Belmont WI

PRESIDENT Marjorie Oates opened the meeting with a minute's silence for the Queen Mother and Wynn Wilson, a long-standing member of the WI. Assistant secretary Ella Curry read the minutes of the last meeting.

Marjorie Oates as delegate gave a good report on the Annual Council Meeting. She congratulated Clarice Cooper on coming third in the competition with a beautiful embroidered sampler. She also congratulated the Belmont B darts team for getting through to the final of the darts area competition and wished the two teams entering the county quiz good luck.

Our speaker was Kath Carr who gave us a very pleasant evening by telling us the story of her life in song and verse. She was warmly thanked by Margaret MacDonald.

The competition was a paper weight and was won my Margaret Penna, 2 Carol Sturt and joint third were Olive Lowery and Pat Peel.

The birthday girl for April was Dorothy Brabam. Raffle prizes were won by Susan Reay, Olive Canning, and Ken Shearer.

Members were reminded that we are hosting the Group Meeting on April 29 at 7pm at Belmont Junior School.

The date of the next meeting is May 13 at 6.45pm at the same venue.

Gilesgate Evening TG

THE guild held its monthly meeting on Monday, April 8, at 7pm in the St John's Ambulance Hall. New chairman Jennie O'Hare welcomed everyone to the meeting. The guild anthem was sung and then a minute's silence was held in respect and memory of the late Queen Mother.

The minutes were read by Mrs O'Hare as she was the secretary at the last meeting. They were approved by all and signed by Mrs Tilly who was chairman at the time. The new secretary is Mrs J Tilly. The treasurer, Mrs Mitchelson, gave the financial report.

After the rest of the business was completed members enjoyed the welcome cup of tea or coffee and biscuit. The sales table was opened for business. A card had been circulated for all to sign to give to Elsie Aikenhead thanking her for her loyalty to the guild for many years. A TG teaspoon to be given also.

Unfortunately the speaker for the evening was unable to attend so the first round of the National Quiz was attempted. Mrs P Doublett read out the questions which were really very difficult. The winner was Shirley Whiteley who will certainly go forward to the next round an April 17 at Hartlepool.

The competition, a small decorated jug, was won by Mrs Robinson. Raffle winners were Mesdames O'Hare, Caskey, Snowball, Ovington, Mitchelson and McCormack. There will be an evening outing to Allendale on Bank Holiday Monday instead of the usual May meeting.

Merry Oaks WI

PRESIDENT Margaret Thornhill welcomed the members and introduced Caroline Melody who gave an interesting talk on homeopathy and answered several searching questions.

Secretary Edith Hall dealt with the correspondence. Names were taken for the evening outing and the operatic show. Margery Chesterton gave a report from the Spring Council meeting and proudly announced that Merry Oaks had won the award for the best programme.

Social time was taken over by Pauline Waldron - a member of Broom Park WI. She began by thanking Merry Oaks members for their financial and practical help with the millennium scarf/ blanket conversion project and then proceeded to gain the admiration of everyone with a hair-raising account of the five days she spent as a crew member aboard a tall ship.

Competition winners were Joyce Cooper, Eira Evans and Margaret Thornhill, raffle Joyce Cooper and Hazel Andrews. Next month: The Work of the Hospice.

Newton Hall WI

THE April meeting, which was the AGM, was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

The president Pamela Stablefoth welcomed everyone to the meeting including WIA Audrey Dinning from Tudhoe WI. The committee for 2002-2003 remains the same with the addition of Val Holroyde.

Joyce Coats gave an interesting account of her attendance at the Spring Council meeting where the guest speaker was James Wight, veterinary surgeon and author son of James Herriot.

After the business, the president thanked the members and the committee for their support and was happy to report another successful year with membership on the increase. Audrey Dinning spoke interestingly about previous resolutions and how effective the WI has been on national issues for the betterment of all women in this country.

A ballot was necessary for the post of president and Judith James was duly elected. Heather Hanson is custodian of the rose bowl for the next year having accumulated the most competition points. On the night competition winners were Val Holroyde, Jill Brown and Lynda Hudspeth, raffle Petra Whitfield and door prize Margaret Wood.

An embroidered tray cloth submitted by Jill Brown was chosen to go forward as our competition entry at the next group meeting