Devauden Green Women's Institute - Archive
2011 Programme
8 February Birds of Prey - Mike Gamble
8 March Magician - Domme Gelosa
12 April Humorous Poet - Lorna Pearson
10 May AGM
14 June Story Writing - Meg Kingston
12 July Outing (to be arranged)
13 September Tall Ships - Mathilda Bailey
11 October Journey with colour & thread - Virginia Hole
8 November Wood Engraver - Edwina Ellis
13 December In-house entertainment
2010 Programme
| 9 Feb | Norwegian Coastal Voyage - Naylor Firth |
| 9 March | Donkey Sanctuaries - Mrs Lizzie Ellis |
| 13 April | Wedding in Istanbul |
| 11 May | AGM |
| 8 June | Visit to Wern Ddu Winery |
| 13 July | Tall Ships - Mrs. Matilda Bailey |
| Aug | No meeting |
| 14 Sept | American Decorative Folk Art - Mrs Rosalind Vernon |
| 12 Oct | Around the World in 40 minutes - Ms Selina Wells |
| 9 Nov | Wine tasting - Mrs Marion Jones |
| 14 Dec | Christmas entertainment |
Programme of Events for 2007
| Tuesday 13th February | In-house Quiz |
| Tuesday 13th March | Lost for Words – Overcoming Adversity – Alan Badmington |
| Tuesday 10th April | Summer Hanging Baskets – Linda Lewis |
| Tuesday 8th May | Annual General Meeting |
| Tuesday 12th June | Outing - Piercefield |
| Tuesday 10th July | In Praise of Personality – Colourful Characters - Rev Rutter |
| Tuesday 11th Sept | High Adventure – Visit to Everest Base Camp – R & M Kinsey |
| Tuesday 9th October | Uganda – A talk with Slides – Frances David |
| Tuesday 13th November | Rosemary’s Rhyme Poetry – Rosemary Davies |
| Tuesday 11th December | Hand-bell Ringing – Linda Lewis |
Meeting Report, May 2007
by Janet Jarrett
The May Annual General Meeting of Devauden Green WI was very well attended with most members being present.
Mrs Carroll gave the treasurer’s report and everyone was pleased that we had had a successful financial year.
The Secretary’s report looked back on some very interesting meetings and the President thanked everybody for their support.
There was then a vote for the new President and Mrs Eira Firth was proposed and happily accepted the position.
Some local matters were discussed, including the provision of toilets at Chepstow bus station and the re-organisation of Gwent hospitals.
Mrs Jones provided delicious refreshments.
New members are always welcome - 01 291 641221 for further details.
The June meeting will include an outing to the Piercefield.
Meeting Report, April 2007
by Janet Jarrett
The April meeting of Devauden Green WI blossomed with a talk by Linda Lewis on the mechanics and artistry involved in making “Summer Hanging Baskets”.
Mrs. Lewis, a member of the Raglan WI, took a two-year course in horticulture after retiring from teaching. She is now a freelance garden designer.
Members heard that the ideal size for a hanging basket is 14 inches. It should be lined with moss and filled with a multi-purpose compost, perlite, water-retention granules and a slow-release fertiliser. Suitable plants for hanging baskets include helichrysum, trailing mint, verbena, fuchsia, geranium and mimulus. For best results, it should be tightly planted and should not be put outside until the end of May when all chance of frost has passed. It should then be fed regularly with a high-potash fertilizer and would then look beautiful for the whole of the summer.
Miss Hunt thanked Mrs Lewis for a most interesting talk and everyone enjoyed the stunning refreshments provided by Mrs Elson. Mrs Deaton won the raffle.
Meeting Report, February 2007
by Janet Jarrett
The second meeting of the year gave members an opportunity to discuss a number of issues as well as to enjoy an in-house quiz.
On business matters, the group continued to be concerned about the costs and apparent low quality of the new national WI magazine, which is also now a compulsory item for members. It was agreed that one of the committee members would write to the regional office expressing the branch’s views.
Members then spent some notable time wrestling with the quiz. Everyone enjoyed the challenging questions and demonstrated an impressive grasp of many subjects, from literature to science and sport. Prizes were won, and several members who blinked were volunteered for a regional quiz in March.
Everyone enjoyed the excellent refreshments provided by Julie (who had also organised the torture of the quiz), and she was doubly thanked by Miss Hunter.
The 13th March meeting will include a talk entitled “Lost for Words - Overcoming Adversity” by Alan Badmington. New members are always welcome - 01 291 641221 for further details.
Meeting Report, January 2007
by Janet Jarrett
A stimulating talk on “Hidden Chepstow” by Mr H Hodges marked the first meeting of the year, and many members were fired to explore the Chepstow Trail.
Members were intrigued by the history of the Bulwark as both a Roman settlement and the site of major ship building. Members were also reminded of the town’s train bridge over the Wye built by I K Brunel, the First World War ship-building spurt, the location of our first cinema, and the large numbers of cellars in the town. The beer cellars under the British Legion are reputed to be the oldest in the town, and in its vicinity many houses have Georgian facades that disguise Tudor buildings and numerous cellars.
Of especial interest to members was that the town wall and town gate were essentially commercial structures – controlling access to the town’s chartered market – rather than being of any material military purpose, despite the town having grown up around the Norman Castle since 1086. The ancient priory church was also of Norman origin, having been started with the support of Benedictine monks, but again was expanded substantially in the early 1700’s.
The ship building industry brought additional prosperity – Chepstow was once the largest port in South Wales – and this was exemplified by the more recent (1790’s) merchant’s house, now the Town Museum. The port’s various activities, including mast manufacture, its extensive use of sawing pits, the wine trade and salmon fishing had all contributed to the vitality of the town. Members were pleased to see that the locality and function of the port as an important industrial area are still maintained – for example by the major bridge fabrication business and the fabric roof manufacturers (who contributed to the roof of the London Dome).
Mr Hodges was thanked for a truly inspirational talk by Miss Hunter.
Excellent refreshments were again provided by Mrs Carroll. The raffle was won by Margaret North-Row.
Meeting Report, December 2006
by Janet Jarrett
Christmas activities overtook Devauden Green WI in December.
The Christmas dinner was held in the Chepstow Castle Hotel, where the members enjoyed a very good spread and notable socialising. Miss Hunter thanked all members for their hard work during the year and wished everyone a Happy Christmas.
At a separate pre-Christmas social event on Tuesday 12th December, members also reviewed the progress of the past year and discussed the fixtures and focus for the next. Topical subjects included the move of some WI’s to an independent status, with which the members had some sympathy. Members also enjoyed a game of “beetle” and other party competitions – and most people won a prize! Special refreshments were provided by the committee members, and a great time was had by all. Mrs Carroll provided mulled wine and she was thanked for her hospitality.
The next meeting will be on 9th January 2007 and will include a talk on “Hidden Chepstow” by Mr H Hodges.
Meeting Report, November 2006
by Janet Jarrett
At their November meeting, Devauden Green WI received an inspiring talk on textiles and silk paper making, and then had some hands-on experiences which lead to them all taking away impressive examples of their own work, despite some wrestling with sticky-backed plastic and glue.
Liz Davies from Ross on Wye told the members her lifetime of association with textiles and silk paper making, and showed how paper and silks could be use to produce some wonderful effects. Some of the materials and dyes were from local sources, including her garden, but she also sourced her silks from the internet, which made life a lot easier nowadays.
Liz was also wearing clothes that she had spun, woven or knitted and made herself. Like many of those present, she had not worn mass-produced clothes until her teenage years.
Mrs Davies was thanked by Miss Hunter for a very enjoyable and informative talk. The excellent tea and cakes were also provided by Jean Hunter. Janet Jarrett won the raffle again.
Meeting Report, October 2006
by Janet Jarrett
One of Devauden WI’s members endured life as a young girl in the Netherlands during WW2, and at the October meeting she was able to show everyone small pencil pictures that she’d made at the time of UK bombers dropping food parcels.
What then astonished everyone was the revelation that her family probably received this relief from one of the aircraft crewed by Bill Cockbill who was giving a talk to the same meeting on the human side of life in Bomber Command.
The group was impressed by how extensively trained the aircrew had to be, although even then one in three was killed. Twenty two month’s instruction in London and Wiltshire and then a posting to Stranraer (flying Ansons) led to the formation of a crew in which the navigator and wireless operator were key members of the team. Their training included instruction in survival techniques, including living off the land and walking to Spain. The speaker then flew in Wellingtons and Lancaster bombers.
Bill volunteered at the age of 17 and was called up at 18, soon becoming a sergeant, then a commissioned officer and a fully qualified wireless operator. He has memories of training in St John’s Wood, eating at London Zoo and attending lectures at the Seymour Hall, and then more training at Bridgnorth in Shropshire. His final posting was with 195 squadron in Cambridgeshire, from where relief parcels to the Netherlands were dispatched.
The meeting was held at the house of Gerdian Versteeg who was pleased to provide the speaker and the WI members with excellent tea and cakes. Miss Hunter thanked the Mr Cockbill for a very significant and informative talk.
New members are always welcome and anyone interested in joining us should contact Miss Hunter on 01 291 641221.
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