Volunteers for monthly programme or social events

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Would you like to help organise one of our monthly programme meetings for 2016?    You don’t have to be on the committee, just willing to contact the speaker (we have lots of ideas and contacts, thanks to all your suggestions), meet the host on the night, make sure they have everything they need and give a thank you at the end.

Or, maybe you have an idea for a one off social event?  Perhaps there is somewhere you would like to go with a group of MHWI members or a special speaker you would like to invite for a one off activity night?  If you would like to make this happen and are willing to organise the event, we’d love to hear from you.  Speak to a member of the committee at the next monthly meeting or drop us an email: marketharboroughwi@gmail.com

Diane’s day at the Palace

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Diane Claridge - Palace-w500-h500

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.

It’s the Carnival today at 12 noon in the town centre

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WI Centenary logo eeD5k3OX_400x400Come 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.

Blinking fabulous herbal medicine evening!

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We picked, boiled, poured, stirred, sieved, squeezed, mashed, combined, chopped, layered, sprinkled mixed, tasted, smoothed, sniffed, listened, learned, asked, laughed and enjoyed.

julia_thompson-w500-h500A 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.

Post by Yvonne Conroy, MHWI member

It’s the Carnival on Saturday at 12 noon in the town centre

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WI Centenary logo eeD5k3OX_400x400Make sure you have the Carnival on your calendar.  It’s on Saturday, the 13th this week.  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.

Bursaries 2015 now available for Denman College

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These are now available and applications should be made through the Leicestershire & Rutland Federation of WIs.  If you are interested, then initially email: marketharboroughwi@gmail.com or speak to one of the committee members at the next monthly meeting.

Find out more about Denman College courses.

Article on bursaries for 2015.  You can also download a .pdf file on how the 2014/15 bursaries.