December 2020 NewsletterNovember NewsletterOur November Calendar GirlsOur 1st November Calendar Girl is: Pam TraffordI was born in Doncaster, 2nd daughter of 4 children to a mining village GP my Dad, and Mum, nurse at a residential school for disabled children. High School was a bus ride away in Retford, that town also providing Saturday job on the market, and Saturday disco nights! Motown ruled! Holidays were mostly North Wales caravanning; with beach days, Snowdonia walking, birdwatching, and Monopoly when raining!
I began my SRN training at The London Hospital, Whitechapel, in April 1970, not really wanting to go until my Mum had recovered from an illness that I didn't know was ovarian cancer, but she wanted to see me started, which she did, and died 3 months later. I loved every aspect of my nursing life; district, renal, geriatric, nursing homes, and latterly, 17 years Practice nursing. Dad developed renal failure, and needing a partner to assist with home dialysis, married an old friend of our family, also a doctor, giving my younger sister a lovely step 'mum', and us all a great step brother. I met and married a medical student who also became a GP, and we have 4 sons. We lived and worked in Shrewsbury, Loughborough, Gloucester and Rossendale. After we parted in 1999, I came with the younger 2 sons to live with Rob in Bishops Offley, the older 2 being at University. I worked at Alstom as occupational nurse for a couple of years before being appointed practice nurse at The Crown Surgery in Eccleshall. I joined WI quite soon after coming to this area to meet people and make friends... mission accomplished! I travelled to Calais on 4 occasions when 'The Jungle' was home to many thousands of refugees. I nursed there too, giving first aid and vaccinations. My son Bob was with me on a couple of the visits building and distributing food and clothing. I found the experience rewarding and disturbing in equal measure. I still have Syrian friends both of whom continued their journeys, one to UK and one to Canada. Now retired with more time for home, garden, e biking, dog, sheep, hens, and having my 2 grandchildren visiting whenever we can. I'm awaiting completion of my small sewing room, where I can then leave my machine and all assorted clutter out! Glad to be back singing at Broughton Community Choir although in a much changed format due to Covid -19 regulations. Life looks very different these days for all of us, we can only make the best of the situation, help others and sit it out safely. Our 2nd Calendar girl for November is Pat Evans.Hi every one,
My name is Pat Evans, I am married to Roy Evans and we celebrated our Diamond Wedding last year. We have four children and eleven grandchildren, with a great grandchild on the way. As a family we have moved with Roy’s work around the country. Starting as "Brummy children ", we married in 1959 and moved to Cheddar, (as Roy was working in Weston - Super- Mare). Over the years we had time in Gloucester, Essex, Cornwall and Staffordshire, where we have lived for over thirty years. While living in Croxton I joined the WI, church choir, badminton and line-dancing. I am a seamstress and I enjoy all crafts. My main career was producing Bridal wear, - there are a few brides round and about that I have been involved with. Although we now live in Stone I still keep in touch with all my friends in the Woodland Quarter. xx Photo of Pat with Maureen enjoying a trip up the Great Orme, Llandudno, on a Craft Club trip to North Wales.
NOVEMBER 26th MEETING (via ZOOM)
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December Meeting What a really fun and festive December (Zoom) meeting we had on 10th December. 16 members attended, and best wishes were sent from Maud, Judy T. and Margy. The Christmas hat competition was judged by Wendy - a difficult
job as there were some amazing designs. First place was awarded to Brenda for her Poinsettia and Holly and Ivy crown, with Carol 2nd and Vicky 3rd. Special mention was given to Michelle, Pat and Linda for their illuminated designs and carefully secreted battery packs! Every member’s name was put forward for the raffle with Lesley Wilkins wining the bottle of bubbly. Michelle then organised a fun scavenger hunt, and members became increasingly competitive to win the points for each round, with Vicki being named the overall winner. Great fun and thanks to Michelle for the organisation. To conclude the evening, the draw for the 2021 Broughton ‘Passport to Learning’ took place with Anne Clews winning the £150 bursary and Vicki Evans as reserve. Our January meeting will be an ‘Open’ Zoom meeting and members can invite a friend to attend. We have also invited members from our Rosamund Harrison Group of WIs. Our guest speaker will be ‘The Quirky Bird’ and members will be able to join-in with creating a watercolor painting. Christmas hat competition and lots of hilarity at our Christmas party. 10.12.20
Some of the hand-made Christmas cards sent out to members by the Committee.Up-date on the Friendship Bags
BREAKING NEWSCongratulations to Yvonne who not only came first in the Craft Jamboree category 'A stitch in Time', ... but also won the 'Best in Show' award for her beautifully gold embroidered hare. KEEPING IN TOUCH
We miss seeing you all very much. The Committee have loved every minute of putting-together the beautiful little 'Friendship Bags', and we hope you enjoy them. We look forward to seeing your creative ideas with some of the items. Our October Calendar Girls Our first October Calendar Girl is Lesley Archibald
I was born in Liverpool. After school I worked as a clerk in marine insurance, then as a student nurse. It was a wonderful place to be a teenager in the 60’s, and I was out every night at parties and dances. I met my husband Dave, at the Grafton Ballroom, had one dance and agreed to meet at the weekend. Too vain to be seen wearing glasses I peeked around a corner and saw a tall skinny lad with a mop of black curly hair and thought he wasn’t bad! We moved to Eccleshall in the early 80s as Dave’s work needed easy access to the Midlands and M6. We both loved our house and living in Eccleshall. When my daughter, Sarah was at university, and son, Stephen was studying Science A-Levels I felt in a rut in my part time clerical job and took an Access Course which led to a Degree in Environmental Biology then worked as a school science technician for a few years. My final job before retirement was the best: Word processing Case Histories at St George’s Hospital. I regularly meet up with the “girls” I met there. WI has inspired me to try different skills and hobbies and attempt many of the competitions, from making marmalade to carving pumpkins. My Covid-Challenge has been to learn to play a ukulele. Our second October Calendar Girl is Linda MifflinHere's the story of my life!
I was born and bred on a farm near Stone. After school I spent three years in Liverpool training as a Home Economics teacher. I enjoyed teaching but gave it up to bring up our three children. When I was ready to return to the classroom my subject was, sadly, out of favour. So instead I helped to run our post office with my husband, Stuart. After retirement and the children leaving home we moved from Standon to our present home in Croxton where we are extremely happy. Fortunately we are able to see our family regularly - which takes up a lot of our time. Apart from family, I enjoy cooking, gardening, walking, theatre, crafting and the countryside. Linda has put her jam jar from the Friendship bag to good use.
Has anybody else re-purposed their jar yet? Socially distanced meet-up + coffee and cake at Sugnall Walled Gardens on 21st AugustA really lovely socially-distanced meet-up for drinks and cake at our local, - the beautiful Sugnall Walled Garden on 21st August. Really great to see everyone and catch-up and we managed to avoid the strong winds and showers!
Update: sadly we had planned another one in September but the Government increased the restrictions on meeting up even outdoors due to a recent Covid-19 resurgence, so this has been cancelled. Keeping in Touch in these Unusual Times : August Great WI Zoom meeting on 13th August. Thanks to Yvonne for her very interesting talk about ‘Life in Kenya’, and plans were made to meet up for a socially distanced coffee on 21st August at Sugnall Walled Gardens. It was great to see everyone despite the Broadband disruption caused by the thunder storms.
I expressed dissatisfaction with the weather and was booked-in by my loving
family for a fortnight’s respite care at the local residential home. Arriving on the 23rd March, I did not expect the front door to shut firmly behind me and the two week stay to become ten with no visitors. In retrospect, I was extremely fortunate to be occupying a beautiful room with views to Bishop’s Wood with all the amenities of a hotel with an extensive library and the varied company of residents and staff, all of whom remained free of the dreaded virus, ….- this when I might have been HOME ALONE! In return, I was able to assist the Social Secretary with activities for the residents, many of whom were not able to appreciate the current circumstances, the lack of visitors and outings normally in being. We celebrated one lady’s 100th birthday and V.E. Day. I helped with Church services, (no vicar allowed in), poetry readings, sing songs, wheelchair football, quizzes and craft work to brighten the days. I remembered songs from years ago and chose subjects to launch at mealtimes, such as “I used to work at Wedgwood” or “I have visited Tanzania” which tended to spark off memories. Everyone seemed to know I was a transitory being, known as ‘Mrs B’. The staff were patient, kindly and skilled in the care of their residents and hopefully, when normality returns will receive the rewards and status they deserve. By Jean Beasley June 2020 LASSOOED BY LOCKDOWN.
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