Boscastle WI Branch

News from the WI

New Year New Beginnings

Having mourned the loss of two special, long standing members, Doreen Hancock (pianist), fondly thought of and as yet no one with her musical talents has been found to replace her; and June Swanson “Mrs Boscastle WI”. A dedicated and active WI member over a great number of years, who was known for her forthright manner, dedication for “getting the job done” and also for her great kindness; members now needed to look forward.

The first speaker of the year was Ivor Bowditch of Imerys Minerals Ltd., who had worked in the China Clay industry for 40 years, starting his career, as a “mine captain and moving on to middle management. He talked with great authority on the history, processes and uses of china clay. The clay was first discovered near Helston at Tregonning Hill, by a Plymouth chemist, William Cooksworthy. Mr Bowditch explained how the clay was used in the English porcelain industry and how Cornish clay had been supplied to the Staffordshire potteries such as Wedgwood, Spode and Minton. He outlined, with the use of slides, how vast improvements to mechanisation over the years have greatly speeded up the process of extraction and processing. Mr Bowditch said that the war years had brought about the successful production of aggregates for roadwork and the manufacture of Industrialised Prefabricated Cornish Unit Houses and that in 1990 there had been a change in ethos with the emphasis moving toward the chemical industry. Today the clay produced has a diversity of uses and is present in the manufacture of ceramics, paper, nappies, paint, sealants and adhesives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Pointing out the effects that china clay industry has had on the Cornish landscape, with the early conical tips now replaced by flatter hills and more recently the spoil back- filled into the old pits, Mr Bowditch said that there has been considerable regeneration carried out by Imerys, to heath lands and broad leaf woodlands. He said that whilst there are still huge reserves of china clay in Cornwall, Imerys would be transferring part of the organisation to Brazil, where per ton of clay there is only one-and-a-half to two tons of waste, making the process more commercially viable. However, the research and development side of the company will be expanded in Cornwall.

You would anticipate that in January, with Christmas still a close memory that the ladies known for “eating their way around Cornwall” would have been thinking of trimming inches off their waistlines, not so. The Eagle Hotel, Launceston, was the venue for the Spring County Lunch, where the dedicated team of “eaters” were able to forget the wet, miserable January weather for or a while to enjoy a hearty lunch, and network with other WI members.

With every New Year comes the February election of a new committee and president. The outgoing president Jill Clark, having first presided over the monthly business, announcements and annual proceedings, was presented with a bouquet of flowers from the members, as an expression of thanks and appreciation for her efforts over the last 3 years.

It was good news from the treasurer, who was happy to report a healthy bank balance.

The secretary gave a full and well reported account of the varied and interesting excursions and speakers for the year.

County Advisor Cathy Reed was on hand to offer advice and assist with the election of a new committee and President. What at first promised to be a difficult process, miraculously reached a prompt, satisfactory conclusion with nine committee members appointed and Edith Gomoll agreeing to accept the Presidency for 2007/2008.

Mary Shepherd gained most points during the year for the monthly competitions and flower of the month competitions and was presented with both cups by Cathy Reed.

With formal business done, it was time for a bit of fun and for identification skills to be put to the test. Members had each been asked to provide a photograph taken during their childhood, the identity of which was to be withheld. The anonymous photographs were displayed and the impossible task of putting a name to each face commenced. One or two were fairly straight forward, but in the main the task was unbelievably difficult, made more so by not everyone submitting a photograph and by one member submitting two!

It could be said that on the whole there has been a successful beginning, to what promises to be another good year, with members looking forward to the new calendar of events. March will commence with a visit to the Cornwall and Devon Post, followed by two visits to the Hall for Cornwall, one for The Spring Countdown, where Dr. Paul Whittaker, will be speaking on “Music for the deaf ”, and the other, a visit to the Duchy Ballet’s performance of Cinderella.
Boscastle WI is a small, friendly, fun-loving group of individuals who are always pleased to welcome new members.
If you are interested in joining, meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Village Hall.
October to March meetings start at 2 pm and April to September 7.30pm. Come along and see for yourself.

Boscastle WI
What is a “BENCH”? You are forgiven for thinking it’s an object on which to sit. In the case of Boscastle WI “BENCH” stands for “Ballet”, “Embroidery”, “News”, “Creativity” and Hall for Cornwall. All of which either have, or are about to feature in the March calendar of events.
Commencing with “News”. Bill Roberts, reporter and longest serving member of staff, took a group of Boscastle members on a tour of the Launceston based Cornish and Devon Post. He explained that the business was 150 years old and was the only broadsheet newspaper in the country that still has advertisements on the front cover and how the early copies had all been produced manually, prior to the introduction of printing by steam power.   The ladies were thrilled to look back through the newspaper copies from the past, picking out snippets of news and photographs of their friends and relatives. One member found the wedding photo of her sister. Even more special was to be able to thumb through a copy of the very first newspaper, the layout of which has not really changed over the years.
The “Embroidery” and “Creativity”, skills demonstrated by Mrs Cooper, speaker at the March meeting, were nothing short of spectacular. Mrs Cooper has lived in Cornwall for 43 years and has always had a creative flair. The early recollection of her sewing skills, which included the making of a cookery apron and a “pair of knickers” when she was at school, raised a chuckle. Members were in awe of the beautiful patchwork, quilting, fancy handbags and spectacular pictures and wall hangings that she brought along. Many of which were made when she sat her City & Guilds Design and Creative Embroidery courses. A whole host of fabrics and textures including her own hand-dyed fabrics were used.
The Hall for Cornwall, not only to be the venue for the Ballet, but again was the venue for the “Spring Countdown Meeting”. The morning agenda included “The Great Milk Debate”, where Nationally, WI members have been requested to raise awareness concerning farm gate milk prices. This is a joint initiative by NFWI 6 and the NFU.
 The afternoon speaker, Dr Paul Whittaker, an incredible man, who is profoundly deaf, spoke on the subject of “Music for the Deaf”. Inspiring, brilliant, superb, outstanding, an experience to remember, are but a few of the words that have been used to describe him. If you have been interested in our March activities and feel that you would like to join us, summer meetings are at 7.30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in the Village Hall. You will be made very welcome.

Marshgate W.I.
    were given a talk on ‘Colour Coding’ by Pam Smith at their last meeting. It is a very complex subject and quite an eye opener as it made one look at a person in quite a different way, noticing the colour of their eyes and complexion. Different coloured swatches of material were placed under the volunteer’s chin, as in the childhood days of the buttercup under the chin, and the results were quite amazing. Pam pointed out how one is affected by the colours our mothers buy for us and then the colour of our school uniform which can destroy our love of some colours for life! To be completely colour coded and have a personal swatch put together is quite a lengthy business and a few members appeared keen to book a consultation. Pam then judged the competition, ‘ a scarf that flatters’ which was won by Val Gill, who wore a scarf that was stunning in its simplicity and the correct shade of colour for her.
 The Group meeting on April 18th at Tintagel Social Hall was discussed. A few tentative ideas were put forward for the Royal Cornwall Show and it was agreed that we would enter the competition. Val Gill agreed to be our delegate for the AGM in London. An excellent report was given on the Spring Count Down meeting held at the Hall for Cornwall and those members who did not wish to attend wished they had!
 The next meeting is our birthday outing on 12th April when, with husbands, we are having a private viewing of the Bicycle Museum in Camelford.

Page 6 & 7 A-DRO AN TIR April 2007

 

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BOSCASTLE WI CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Pictured above, with the celebratory cake are Committee Members and Guests:
 L to R: Edith Gomell, Pam Jordan, Jenny Brown, Jill Clark, Nan Collier (County Chairman),
Iris OIde, Pauline Hill (County Executive), Muriel Symons, June Swanson, Shirley Bannister, Joyce Jordan, Gloria Quinlan

 

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