Catchgate WI

MRS Gallagher welcomed members and guests to the annual general meeting - WI Adviser Mrs F Weatherspoon and Mrs R Bates and Mrs D. Mackie from Annfield Plain WI.

The Golden Thread, Let Every Day be a Good Day, was read by G Grainger. Minutes, correspondence and business was dealt with by the secretary.

Twelve members will attend international night at Lanchester in July. Members discussed the resolutions for the intermediate meeting at Brighton with the help of Mrs Weatherspoon. Members voted on each resolution.

Mrs P Gill gave the financial statement and Mrs Riley read the secretary's report. Mrs Gallagher thanked all members for their support during the year. The three officials were re-elected for another year.

Mrs Whitworth has retired from the committee. She was thanked for all her work by Mrs Gallagher.

Mrs Weatherspoon read two poems, Her Little Members and Peter The Snake. The competition for a decorative plant pot was won by Mrs Gill. Mrs S Morecroft won the rosebowl for the year gaining most competition points. Mrs Wilson won the raffle prize.

Members and guests enjoyed a buffet supper catered for by committee members. The meeting ended with singing of the National Anthem.

Consett Afternoon WI

PRESIDENT Linda Richardson opened the Consett Afternoon WI, new secretary Marian Tucker took over her duties.

Consett won first prize for bulbs grown by Barbara Soulsby at the annual spring meeting at Stanley. Mrs O'Toole read a very interesting report from the meeting.

Doreen Walker and Vi Buchan who visited from Leadgate WI read out the resolutions for the AGM at Brighton.

Frank Howatt gave a talk titled A Parson in the Pit. Following this the competition, Mining Memorabilia, was won by Marion Meegan. In second place was Joan Dance and third was Val Rose. First prize in the raffle was won by Florie Mitchell and second by Ann Parker.

The next meeting will be held on May 28 the speaker will be Norman Kelly.

Consett Inner Wheel

PRESIDENT June Marsden opened the May meeting. She welcomed members and correspondence and business was dealt with.

The speaker was veterinary surgeon Jacqui Molyneux who last year travelled to Namibia in south-west Africa to fulfil a dream to see the cheetahs.

She brought her slides of cheetahs, elephants, zebra and the other animals in the wild with stunning shots of them gathering at the water holes in the evenings, also of the beautiful and unusual birds native to the region, with an accompanying interesting talk. The vote of thanks was given by Margaret Reynolds.

Tea was served and the raffle was won by Hilda Cornforth. Thanks was given to our hostess to day, Vivienne Hoggarth. The meeting was then closed.

East Stanley WI

PRESIDENT Anne Stayman welcomed members and thanked Hilda Shield and Vera Wilkinson for flowers which were given to Jennie Keeler and the president.

Phoebe Wilkinson read her favourite poem and Audrey Wallace gave a report from the spring council meeting. Final arrangements were made for the Jubilee Party on June 3 at 3pm.

Everyone had enjoyed the outing to Barnard Castle and Peal House and the group meeting at Tanfield Lea.

The delegate from Wentworth Park to the IGM in Brighton took members through the resolutions and Freda Weatherspoon discussed the constitution on which the members voted.

The raffle was won by Lilly Middleton and the competition, a paperweight, was 1 Olga Hodgson, 2 Rita Hall.

The speaker, Margaret Hickling, gave a talk accompanied by slides of Wallington Hall and the history of the family. She was warmly thanked by Mary Mosse who had recently had an enjoyable visit to the hall.

Next meeting is on June 10 which will be the AGM.

Lanchester WI

THE meeting opened on a very sad note with vice-president Jessie Goodall asking members to stand for a minute's silence in tribute to the late president, Joyce Lawson, who died the previous week.

Resolutions were discussed for the IGM and voted upon. Correspondence was dealt with by June Wallis. The treasurer's report was given by Ann Carr.

Members then had an interesting talk on wildlife in County Durham given by Richard Wood. He was thanked by Mrs Goodall.

The raffle was won by Betty Calland who also won the competition for an animal photograph. Pat le Rouex was second and also gave an appropriate reading.

The next meeting is on June 10 when David Raeburn will talk on Beautiful Corsica. New members are most welcome.

South Moor WI

THE president, Mrs Moore, welcomed members to the May meeting. Best wishes were sent to sick members. Mrs Nicholson gave the reading, A Day to the Supermarket. Mrs Soulsby gave an appropriate reading for the Queen's Jubilee.

Mrs Moore introduced Mrs Liddle from Wentworth Park WI who read and discussed the AGM resolutions. Mrs George gave the vote of thanks .

Mrs Pearson read the minutes and the county newsletter. Mrs George gave the financial statement.

The raffle was won by Mrs Wilkinson. Members enjoyed the group meeting held by Tantobie WI. Mrs Pearson won the competition for home-made scones at the group meeting. A welcome cup of tea and biscuits were served.

The evening ended with charades arranged by Mrs Nicholson and Mrs Bell.

WI Jubilee Group

THE Jubilee Group meeting was held in St Patrick's Church Hall. After singing Jerusalem, Mrs Walker, president of Leadgate WI, the host institute, introduced the members on the platform.

Mrs Tucker, Consett WI, gave an account of the last group meeting when Consett WI were the host institute.

The county adviser Mrs B Robson gave details of the forthcoming events to be held in the county. Mrs Hutchinson, Ebchester WI, gave the vote of thanks.

The speaker was Mr Crosshill whose subject was The Funny Side of an Ambulanceman, which was amusing and very interesting. Mrs Redshaw, Benfieldside, gave the vote of thanks.

The competition, A Golden Jubilee Souvenir, was won by Mrs Johnston of Consett, second Mrs Gill of Ebchester, and third Mrs Richardson of Consett.

The entertainment was the Grove Singers who gave a varied and well-chosen programme. Mrs Richardson of Consett WI thanked the ladies. The National Anthem brought the meeting to a close.

WI group meeting

Tantobie WI was the hostess institute for the group meeting held on April 29 at The Tanfield Lea Community Centre.

Mrs Smith welcomed 90 members from six institutes, East Stanley and Southmoor joining as new members of the group. Anfield Plain, Catchgate and Burnopfield were represented.

It was a Jubilee celebration theme with the decorations provided by Iris Oliver. Mrs Weatherspoon and Mrs Bickerdyke were the speakers; Glenda Hudson judged the produce competition and Pauline Tate judged the craft competition.

The members enjoyed a plate supper before Joyce Shaw gave a wonderful entertainment with poems and songs.