October 2026 Main Meeting

Jean congratulated Ann Brock for winning the Adelaide Hough Bowls competition. She thanked Pat S and Helen for arranging the WI Day coffee morning at Antrobus Cafe and Pat S for putting an account of our Lion Salt Works visit in the Cheshire News. More thanks to Pat for the lovely flowers she brought along to share on the President’s table.

Our speaker was John Lindley, ex Poet Laureate of Cheshire. He shared some of his poems with us which were very entertaining. Thanks and congratulations to Alison who gave the Vote of Thanks in verse – it was the first time John has had that experience!

Chris shared information about upcoming events. She reminded people about the CFWI Zoom meeting on Artificial Intelligence on 22nd October, an important topic for us all – contact Chris for details of this.

The committee are so appreciative of the support from our members – thanks to Caroline, for helping on the Welcome Desk, Sue B for helping with the raffle and to Deborah, Vanessa and Anne T for serving the refreshments.

Adelaide Hough Bowls competition

We had a lovely enjoyable and sunny day for the Adelaide Shield bowling competition.

11 members competed including 1 lady who had never bowled before!

The competition was won by Ann Brock. Janet Patterson was 2nd and Caroline Priestner was 3rd.

WI Day celebrated

WI Day is celebrated on 16th September every year. This year it was 111 years since the very first WI in the UK opened. Members from Whitley WI got together at the newly opened Antrobus Local Community Café, which is run entirely by volunteers.

It was a very happy occasion, lots of chatter and delicious coffee and cake to enjoy.

‘Go local’ is a good philosophy to have, and all attendees will visit again, especially as they were told that on Thursdays, there is always home-made bread to purchase.

The café is open every morning from 9.00am until 12.30pm.

September 2026 subgroups

Baking Beauties – Autumn Fruits

Fourteen ladies met to share and discuss their autumn berry bakes.  No two bakes the same, and a taste to suit every palate.  We had a selection of cakes and flans, plus a mousse and hedgerow jams and jelly.  Next month our challenge is mincemeat.  It can be sweet or savoury recipe.

Art Group – Beach scenes

We had a very enjoyable session painting beach scenes . Jean had brought along some ideas and it was interesting to see different interpretations of the same view. We do have some very talented artists – though some of us are beginners who learn as we paint!

Craft Group – Willow weaving – Making Christmas Stars

11 craft members had a very happy afternoon with Robyn from Nature Makers making Christmas stars at our usual monthly meeting . The stretching of the whips after soaking to make them pliable was the first task and then the cutting of 5 lengths to the correct size got us on our way with the weaving.

After the first corner all became obvious and we all managed to get the stars into the right shape. We could then add our fairy lights for the finishing touch. The afternoon soon got us into the spirit of Christmas we are each wondering where we should hang our stars for the best effect.

Book Club – The House that Made us by Alice Cavanagh. A very popular book with most of our group. It was a family story – told as two people shared wedding anniversary photos of Mac and Marie from their wedding day in July 1970 and as the family developed over many years to July 2019. Some happy stories, but also very sad in parts – family life is usually complex and includes many happy and many challenging events. A really good read.

Walking Group – Our 8 walkers followed a stretch along the Whitegate Way path towards Cuddington on a lovely sunny September day . The 6 mile Way is managed, with the help of volunteers,to benefit wildlife as well as providing an attractive environment for people to enjoy. We finished our 1½ hr walk with a delicious lunch at the Station House Cafe in the sunshine.

September 2026-Main Meeting

There is much history on our doorstep. At our September meeting, Norton Priory volunteer Tracey Crutchley brought the story of Norton Priory to life, speaking with clarity and infectious enthusiasm about the history of this great priory.

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens is situated on the edge of Runcorn and was once home to a medieval church. It was originally founded in Runcorn but moved to the Norton site in 1134, on a high point and overlooking the River Mersey.

Two families have links to the site: the Dutton family and the Brooke family. The Duttons supported and engaged with Norton Priory as a monastic site, up until the Dissolution in 1536. The Brooke family made Norton Priory their home between 1545 and 1921, when they left the site to move to a new home in Worcestershire.

The museum displays thousands of objects discovered at the site, which tell the 900-year history from priory to mansion house and the stories of the people who lived here. The most impressive object in the museum is the twice life-size St Christopher statue. It is thought that this statue would have been commissioned to mark the site attaining abbey status in 1391, and by being disguised, survived destruction during the Dissolution.

Today, the museum is surrounded by woodland walks, bringing opportunities to discover secret summer houses, sculptures and a stream glade. During the summer season, the Georgian Walled Garden is also open, with orchards, a rose walk and a herb garden. Norton Priory is home to the National Collection of Tree Quince, and the gardens and grounds support a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The competition – a religious artefact – was won by Annette Minor with a very old family bible.