Christmas 2017
The Craft Group Project for the year was to produce hats and scarves for the Padley Centre for the homeless. Volunteers pack up boxes of useful items at Christmas and give one to each of their regular users as a present at the coldest and most inhospitable time of the year. All our members also donated socks, gloves, boxer shorts, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant and chocolate bars to be included in these Christmas boxes together with Christmas wrapping paper. Also, Craft items were donated for use at their activity centre. Thanks to all those who contributed to this worthy cause
December Meeting 2017
Instruction was provided by several members of committee at the December meeting who showed us how to make crafty Christmas items; bows, napkin folding, decorating parcel tags and icing biscuits. This was followed by a delicious faith supper and an unusual quiz incurring some dastardly responses, but was all taken in the spirit of Christmas. A great way to end the year.
Garden Group - Christmas Floral Arrangements 2017
For the past couple of years, the group have got together to make Christmas wreaths, this year some wanted to do wreaths and some wanted to be creative in other ways, so an assortment of Christmas floral arrangements were produced; traditional wreaths some on oasis, some on moss rings, baskets, table arrangements and cascading sprays. It was extremely sociable, Margaret Whyte offered her conservatory for us to make a mess in, and looked after us with mince pies, stollen bites, coffee, mulled wine, as well as lunch of celeriac soup and bread, what a fabulous day. What camaraderie, inspired by being a member of the WI.
Christmas Meal - December 2017
The Christmas meal was held at the Mickleover Golf Club, and we were welcomed by Captain Dave. The food was delicious with a variety of choices from traditional fare to fish and vegetarian options, indulgent desserts and rounded off with tea, coffee and mince pies. Roll on next year.
Mickleover WI & The Craft Group – November 2017
The craft group were not only busy knitting scarves and hats for the Padley centre, they also created a centenary brick for the DFWI Wall Hanging for 2018.
The Padley Centre gives all their regulars a Christmas box full of useful items and our WI made a collection during October & November. Members contributed to Christmas 2017 project by providing socks, boxer shorts, gloves, chocolate, toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste & Christmas wrapping paper, not forgetting the scarves and hats produced by the Craft Group.
The Padley Centre gives all their regulars a Christmas box full of useful items and our WI made a collection during October & November. Members contributed to Christmas 2017 project by providing socks, boxer shorts, gloves, chocolate, toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste & Christmas wrapping paper, not forgetting the scarves and hats produced by the Craft Group.
Garden Groups Annual meal at Anoki - October 2017
Members of the garden group enjoyed their annual meal at Anoki, London Road, Derby
Mickleover WI Meeting – September 2017
Mickleover WI Garden Group exhibited items they had produced over the year at the September Meeting. There were displays of flora in a variety of unlikely containers, and a harvest festival of items, including corn, aubergines cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, raspberries, pears; preserves of cherries, jams; an abundance of beautiful flowers and a bottle of comfrey fertilizer (we ladies like to make the most of everything in our gardens). None of the members have a huge acreage of land or an allotment, and all items have been nurtured and brought to fruition in our gardens. So well done garden group people!
Cornucopia - September 2017
The winner of the cornucopia produce, with a basket full to overflowing, was Jenny; wonky carrots in a variation of colours, peppers, courgettes, tomatoes, corn, rhubarb, shallots, herbs, beetroot, leeks, beans, apples, and not sure if everything has been accounted for. A worthy winner.
Garden Group Competition – August 2017
Following on from the “Brasket” competition last year, Mickleover WI Garden Group decided to embrace the concept and tasked the members to produce a flower display in any medium. All members accepted the challenge and at the August meeting, the exhibits were revealed. What an array of diversity; a magazine rack, lunch box, colander, lamp shade, soap containers, lump of wood, kettle, pair of gloves, and most unlikely a weed killer container! There was quite a collection of plants; Osteospermum, Lobelia, Petunia, Tyne, Geranium, Coleus, Portulaca, Alpines, Sempervivum, Tradescantia to name but a few. The kettle was declared the winner, who’s prize was a packed of tulips called Hope, in the expectation that they will bloom in the spring.
Markeaton Park, Dig for Victory - August 2017
August bank holiday and the weather was glorious. A few members of the Garden Group visited Markeaton Park, Dig for Victory festival. We enjoyed perusing the stalls, purchasing goods and produce and visiting the Walled Garden, where we enjoyed an extremely good value, homemade delicious cake and coffee (£2.50). Well what would the WI outings be without cake!
Haddon Hall - July 2017
The weather was beautiful for the garden group when they visited Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Wall to wall sunshine. As you can see from the photos the climbing roses were still in bloom. The terraced garden was full of summer flowering perennials especially hemerocallis in a variety of different colours. We sat for some time just enjoying the views of the hall and garden. The hall is well worth a visit, some of it going back to the 12th century.
Submitted by Margaret Whyte
Submitted by Margaret Whyte
The Dower House - June 2017
Several members of the garden group visited The Dower House, Church Square, Melbourne, Derbyshire, DE73 8JH on Saturday 24th June. The garden is part of the National Garden Scheme and only open a couple of times a year (see the website for details). What magnificent gardens, they were absolutely fabulous, obviously at its best. After meandering around the grounds, and trying out the different seating places, in true WI style we indulged in carrot cake and tea. Another lovely day with friends.
Craft Group Report
The Craft Group Programme Planning meeting in January was very successful and every month for 2017 was allocated a different type of craft using varying media such as card, textiles, cottons, wool and paper.
The first project in February involved patchwork. The pretty dishes proved to be more difficult than the pattern suggested but the results all looked very different being embellished with beads, buttons and embroidery. Whether they will serve any useful purpose remains to be seen but nevertheless members were very pleased with the results
The first project in February involved patchwork. The pretty dishes proved to be more difficult than the pattern suggested but the results all looked very different being embellished with beads, buttons and embroidery. Whether they will serve any useful purpose remains to be seen but nevertheless members were very pleased with the results
Glitter card flowers were made in March. These also proved more complicated than they looked because the shapes were not easy to cut out. However, one member went into production on them and produced 10 birthday cards for the shapes provided.
"The Girls" musical at the Phoenix Theatre – April 2017
Twenty-Seven ladies from the Morleston group, organised by Karan Tuxford of Littleover WI, boarded the Skills mini-coach and were whisked to Theatre Land, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, by our trusty driver Chris. The show was excellent and stayed very true to the original events, I think the Calendar Girls would have been very proud. There was so much emotion people felt drained, but it was an excellent day out.
Group Social Evening – March 2017
The 91st Morleston Group Social Evening held at St. John’s was a resounding success even though we say so ourselves! The Speaker, Derek Poulson, took everyone on a whimsical tour of the British Isles in dialects explaining how words are formed, the history behind regional differences and had us all in stitches with the stories he had to tell using the features of each county in an enchanting way (e.g. Essex girls).
After tea and delicious cakes Mickleover WI entertained as only they know how in their play “Micklebridge, an everyday story of village folk”. It centred on the facilities, clubs and activities on offer at their village hall. Ladies dressed in aprons and headscarves swept the hall to a routine of “March of the Mods” (it went well!). Then they visited the Weight World Class with varying success or failure rates ending at the Chippie. Next was the Extendasize Workout routine to “Bend It” with members sloping off part way through the proceedings leaving just one very keen member on stage (this went well too!). The WI Coffee Morning followed with everyone wanting different brands, colours and strengths of tea and coffee and a NAFF Raffle went down well too. However, the Maypole Dance at the end, which had never gone quite so wrong before, failed miserably but the audience were in stiches and thought the mix up had been planned so we let them believe that! Our wonderful team of actors were either over-rehearsed or it was way past their bed time! There was much fun and laughter all the way and a great evening was had by all.
After tea and delicious cakes Mickleover WI entertained as only they know how in their play “Micklebridge, an everyday story of village folk”. It centred on the facilities, clubs and activities on offer at their village hall. Ladies dressed in aprons and headscarves swept the hall to a routine of “March of the Mods” (it went well!). Then they visited the Weight World Class with varying success or failure rates ending at the Chippie. Next was the Extendasize Workout routine to “Bend It” with members sloping off part way through the proceedings leaving just one very keen member on stage (this went well too!). The WI Coffee Morning followed with everyone wanting different brands, colours and strengths of tea and coffee and a NAFF Raffle went down well too. However, the Maypole Dance at the end, which had never gone quite so wrong before, failed miserably but the audience were in stiches and thought the mix up had been planned so we let them believe that! Our wonderful team of actors were either over-rehearsed or it was way past their bed time! There was much fun and laughter all the way and a great evening was had by all.
Lunch with the Calendar Girls - March 2017
The Derbyshire Federation entertainment team, organised lunch with 3 of the original calendar girls at the Proact Stadium, Chesterfield on Wednesday 22nd March. Everyone was in their glad rags, nobody wanted to let “the girls” down, and many ladies wore the sunflower that has become synonymous with the calendar girls. After coffee, we took our seats and Tricia (Miss October), Angela (Miss February) & Christine (Miss September), told us how it had all started, how it had mushroomed, and their continued fund raising activities for Bloodwise. We then enjoyed a 2-course lunch followed by coffee and mints. The girls answered questions from the floor, and in true WI fashion the afternoon ended with a raffle. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining day.
Hodstock Priory - February 2017
Two ladies from the garden group booked a Hawkes tour and let the driver, Steve, take the strain. By mid-morning (after a leisurely start), we arrived at Hodstock Priory. There was plenty of time to see the gardens, woods, and of course visit the tea room. The snowdrops in the woods were disappointing, this was mid-February and most of the bulbs were only just poking their heads through. Perhaps the cold, dreary and miserably start to the year hadn’t enticed them to unfurl to display their beauty. After a delicious lunch of pie, peas and gravy, we were taken to Dobbies Garden centre, were we had ample time to browse, make purchases and have a cup of tea.
New Year Meal - January 2017
Mickleover Golf Club was the venue for Mickleover WI New Year Meal. Lots of us have lived in the village for many a year and never visited the golf club. Every one enjoyed the whole experience, the food, the service, the exclusivity in the dining room, the staff, everything was spot on. There was a variety of options on offer, from a three course Christmas dinner, vegetarian, and other delicious items in-between, followed by coffee and mince pies. We were all having such a good time, I forgot to take any photos!