Don’t miss the chance to join in a fun social event organised by Market Harborough WI. Keep up to date by visiting our regularly updated Things to Do pages. We are now also including items taking place around the county. There’s national events, too, and a new page on Competitions
Don’t forget Centenary events.
Budding designers are asked to submit their ideas for an A5 cover for our very own Hints and Tips booklet that Market Harborough WI will be producing later this year. Each member will receive their own copy. It will contain loads of hints and tips that make our busy lives easier, as well as favourite recipes. Ideas, please, by the July monthly meeting.
Would you like to have a go at Indoor Kurling? There is a taster session on Thursday afternoon, 1 October in Leicester at The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre. If you would like to join a small group from Market Harborough then speak to Fiona Thompson at the July monthly meeting or email marketharboroughwi@gmail.com. Bookings have to be in by Thursday 20 August 2015. Full details: Indoor Kurling – 1 October 15
A reminder to the lucky winners of skills raffle prizes to claim their prize. We’ve had a couple of success stories on the blog and would love to hear about others. So, if you were a lucky winner (or even the skills person), then do send in a photo and a few words letting us know how it all went! We can then post them to the website. Email: marketharboroughwi@gmail.com
Facebook, a dedicated website, emails to track planning, money giving on line, coffins printed with your favourite pictures plus a music bank at Kettering Crematorium, are all ways that technology and social media are changing funerals in 2015.
Jonathan Stamp, third generation family member of J Stamp and Sons, Market Harborough, gave a fascinating insight into how friends and families can plan unique funerals that celebrate the life of the deceased person. In fact, some people even plan their own funerals in great detail while still alive and pay for it! Whatever, Jonathan, his 2 cousins, plus a support team of men and women (historically across the profession women were not involved), bring a wealth of experience from former roles to provide a professional service to local residents. They are always happy to accommodate any request as part of either a religious, humanist or civic funeral.
Jack Stamp set up the company up back in 1946 and much of the early history is written in his own book ‘Step by Step.’ Originally Jack undertook a diverse range of activities around the town in order to support his family, moving eventually to the current premises In Kettering Road. He bought the almost derelict building and renovated it. The company now specialises in both funeral directing and monuments. Again, up to date technology supports the design process.
An excellent insight into the history of J Stamp & Sons and how they are adapting to the changes in public demand in 2015. Apparently, even our final ‘wooden suits’ are now bought in and not made locally.
Diane Claridge at the WI Centenary Garden Party on 2 June 2015
I had a truly wonderful and memorable day at the Buckingham Palace WI Centenary Garden party. The excitement started as we arrived to join the coach at Wigston. To see so many ladies in their finery and hats, especially when three coaches stopped for a comfort break at Toddington services, was quite a sight.
When we arrived at the palace we joined the long queue to have our ID’s checked before going through the main gates to the inner courtyard and through two galleries full of beautiful flowers and works of art, before emerging on to the terrace. There was a brass band playing and 12 Yeoman of the guard looking extremely colourful in their uniforms. The weather was kind, the tea and cakes were amazing, miniature Victoria sandwich cakes, raspberry tarts, tiny eclairs and even a fun sized Battenburg cake!
But the real icing on the cake was being invited, with a few others, to be personally introduced to Sophie, Countess of Wessex. We shook hands and had a little chat, she told us her daughter is doing exams at school and we had a laugh when she said she regretted wearing a flimsy dress on such a windy day! We saw the ‘Calendar Girls’ and the Duchess of Cornwall at a distance. The range of fashions was a real spectacle with some stunning hats and outfits of every colour imaginable. It was especially good to talk to ladies from all over the country and hear about their WI meetings. The only downside was the 25 minute queue for the toilets but it gave me an opportunity to talk to some very nice ladies from Wales. So all in all it was a real privilege to be chosen to attend and something I shall never forget.
A superb MHWI team effort resulted in our float being awarded first prize.
First prize winners!
Come and watch our float. Bring family and friends and cheer us on and wave as we go past! We might even be one of the 3 prize winners! Parade leaves Burnmill Road at 12 noon. Route map published in the Harborough Mail.
At least 20 vehicles expected. Parade finishes at the Symingtons Sports Ground on St Mary’s Road where there are stalls, rides, bouncy castles, food and many charities with gazebos raising funds for their own charity.
The Round Table are organising t’s A Knockout for schools and Harborough Town Football Club will be setting up five-a-side football.
The Market Harborough Carnival of Running is also being held today as part of the Carnival.
We picked, boiled, poured, stirred, sieved, squeezed, mashed, combined, chopped, layered, sprinkled mixed, tasted, smoothed, sniffed, listened, learned, asked, laughed and enjoyed.
A fantastic, informative and humorous, interactive demonstration was given by Julia Thompson of Archway House to an enthusiastic MHWI social group this evening. Julia crammed in a variety of freshly made herbal concoctions in an action packed two hours whilst sharing her wide knowledge and passion for the medical and almost magical powers of our native flowers, herbs, leaves, fruits and seeds.
I’m sure that we’ll all enjoy the delights of our elderflower syrup; oatmeal, almond, avocado and calendula scrub; healing cocoa butter balm and herby bath bags. Who knows what the WI ladies will be using their jam jars for next…
Blinking fabulous evening! Thanks, Julia.
Market Harborough WI 