2014 Other Activities

Knitted sheep! November/December.
Holy Cross Church in Milton Malsor have an idea for the Crib service at Christmas which involves participation from WI members as well as other knitters in the village and surrounds. A knitted Holy family will be passed around the children in the village for one night during Advent and on leaving, a sheep will be left behind. On Christmas Eve, the children holding the sheep will be invited to bring them along to the service and place them in and around the stable with Baby Jesus. A lovely way to entice more children to attend the service. WI members have been invited to help with the knitting of the sheep and information can be obtained by contacting Susan Lowin or members of the committee.

Review - The Church was packed on Christmas Eve for the Crib service with the children arriving clutching their sheep. Those who didn't have a sheep were given one as they entered the Church. Rev Andrea told a story with the help of a video and carols were sung in anticipation of the imminent birth. Everyone was invited to go and look at the stable following the service and my 2 grandchildren were very excited to see the animals and put their sheep in the stable for a rest.

Visit to The Horse Trust near Princes Risborough on Thursday August 21st

10 members and husbands enjoyed a visit to the centre on a sunny afternoon in the Chilterns. The centre is for retired military and police horses as well as a home for rescued horses, donkeys and ponies from often appalling living conditions. There were 104 equine residents living in a delightful setting with views across rolling hills and 200 acres of grassland to frolic about in. The immaculate horse boxes are set around a yard filled with hanging baskets, flower borders and seats for the visitors to watch the activities going on. 

Visitors can watch and take part in grooming of selected horses and visit the well set up museum of the centre which dates back to 1886. There are Royal connections in that Prince Albert was an early supporter as is HM the Queen and The Princess Royal is Patron.

The Black Beauty Tea Room is a recent addition, set in a beautifully restored tithe barn and named after the famous novel which, in 1886, inspired the founder, Miss Ann Lindo to establish the charity to help the working horses in London. Around the walls of the tea room are quotes from the novel and many horsey inspired gifts can be bought there as well as cream teas and other delicious refreshments.

Sefton's Barn is another restored tithe barn which is named after the famous Army horse who was critically injured in the IRA bombing in Hyde Park in 1982. After his retirement, Sefton lived out his remaining years at the Trust and the barn is now used for conferences, training days, etc.

Quinton Garden Evening on Tuesday 24th June
10 members and husbands enjoyed a very pleasant evening walk around Quinton, followed by refreshments in Barbara Bentley's unique garden. Chatting with members from other WIs and wandering around the garden to look at Owls, the views and stalls added to the event. Thank you to Barbara and her husband for what is now becoming a lovely annual summer event in the WI calendar.

- Annual Trip  - Saturday June 14th
This year we are taking a coach to Birmingham for the day. Some people may wish to visit the Jewellery Quarter and a visit to the Museum has been booked for 10.30am. 

Tea, coffee and biscuits can be available on arrival by pre-booking - £2
The coach will take those not wishing to visit the Museum into Birmingham for a DIY day.

The coach will cost £12 with an additional £4 (for group booking), free for children, for the Museum.

Bookings please through Brenda  858866 or Shirley 764433 stating which of the options you require.

Names are needed by the April meeting and the payment made by the May meeting please.
 
Times to leave Milton and Collingtree in the morning and to leave Birmingham in the afternoon will be added here after April meeting.

Review of the day
The weather forecast was reasonable so we set out full of hope for a successful day. With about 40 passengers on board, the coach made good time and we were outside the Museum at 10.15am. However, it didn't open until 10.30am so we were advised to park in the next road and wait. We decided to go into Birmingham and drop off the passengers who weren't visiting the museum this time. 20 minutes later we were back at the museum and coffee was served to us in the courtyard and inside tables. The party was split into 2 and whilst one group was on the tour of the factory, the other was looking at displays. An interesting tour with questions answered where possible took about an hour and people mingled in the shop for a few minutes before walking the 20 minutes into the city centre. Our own day took the form of walking along the towpath towards Brindley Place, finding a pub for lunch, avoiding a heavy shower whilst in there and then making our way through the Symphony Hall to the Museum and Art Gallery, the Square outside, bustling New Street and people watching at the Bull Ring as we waited for the time to go home. It was a tiring day but most enjoyable. Hope everyone else found something of interest to do. We were pleased to welcome several members from Blisworth WI who joined us for the day.