Support our craft fair in the WI Centenary year

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acholi beads-w500-h500Do you have skills that you could use to make items for sale at a craft fair?  If so, you might want to get busy now and make use of the long winter evenings.

Your  committee is planning a craft fair in the town as part ofWI Centenary logo eeD5k3OX_400x400 our celebrations for the WI Centenary.  What better way to share members’ many and diverse skills?

Exact details of all aspects of this event and how it will work out will follow in the next few weeks.  In the meantime, if you would like to be involved with helping to plan the fair or may be interested in running a stall or be able to donate items, let a Committee Member know or Contact Us or call 07547 890 756.

Join the Market Harborough WI float at the 2015 Carnival

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WI Centenary logo eeD5k3OX_400x400To celebrate 100 years of WI, we are planning to have a float at the Market Harborough Carnival on Saturday 13 June 2015.  If you would like to be on the MHWI float and help with planning, too, then let Clare Farquahar, President have your name.  You can also  Contact Us or call 07547 890 756.

Gemma’s embroidered MHWI Centenary brick

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Gemma Underwood's centenary brick (3)-w500-h500

Gemma Underwood’s Centenary Brick for MHWI

Gemma Underwood kindly offered to decorate a ‘brick’ for Market Harborough WI.  This will go to the Leicestershire and Rutland Federation of WIs to make up a panel of bricks for the whole county. We think she has done a superb job – what do you think?

Gemma Underwood's centenary brick (1)-w500-h500

Close up of the Old Grammar School, the focal point of Gemma’s Centenary brick

 

Donate a skill for our March raffle

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WI Centenary logo eeD5k3OX_400x400The WI Centenary year is just the time for members to share their many and varied skills.  This could be a skill such as knitting, crocheting, DIY, gardening, hairdressing, nails, baking a cake or babysitting, the list is endless.  You need to give 2 hours and the venue can be wherever you wish.  You could even make it a social evening by sharing a bottle of wine while you help several members learn a new skill.

We need to prepare cards for the Skills Raffle at the March meeting, so please Contact Us, call 07547 890 756 or speak to a Committee member (we wear sashes at the monthly meetings) at the February meeting.

Can you be our Programme Secretary?

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Are you resourceful?  Do you have good organising skills?  Then how about joining the Committee and becoming our Programme Secretary?  We need someone to plan the 2016 monthly programme.  Plans need to be underway by June, ready for August and to present to members at the AGM in September.  Interested?  Then speak to any member of the Committee or Contact Us or call 07547 890 756

We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Lynda Meadows who has done such an amazing job planning the programme since Market Harborough WI began.

Christmas raffle helps young carers in Market Harborough

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At the January monthly meeting earlier this week, Clare Farquahar, President, presented Diane from VASL (Voluntary Action South Leicestershire) with a cheque for £200 for their Young Carers Group.  Youngsters can be the sole carer in their family, looking after an adult.  This means that the young person cannot get out and take part in the fun activities enjoyed by their peers.

The Young Carers Group was formed approximately 5 years’ ago to provide opportunities not only for the youngsters to meet up but to enjoy some special outings just for them.   In the past, these have included ice skating, bowling and a day trip to Skegness.   The £200 raised by Market Harborough WI members from the Christmas 2014 raffle (all prizes generously donated by local businesses) will be used to fund a trip to Laserquest or to see Woman in Black.  An exciting choice for the young carers to make!

If you have a favourite local charity you would like MHWI to support in the future, then do let a Committee Member know or drop us an email Contact Us.

Fascinating Rectory Farm, Great Easton

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Phil Johnson, supported by his daughter, Abigail, gave members a fascinating insight into the history of this farm, sited in a picturesque spot next to Eyebrook Reservoir, right on the edge of Leicestershire.

Abigail did the IT bit, projecting photos, film maps and inventories detailing the history of Rectory Farm dating back to the original tenants in 1865.  Phil ably took us through the history, development and diverse roles of the farm, to taking over the tenancy from his father in 1936, working with Italian prisoners of war, to the present, when he is planning to retire.  However, negotiations are underway for the tenancy to pass to Abigail and her sister – we wish you well in your venture.

Tina won the quiz identifying a range of household and garden implements gathered over the years.

Abigail and her sister are justly proud of their successful Eyebrook Wild Bird Feed business.   You can find out lots more about Rectory Farm and even download a map showing a walk across the fields and looking out to Eyebrook Reservoir.  Something for those spring days ahead?