News

Vice President of Hawkinge, Paddlesworth and Acrise WI, Hettie Quinn, led this meeting and after birthday greetings were accorded to Mesdames Pemble, Page, Elphinstone, Ritchie Cripps and Blanks had the happy task of presenting a floral arrangement to Brenda Smith who with her husband, Trevor, is celebrating a Pearl Wedding Anniversary this month – our congratulations go to her.

Lots of business was on the table for discussion and then Ann Wilson gave a wonderfully descriptive account of the recent Annual Council Meeting held in Margate. It actually reflected my impression of the day as so often I have wondered when listening to a report if I had actually been at the same event! Ann certainly brought the day back to life, nudging my memory of the highlights and her last comment that after having listened to Anne Widdicombe last year and Clarissa Dickson-Wright this, it will be difficult for the Federation Chairman to come up with a speaker of such high calibre for next year’s meeting - a very pertinent remark!

We were then entertained by Mrs Dunkley who showed an extensive collection of slides from her travels around the world. The vote of thanks was given by Janet Cripps who having only just got her first passport is looking forward to emulating the speaker in the very near future! The world awaits her pleasure.

An enormous entry for the monthly competition of a Souvenir from Abroad was won by Betty Page with her exotic looking doll brought back from Africa – quite scary looking but she assured us it has nothing to do with voodoo or that old black magic! But only four entries for a painted hen’s egg (all of such a very high standard it was very difficult to choose between them), the winner of which was to go forward to the Group Meeting. This was won by Barbara Whitehouse – a cleverly painted egg which reflected the mask in theatre which has comedy on one side and tragedy on the other – let’s hope the judge thinks as we all did and we win out against the other seven WIs in our group!

Having been reminded that the next outing is on Thursday 3rd May – a tour of medieval Canterbury and that in the pipeline are the following; A Paddle Steamer ride; A visit to Westminster Abbey and a Federation Day taking place in Dover Town Hall all that was left to Hettie was to remind the ladies that our next meeting is on Tuesday 1st May starting at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall.

We will be discussing the resolution that will hopefully be adopted by our National Executive to “Stop the Closure of Cottage Hospitals”. I’m sure that the committee has also got some entertainment lined up and of course they are serving a “Resolution Luncheon” before the meeting commences – have you got your name down for it?

If you would like to come along and join us and need more information please don’t hesitate to ring either the President on 891420 or the Secretary on 863146.

Linda Barnes

Committee Member Hawkinge, Paddlesworth and Acrise WI