April

In itself, April is a quiet month for the WI.  However, beneath the surface there is much preparation going on for the busy months of May, June and July.  The AGM takes place early in May when elections for President and committee are held, and members get a chance to look back at the year just passed.  Soon after that, on Saturday 13 May between 10 am and noon, we have the Charity Coffee Morning.  Tickets for this cost only £1 which includes tea or coffee and biscuits, and a chance to spend a little money on cakes and gifts, books, cards and bric-a-brac.  There's the usual raffle with attractive prizes, many of which have been donated by local shops and tradespeople.  This year's proceeds are going to cancer charities. 

Other forthcoming events include the Summer Lunch on Wednesday 21 June, and the Strawberry Tea on Wednesday 19 July. 

Meanwhile, earlier this month we had an excellent talk from Mark Lewis on the history of lighthouse-keeping.  Manned lighthouses are now a thing of the past in the UK but the dedicated souls who kept the lights bright through hundreds of years have left a legacy of service and stories.  Some of the stories are funny, some tragic but all are of interest.  Mark told a good tale and conjured up visions of shining scintillating glass and burnished brass, all in the cause of keeping shipping safe.

Mark judged the monthly competition which was for a 'nautical item'.  He chose a framed item containing a photograph of a serviceman from the first World War, the medal he was awarded for saving the life of a comrade swept overboard into the sea, the citation for the medal, and various newspaper reports of the event.  It was an unusual item and a worthy winner. 

Some of the competition entries

The winning entry

Mark Lewis with the winning item