-15-minutes

After our refreshment break Pat shared some memories of the August outing to Dunham Cider Farm. The competition for ‘An upcycled item’ was won by Pam with her Teddy Bear made from mementos of her life and we held the raffle.

Our next meeting on 3rd Oct is Member’s Night – where the committee take a break and a group of members plan and run the meeting – the competition is ‘A Childhood Toy’.

August Outing 2024 – Where the Cider Apples grow!

On what proved to be a very popular venue for Whitley WI’s August Outing, 35 members headed off to The Apple Barn at Dunham Massey.

We were given a warm welcome from owners Chris and Alison Hewitt and samples of two varieties of apple juice were enjoyed – Jazz and Smiths. During the sampling owner Chris talked to the group about the history of this ‘hidden-away’ apple farm. The family have run the farm for over a century and now grow 76 varieties of apple on the 33 acre site, owned by the National Trust.

After sampling the apple juice members viewed a small section of the orchards, reminding one member of her childhood on a family apple farm in Herefordshire. The group then moved to the huge shed holding the apple press, fermentation equipment and bottling plant and listened to an interesting explanation of the processes.

They tasted 2 varieties of cider in the bar area which was decorated with fairy lights and bunting and some took the opportunity to buy some of the bottles of apple juice and cider. The group then headed back through the narrow lanes to the Jolly Thresher Public House in Lymm where a two-course evening meal was served. This meal and the social time was much enjoyed by all. Thanks were given to the staff at the Thresher for their excellent serviceWell done to Pat S for her excellent organisation of this very enjoyable outing.

Art Group July 2024 – Painting ‘“En Plein Air”

Our Art group decided to have a go at painting an outdoor view and we met at Walton Gardens in July. The weather was kind and we gathered around the pond area, set up our equipment, and had a go at interpreting the lovely scene of the lily pond – we even had a heron posing high up on one of the trees.

Most of our group chose to paint in Watercolours, but we did have one artist using Acrylics. We have a variety of skills and expertise, but it was good for everyone to have a go, and to learn from our more talented and experienced members. A couple of our group came along to watch, and also to enjoy the lovely park which is a great local amenity.

The following pictures from some talented members had the final touches applied at home. A very enjoyable and social morning.

Members have also been busy with a painting on the ‘Living in Cheshire’ theme. We now have a number of excellent paintings which will be on show as part of the CFWI Art Exhibition to be held at WI House, Chester – more information about this at our September meeting.

CFWI Literary Lunch

Hats off to our very own Pat S for organising a wonderful Literary Lunch at Nunsmere Hall on 17th July for 199 ladies! Seventeen of our members enjoyed the very sociable 2 course lunch. The sun even honoured us with its presence and we managed a stroll around the beautiful grounds before our guest author, Milly Johnson regaled us with her tales of how she got into the world of publishing, starting with writing verse for the Purple Ronnie range of greeting cards. Milly has just published her 22nd novel, all of which are based in the North of England and many around her home town of Barnsley.

Craft Group July 2024 – Quilling

Twelve enthusiastic members of the craft group came along to learn the art of quilling from one of our own members. Sue had organised the afternoon so very well. We each had a pack of all we needed to make a card and we had splendid instructions so everybody was able to complete a card to take home.

It is quite simple, but one does need patience and nimble fingers. After a time we all managed very well and had great fun choosing our flower colour and plant pot shape. It was amazing to see the difference in each card, as individuals each choose their own colours and sticky words.

Well done Sue, and thanks again to Joan who became our tea lady for the afternoon.