2019 Other Events
6th November Lunch at the Lane Restaurant, Northampton College
19 members and husbands spent a very enjoyable lunchtime being served by first year students of the catering department at the college. They were all trying very hard and only minor mishaps occurred. They had only been learning their trade since September so we excused them. The meal was delicious, hot, not rushed and very tasty. We plan to return in the Spring.
29th October AGM NCFWI Spinney Hill, Northampton
Brenda and Paula attended the County AGM. Here are a few highlights from Brenda's report.
The Business part of the meeting was carried out efficiently and relatively quickly, with reports from the Chairman, Treasurer and ACWW, the Climate Ambassador and Denman.
The Bursary winners,Trophy winners and the Denman Dip were announced as were the Challenges for 2020.The Challenge Trophy for 2020 is to create a Board Game based on Resolutions. The Pauline Duff Trophy will be a Dundee Cake with a recipe provided.
After the interval, Baroness Floella Benjamin was introduced. She presented the trophies, giving each winner a hug!
Most members were very familiar with her Playschool presenting and she delighted the audience by referring to the 'shaped windows' and of course her dear friend Humpty who joined her on the stage. At 70 years old she has packed in many different dimensions to her life. Her parents left Floella and three of her siblings with foster parents in Trinidad whilst they were seeking a better life in England. 16 months later she and her 3 'left behind' siblings were put on ship to go to England to be with their parents and two younger siblings in a one roomed flat in London. 10 London Marathons, singing in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Hair', Playschool, winning a Gold Medal at Chelsea for her 'Windrush' garden and many political themes followed as her career advanced. As a member of the House of Lords she has campaigned for a Minister for Children for 20 years and for seatbelts in school buses to become law. She is the first black Chancellor of Exeter University and has learnt to face adversity with a smile.
She closed her talk by singing the famous song 'Smile...Smile even though your heart is breaking, smile what's the use of crying.....' to a silent audience. You could hear a pin drop. She finished to rapturous applause.
August 6th, Visit to Holy Sepulchre Church in Northampton
10 members and husbands made the short journey to Holy Sepulchre Church to have a most enjoyable journey through time with two enthusiastic members of the church community, John and David. They took it in turns to tell us about different aspects of the church from history of the building to Military connections with the Northampton Regiment and latterly the Anglian Regiment. Holy Sepulchre Church was founded by Simon de Senlis on his return from the First Crusades. Only 9 round churches were ever built and today only 4 remain in a recognisable state. It was built c1100 and is probably the oldest building in Northampton. It has had extensive repairs in recent years with a lot of money spent on it, but it is a building worth preserving and a gem for Northampton.
Following our 2 hour tour and talk of the church we were invited to partake of refreshments in the Community Hall which proved to be a delight as it was lunchtime and sandwiches, sausage rolls and cakes were provided with coffee, tea or squash. All for a donation. A lovely way to spend a morning.
June 15th, Kew Gardens
Kew gardens is a botanical garden in SW London that houses 'the largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world.' It was founded in 1840, its living collections include more than 30,000 different sorts of plants while the herbarium, one of the largest in the World, has over 7 million preserved collections.
The gardens include a tree top walkway, a bridge crossing a lake, many varied plant houses, a sensory Hive , conservatories, ornamental buildings, galleries and museums. There are plenty of food areas and two 72 seater road trains which take you on a circular route around the gardens with plenty of stopping off places.
The Cost:
Senior citizens £30 to include coach and entrance
Adults £31 to include coach and entrance
https://www.thewi.org.uk/become-a-member/structure-of-the-wi/england/northamptonshire/find-a-wi/milton-malsor-and-https://www.thewi.org.uk/become-a-member/structure-of-the-wi/england/northamptonshire/find-a-wi/milton-malsor-and-collingtree/other-activities/_edit#collingtree/other-activities/_edit#We aim to leave Milton Malsor Village Hall car park at 8.30am, Collingtree crossroads at 8.35am, leaving Kew at 5pm for the return.
Names to be given to any committee member with a deposit of £10 per person. The balance of monies to be paid by May 9th.
Tree Top Walk
Palm House
Princess of Wales Conservatory
Review of the day.
The day went very smoothly with a full coach of happy people.
The weather was perfect and the gardens were superb, as were all the glasshouses. When we were admiring something in the Princess of Wales conservatory, a cheeky lizard appeared at our feet and seemed quite unperturbed by all the feet around him. He posed for photographs and seemed very much at home in the heat and humidity.
There was plenty to do and see including fabulous art work in the form of giant Chihuly glass structures which were very well photographed as you will see later.
Most of the ladies and some men were delighted to witness a wedding in the conservatory near Elizabeth Gate where our coach picked us up at the end of the day. Beautiful dresses on the bride and her bridesmaids, and smart groomsmen and ushers in tails.
We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves. All we have heard are positive comments so we hope to see you all again next year.
April 30th Bluebell Walk
As in previous years, a small group of members, one husband and a dog enjoyed a walk from the Pyghtle Way entrance to Grange Wood through the beautiful bluebells to the top of the park. We then went across to West Hunsbury past the Ironstone railway, marvelling at the play area near the car park. A welcome comfort break at The Drovers' Return with coffee and hot chocolate in the sunshine which was by now flooding the area. After a while spent chatting, we followed the Drovers road down to Wood Avens Drive and across to the park by Ladybridge Lake. Under Ladybridge drive and away across the woodland and fields to Towcester Road and back to our starting point. A very comfortable couple of hours in the sunshine which by the time we got back was really lovely.
March 19th Northampton College
13 members enjoyed a splendid lunch, prepared, cooked and served by catering students, in the very pleasant surroundings of The Lane restaurant at Northampton College. The lunch was beautifully cooked with a choice of starters, mains and desserts. We were brought a rainbow coloured drink to begin the meal which had several fruit juices in, looked beautiful and tasted delicious! Coffee and tea were served at the end and we all left wondering when we could justify another meal here. It was that good.
