Pictures from 2019

 Here are some more. If you have any photos to share please feel free to send them to Mary C. for inclusion in the blog. More will be coming later.

Pictures from our Coffee Morning for our charity Young Carers

Our lovely day out to Bombay Sapphire Gin Factory

The Knitted Bible at t James the Great Winscombe

The craft ladies enjoying their fortnightly meeting

A look at past events

 This has been such a challenging time for our members and this second lockdown is proving just as hard. I thought it might be nice to post some photos of events from the past few years. Apologies if they are not in chronological order

Beryl trying her hand at curling at the Spring Group meeting we hosted in 2019

Update from our President

 

Here is a message from Viv Pixton our President sent on 14th November 2020

Dear Ladies,

We held our first virtual WI members meeting on Monday (9th) via Zoom, which I feel was a success as we weren't timed out and ladies could access the meeting!  It was a trial run with no real structure just a mention of members welfare, a quiz and then exchanging information and a general catch up.

 Information - Litster Butchers in Winscombe is now Winscombe Village Butchers and I drove past the New Inn at Cross and saw a sign stating they are operating a takeaway service.

 The next WI members meeting, via Zoom, will be on 14th December at 7.30 pm and this will have an agenda and Chris will take the minutes.   We would like members to wear a Christmas hat, earrings or both and have a glass of something for a toast. 

 We are planning Christmas music in the background, a quiz, game(s) and a video of Paul (Denise's husband) singing with his guitar.  The meeting should last approximately an hour.  

 I intend to maximise the Zoom software as best I can to provide variety to the ladies that use Zoom.

 Angela Morris is making chutney and would like any glass jars that members do not need.  She has a green box by her gate which is number 81 Greenhill Road, Sandford that you can place them in.  

 Heather Brown, who organises the craft club, would like to thank ladies for all the jumpers (23 have been knitted), hats, scarves and bras that have been donated to the charity she supports in Africa.

 

The Buddy Scheme is in place.

 The WI Golden Girls group is located through WhatsApp.  This is a mode of communication within the group sharing videos, jokes and information.  If you would like to be added to the group or download the App onto your mobile let me know.

 Do keep in touch with each other by phone and within the Government restrictions.  I'm sure you have made good and lasting friendships through the WI and it would be such a pity to lose that.

 Take care and keep safe.

Love to all.

 Viv x

 

Coronavirus message from our President

This is a copy of the email sent out to you all from Chris last week


Our President, Viv Pixton, has asked me the circulate the following to you:- 



Dear Sandford WI members



I am very sorry to inform you that I have decided to cancel various meetings.  This decision was made with the support of the Committee, except for 2 members that I could not speak to.  



The reason for these cancellations follows the Prime Minister and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer's advice from last night and this morning and that was, not to attend unnecessary gatherings.  



The cancelled Events:



6th April 2020 - Committee meeting

14th April 2020 - WI members meeting

7th May 2020 - Wincanton Ladies Day

16th May 2020 - May Fair on the Green

Book Clubs

Craft Club

Lunch Club

Skittles Club



The exception:



Walking Club - to arrive independently and enjoy a nice walk in the open air.  I'm sure Pat will be in touch.



The situation can then be reviewed on a monthly basis.



I understand we are entering the peak period of the Coronavirus and wish everyone to take great care of themselves.  If there are members under the age of 70 that would like to help fellow members, please let me know.  



I understand from Jenny Barley that the Spar Shop in Sandford is introducing a free delivery service.  If you give them your name and telephone number, they will phone you each morning to see if there is anything that you require.



Keep yourselves safe and well and we will party after it's all over.



All good wishes



Viv x

Sandford WI President

Litter Pickup Changes

There has been a slight change to the arrangements for our litter pick up. We will now be meeting at Jenny's house on Monday 9th March at 9.30am and not at the Village Hall as previously stated. Contact Jenny if you would like to help. The more the merrier!

February News from the clubs

Walking Club Wednesday 26th February 9.30am at The Woodborough Car Park opposite
Pat is organising another walk for us Anyone who is interested in coming along should contact her.

Book Club 1 Wednesday 26th February 7.30pm
We are meeting at Penny's to discuss our latest book entitled in a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviero. Denise to choose the next book.

Book Club 2 Tuesday 18th February at 7.00pm
Trish will be hosting this meeting with an earlier start. Our book for discussion is The Hourglass by Tracy Rees. Kath to choose our next book. There are some spaces if you would like to join this club.

Lunch Club Thursday 20th February at Chew Kitchen (time to be advised)
Jenny is taking names for anyone who would like to come. She will let us know the time when she has reserved a table. We will need some volunteers to drive.

Craft Club Thursday 20th February at Sandford Village Hall
All members are welcome to come along with their craft projects or just for company and a cuppa. See the earlier post for future dates or contact Chris.

Skittles Evenings every other Tuesday at The Woodborough at 7.30pm
There will be a game tonight 12th February against Blagdon. Sadly their captain has passed away aged 90 after many years running the team. The other members have said they would like to play in her memory this evening. The evening cost £2.50 for a game and some very tasty sandwiches and chips for supper. Just come along if you would like to play.

February Meeting

Our talk at this meeting was from Nick King who owns a company called Goats of the Gorge. He was formerly in the Police Force but following a car accident it was found that he had a number of underlying health issues. He discovered the benefits of goat's milk from talking to his doctor and decided to buy a few goats for his own consumption. From this small beginning he has gone on to start a business selling various products made from goat's milk including soaps, shampoos and skin cream. We were able to buy some of his products on the night. it was a very interesting evening.

Roman Way Group News
Our WI has had 2 invitations from Hewish to join them for their birthday celebration evening on 19th March. Pat and Barbara have volunteered to go. There were still some tickets left for the Spring Group at Winscombe on 20th March which have now been sold.

Wincanton Races 7th May 
There has been a good response for this event and all places on the coach have been filled. Beryl is taking names for members who are still interested in case there are any people who have to cancel at a later date. Beryl would like payment by the next meeting in March.

Litter Pick-up

There will be a litter pick up in Sandford and Winscombe in the week ending 14th March. Jenny is organising a group of volunteers to go out on Monday 9th March starting at 9.30am at the Village Hall. Anyone who would like to come and help should contact Jenny.

January meeting

Roman Way Spring Group Meeting – 20 March 2020 at 7.30pm

Our  Group Representative, Rowena has the tickets for this event priced at £6.00 each. It will be held at St James Hall in Winscombe. The entertainment will be 9 to 5 (a group of Harmony Singers). The competition will be for a jar of marmalade - any size, any jar. Anyone interested in attending should contact her.

 Wincanton Races – 7 May 2020

The Vice President has had interest from 34 people so far for this event but there is room for more. The cost of the day is £85.00 including a meal and race cards and the coach is expected to cost approximately £15.00 extra, the total cost, therefore, will be about £100.00. Several of our members are coming again as they enjoyed it so much last year. 

 Annual Day Trip – 8 June 2020 

There have been a couple of suggestions - Either Weymouth or Worcester for this year's outing. Our Vice president Beryl has said that any other ideas from our members would be most welcome.

Calling all knitters
One of our members Anne will be bring wool and half finished projects to the next meeting for anyone to take it for charitable use.

Craft Club

The Secretary reported that the next meeting will be held in the Village Hall on Thursday 23 January 2020.

Our Memory Garden

For the benefit in particular of the new members Jenny Barley explained that the WI has a memorial garden located next to Humphrey Motor Company, Sandford, that is maintained for the village.  Plants are put in there to remember members who have passed away and, as in previous years, the Parish Council have given us £40.00 towards its upkeep. 

News from the Clubs

Lunch Club

Jenny decided to cancel the lunch this month due to the continuing bad weather. There will be a lunch in February in Bristol at Cote Brasserie. Details will be announced at the next meeting.


Walking Club

There will be a walk on Wednesday 29th January around the estate at Ashton Court. We will be meeting at Pat's and driving from there at 9.30am

Book Club 1 

 Mary will be hosting the next gathering on Wednesday 22nd January at 7.30pm. The group will be discussing The Apothecary's daughter by Hannah Betts. Barb will be choosing the next book

Book Club 2

The next meeting will be at Trish's on Tuesday 18th February at 7.30pm.  The latest book is The Hourglass by Tracey Rees. Kath will be choosing the next book.

We decided to join both book clubs together for our Christmas meeting. We had a great night at Pat's when, after discussing the book  Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriaty, we enjoyed a lovely meal. It was really nice to get together. Thank you very much Pat for having the idea and for that gorgeous meal!

2020 programme

Programme 2020

Jan 13	Don't Fear  Dementia A talk by John Wilson Registration
Feb 10	Nick King Goats of the Gorge
Mar 9	A talk by Canine Partners Assistance Dogs
Apr 13	Jewellery Making by Helen Robbins  She explains her craft and sells her jewellery
May 11	Resolutions 2020 WI Auction for our Charity
Jun 8	No Meeting Day Trip (to be advised)
Jul 13	Magistrates Court A magistrate talks about the role
Aug 10	Steve Price & Peter Dunn will sing for us.
Sep 14	Harvest Supper
Oct 12	Village Hall  Film night
Nov 9	A talk by Tim Crumplin Clarks Shoe Archivist followed by Annual Meeting
Dec 14	Christmas Party and Festive Fun

20th March	Spring  Group Meeting hosted by Winscombe St James Church Hall 9 to 5 Ladies who sing in Harmony
31st March	AFWI Spring meeting Saltford Hall Wedmore Road BS31 3BY
4th June	N.F.W.I Annual General Meeting Albert Hall London
29th September	AFWI Annual Meeting Winter Gardens WSM
TBA	October  Autumn Group Meeting# Date/Venue TBA

December Meeting

What a great Christmas meeting this turned out to be. Our entertainment was provided by Tim Lewis who performed an brilliant show entitled "The Greatest Story Ever Told. He went through the Nativity with a series of pictures,  all the while singing songs from all the great musicals but reworked with lyrics to reflect every part. It was very cleverly done. We had a wonderful spread provided by the members and wine and soft drinks from the committee. A really nice start to the Christmas season.

Birthday Meal

In November we had a lovely meal at The Bath Arms in Cheddar. The staff were amazing and served us all very promptly. The food was delicious and we enjoyed having the whole room exclusively for ourselves. Our transport worked very well with some members arriving on the Churchill minibuses and others by car. Thank you Bath Arms for a wonderful evening,