Monthly Archives: March 2025

Dunking? Oh no – never, my Dear!

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This month the ladies of the Market Harborough WI were visited by the well known authority on Victorian Tea Ettiquette Baroness Bolsover – aka The Tea Lady – who proceded to demonstrate the ins and outs of this quintessential English tradition made popular by the Duchess of Bedford in the 1860s.

In her inimitable style Her Ladyship provided life changing answers to burning questions: What goes into the cup first – tea or milk? (Milk always second unless you are from below stairs!), what NEVER to do if your napkin slips off your lap (Pick it up – that is the butler’s job!) and how to hold your tea cup (NO – well brought up ladies do NOT have little fingers sticking out).

There was much fascinating detail in the talk – from posture and dress codes (one of the incentives to host the party was that the hostess did not have to put on a corsett in her own home, while her visitors had to wear the full street apparel including hat and gloves) to the art of tea mixing, the food usually provided (in tiny portions, so no cutlery was required) and the most efficient way to dissolved a lump of sugar.

Thanks to the super human effort of the catering team for the evening we got to put all that training into practice with a scrumptious afternoon tea. 

It was a most entertaining evening with much laughter and fun! If you are interested, you can read more about the Victorian Tea Ceremony and the times of Baroness Bolsover on Her Ladyship’s website: www.baronessbolsover.com

And if you are interested in what the Market Harborough WI is up to, keep an eye on the website for the latest news. Or you can subscribe by entering your email address below and you will be send the latest news automatically:

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Reminder: Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, 26th March

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Get ready for a lesson in Victorian Afternoon Tea Etiquette by Baroness Bolsover at the Church Hall in Fairfield Road at 7.30pm.

Her Ladyship will be talking about this quintessentially English tradition and teach us how to mind our Ps and Qs – training which we can then put into practice straight away with a range of refreshments provided.

To get into the spirit of the evening we are asking members to dress up and wear a hat. There will also be a tombola with a range of prizes. If you are joining us please bring a cup, saucer, plate and tea spoon along. Hope to see you on Wednesday!

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Dates for the Diary – April 2025

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The sun is out, it is the Spring Solstice today and the green bin collections have started – must be Spring? Enjoy the sunshine and if you are at a loose end, here is what is in store for you at the Market Harborough WI in April:

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Allotment – In Hibernation

The Gardening Girls are looking forward to the planting season – waiting for warmer weather is one of the difficult tasks at the allotment. There will be a few planning meetings (involving a decent amount of cake and tea for sure) to come before meetings start again  every Monday (weather permitting) from 2pm (until we run out of steam…). Watch this space. If you would like to join in next season please contact Julie at Jusellars1960@gmail.com 

Craft Club – 3rd April

The Craft Club will be meeting at 7pm at the Congregational Church in Bowden Lane on the first floor doe some mindful stitching.

Mindful stitching, also known as slow stitching, is using hand sewing as a way to relax and focus on the moment rather than on creating perfection. Some materials will be provided, but participants should bring some fabric scraps, a sewing needle and embroidery scissors as well as any embroidery thread they have. More details on the WI Craft WhatsApp group in due course. If you would like to join the MHWI Craft Club, please contact Fiona at fegraham1@gmail.com

Walking Group – 6th April

The Walking Group is starting this year’s programme at 10am with a walk through Great Bowden Village and along Burnmill Road. is currently in hibernation, but has been working on the schedule of walks for the coming season. The meeting place/parking directions will be send to members via the Walking Club WhatsApp group. If you would like to join the group, please email Fiona at f_tomlin@sky.com

Book Club – 16th March

The Book Angels Book Club will be meeting at the Three Swans at 2.30pm. The book of the month in April is any book by S J Parris.

Please contact Valerie at vhitchcox50@hotmail.com if you would like to join.

Easter Sunday – 20th April

MHWI Monthly Meeting – 23rd April

This month Sophie Sparrow will visit us at the Church Hall in Fairfield Road at 7.30pm.

Since graduating from Harper Adams University in 2011 with a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursins and Practice Management Sophie has been working predominantly within zoological institutions such as the ZSL London Zoo. She has achieved her Animal Physiotherapy Diploma in 2021 and will be talking to us about some of the challenges she has encountered in her work with animals of all sizes. How do you get a blood sample from a tiger? Or do a health check on a 12g elephant shrew…?

Welland Valley WI Group Spring Meeting – 28th April 

This year it is the turn of the Market Harborough WI to organise and host the Welland Valley WI Group Spring Meeting. We’ll be meeting with members from the other WIs in the area for an evening of fun and networking at the Octagonal Church Hall at Our Lady of Victories in Fairfield Road at 7pm.

After tea, coffe, cakes and prosecco, the programme includes a Fashion Show organised by Jackie Allen from Jackie’s Mobile Boutique. There will be an opportunities to talk about tips for the coming season and purchase items from Jackie’s stock. 

This meeting will be an Open Meeting, so members can invite friends and family to join in. The cost per person is £ 10.00 – please email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com by 20th April the latest to sign up.

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And if you are not a member of the Market Harborough WI yet why not take the opportunity and join us to see if you like what we do?

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We’ll be updating the ‘Dates for the Diary’ post on a regular basis, so keep an eye on the website for the latest news. Or you can subscribe by entering your email address below and you will be send the latest news automatically:

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Sparkles!

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This month the Market Harborough Craft Club spent an enjoyable evening diamond painting.

This involves using a tool to stick tiny little crystal pieces onto a prepared surface – coasters in our case. A little bit like painting by numbers, but with the added bonus of having bits of crystal flying in unexpected directions. Good fun and very relaxing!

 

Due to the lighting the photo does not do our efforts real justice – they were all shining and sparkling!

If you are interested in what the Market Harborough WI is up to, keep an eye on the website for the latest news. Or you can subscribe by entering your email address below and you will be send the latest news automatically:

You have been sent this message because you are following the website of the Market Harborough Womens Institute. If you no longer wish to do so, please click here to unsubscribe.

Sausage Papardelle, Cheese and Sheep with an Attitude…

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This month Jill and John Vickers from the Bridge 67 Butchers and Farm Shop in Kibworth came to present some of their produce for a taster session and to talk about their approach to lifestock management.

The Vickers family have farmed in the area since the 1930s and have build up a productive beef and sheep farm breeding Limousin cattle and Masham sheep (which come from Yorkshire and – according to John – have a right old attitude). John talked about their approach to sustainability, good animal husbandry and their passion for good local produce. The Butchers Shop is run by Jill and is a key part of their aim to offer products from Farm to Fork and Nose to Tail. In addition to the beef and lamb from the farm sells pork from Jill’s sister’s Leicestershire farm, sausages, pies, eggs and a fine array of locally produced English cheeses. Jill cooked Sausage Papardelle for us and we got to try some of the cheeses as well – delicious!

The evening was fun and informative and their passion for the farm and their produce was obvious as they patiently answered all our questions (top tip: if you are not sure what to do with your silverside roast – go ask Jill!).

Apart from their shop website, Bridge 67 (named after the bridge over the Grand Union Canal on their land) has a Facebook Page where they keep their customers and fans up to date with what is happening on the farm. Look out for information about their open day during the lambing season on 22nd March!

If you are interested in what else the Market Harborough WI is up to, keep an eye on the website for the latest news. Or you can subscribe by entering your email address below and you will be send the latest news automatically:

You have been sent this message because you are following the website of the Market Harborough Womens Institute. If you no longer wish to do so, please click here to unsubscribe.