"East End to Essex"

This was the title of a thoroughly entertaining talk given by Mrs Sharon Gould today.  She is a first-class speaker with a natural flow and an easy manner, who managed not to be at all fazed when her technology refused to co-operate for the first five or ten minutes.  However, it eventually sprang into life and we were able to see pictures of the area in which she grew up.  Born in Hackney Hospital, she lived in Clevedon Passage just off Stoke Newington High Street and attended Fleetwood school.  As a child, she played in Clissold Park, which is still there but the area has rather come up in the world now, as reflected by local property prices. 

The family moved to Essex after Sharon's father won some money on a bet and they could afford a house.  Several more moves took place.

Sharon married at seventeen, had three children, and worked at a variety of jobs over the years - about twenty different ones - including butchery, catering, bank work, and finally helping young people with disabilities find meaningful paid employment, something of which she is very proud.  At the end of her talk she was very warmly applauded and thanked.  She invited members to have a look at her collection of household artefacts and products from the mid-twentieth century, and members were offered samples of rollmops and Virol (sadly no pie and eels).  We hope to hear more of Mrs Gould's talks in the future.

The competition this month was for a memento from the Essex seaside.  There were only five entries for this (see picture):  Linda Mitchell's entry (no.4) was selected as the winner.





Forthcoming Events

Saturday 15 September 10 am until noon, informal "coffee & chat" in the WI Hall

Thursday 20 September 2 pm Play-reading Group in the WI Hall

Friday 28 September from 11 am until 4 pm the Craft Group meets in the Hall

Every Monday, there are darts and table games from 1.30 until 3.30 pm, also in the Hall

All members are welcome to attend; the "coffee & chat" and the Craft Group are open to everyone.