Ashbourne Show
19th August 2017
For several weeks, if not months, members worked on their individual entries for The Show as well as items for the craft stall. Cakes were baked fresh for the Saturday.
Meanwhile, a team had put together a co-operative entry - choosing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat from a long list of possible musicals.
Show-day started fine and dry but gave way to rain mid-afternoon. Nevertheless, The WI Tent was busy all day with sufficient money raised to cover costs from the tombola and cake stall. The Air Ambulance benefited from the proceeds of the craft stall. Ashbourne members did well individually and the co-operative entry gained second place. A good day was had by all.
Meanwhile, a team had put together a co-operative entry - choosing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat from a long list of possible musicals.
Show-day started fine and dry but gave way to rain mid-afternoon. Nevertheless, The WI Tent was busy all day with sufficient money raised to cover costs from the tombola and cake stall. The Air Ambulance benefited from the proceeds of the craft stall. Ashbourne members did well individually and the co-operative entry gained second place. A good day was had by all.
Dovedale Group Outing
16th August 2017
Thirty seven members from Ashbourne, Clifton and Kniveton Institutes enjoyed a visit to Hardwick Hall. We had tours of the highlights of Hardwick from two excellent guides and then explored the gardens and hall by ourselves after lunch. Purchases were made at the National Trust shop before we headed home. The weather was kind to us which added to the pleasure of the day.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall
A Magical Evening
8th June 2017
It was billed as a magical evening and that was a very good description of our meeting in June. Bernie Pedley kept us entranced as he made objects disappear and reappear elsewhere, read our minds, and did card tricks all in full view of his audience. How does he do it?
This magic was interspersed with balloon animals. We had great fun as he showed us how to make them and two brave ladies volunteered to have a go, skilfully producing balloon dogs.
This fun followed a short period of business as we organised our contribution to the Ashbourne Show and discussed the group outing to Hardwick, both events taking place in August.
This magic was interspersed with balloon animals. We had great fun as he showed us how to make them and two brave ladies volunteered to have a go, skilfully producing balloon dogs.
This fun followed a short period of business as we organised our contribution to the Ashbourne Show and discussed the group outing to Hardwick, both events taking place in August.
Resolutions Meeting
11th May 2017
There was quite a buzz about this week's meeting as members brought in a wide selection of plants for our plant stall and items for our bring & buy stall. The sales tables were soon depleted as members stocked up on plants for the garden etc before chatting over a cup of tea.
May is our resolutions meeting.The new WI resolutions generated some debate as both were considered good subjects but we were not clear how we could affect change. Now we must wait and see what is decided at the national AGM next month.
Make-up Demonstration
13th April 2017
Members welcomed several guests from neighbouring WIs to their April meeting.
WI member, EstherMarie explained how and why she had set up her business and showed us how to make the most of our better features. She demonstrated how to cleanse skin, apply foundation and cosmetics for everyday wear using a surprisingly small number of products. All the while she was making up a volunteer, Esther entertained us with amusing comments, valuable tips and trips down "make-up memory lane". An overhaul of make up bags is definitely called for and I doubt we will think of baking and contouring in the same light ever again.
After the demonstration members were able to purchase, at very reasonable prices, scarves and handbags donated to boost Institute funds. Some green hearts from The Show the Love campaign even made an appearance.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing evening.
For further details about Esther go to - www.esthermarie.co.uk
WI member, EstherMarie explained how and why she had set up her business and showed us how to make the most of our better features. She demonstrated how to cleanse skin, apply foundation and cosmetics for everyday wear using a surprisingly small number of products. All the while she was making up a volunteer, Esther entertained us with amusing comments, valuable tips and trips down "make-up memory lane". An overhaul of make up bags is definitely called for and I doubt we will think of baking and contouring in the same light ever again.
After the demonstration members were able to purchase, at very reasonable prices, scarves and handbags donated to boost Institute funds. Some green hearts from The Show the Love campaign even made an appearance.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing evening.
For further details about Esther go to - www.esthermarie.co.uk
Women in Science
9th March 2017
We had a thought provoking evening with much debate when Catrin Rutland opened our eyes to the work of women in science throughout history. Her talk demonstrated that women have always been interested in exploring science - her earliest example was an Egyptian woman. She had examples of women making scientific discoveries from that time to the current day. However, although women made the discovery, they were not paid for their work and the credit was always assigned to men - even when they had not been involved in the discovery.
She talked of her own experiences and concluded that women are more likely to study sciences if they have a strong female role model and/or know someone working in a scientific field. There is some success in encouraging more women to study sciences and she said that, in Nottingham University, approximately 80% of students in the veterinary faculty are female.
But women are still not considered equals in the academic world. It is still difficult for women to progress - despite the majority of students being female, only around 10% of senior academics in her faculty are female and they are still routinely paid less than their male colleagues.
However, she clearly enjoyed her work and was enthusiastic about the progress being made - we need more women like her engaged in the scientific world.
She talked of her own experiences and concluded that women are more likely to study sciences if they have a strong female role model and/or know someone working in a scientific field. There is some success in encouraging more women to study sciences and she said that, in Nottingham University, approximately 80% of students in the veterinary faculty are female.
But women are still not considered equals in the academic world. It is still difficult for women to progress - despite the majority of students being female, only around 10% of senior academics in her faculty are female and they are still routinely paid less than their male colleagues.
However, she clearly enjoyed her work and was enthusiastic about the progress being made - we need more women like her engaged in the scientific world.
Recorder Evening with Stanton Waits
9th February 2017
We had a great time at our February meeting being entertained by Stanton Waits. Their recorders came in several shapes and many sizes, all giving a different sound. Having introduced us to the wide range of instruments (so many that I lost count) and the different sounds they made, they played recorder music from Henry VIII's time to the present day. What a lovely sound they made and what brilliant evening it was.
Women Entrepreneurs In Ashbourne
12th January 2017
Dr Peter Collinge gave us a fascinating insight into the lives of local Ashbourne women entrepreneurs in Georgian times. In contrast to the normal image of Georgian wome - either a Jane Austin heroine in search of a good marriage or a down trodden mill worker - many women owned and ran businesses. Although percieved as second class citizens at the time, the women were good at finding ways round this.
The women he spoke about not only ran their businesses successfully but also worked to help other women in the area. One example of this was the Ashbourne Female Friendly Society created in 1806 to help working class women under the age of 40 with financial expenses.
The women he spoke about not only ran their businesses successfully but also worked to help other women in the area. One example of this was the Ashbourne Female Friendly Society created in 1806 to help working class women under the age of 40 with financial expenses.
Christmas party
8th December 2016
Ashbourne WI continued to celebrate its 90th anniversary. Members gathered for an enjoyable lunch at Newton House when we were also given a momento of the occasion - anniversary jars made for us by Illuminating Gifts.
Celebrations continue at the Christmas party when we had supper, made Christmas tree decorations. We finished by cutting our anniversary cake, made for us by members.
What a lovely way to celebrate.
Celebrations continue at the Christmas party when we had supper, made Christmas tree decorations. We finished by cutting our anniversary cake, made for us by members.
What a lovely way to celebrate.
Annual Meeting
10th November 2016
Last night it was 90 years since the first meeting of Ashbourne WI. We opened our meeting with the minutes of the first meeting which did include some familar names but which showed that the institute was intially called Ashbourne Women's Centre and it met in Spencers cafe. The meeting moved on to finalise arrangements for our anniversary lunch next month and anniversary cake for our Christmas party.
It was also our annual meeting where we heard about our very busy year and elected the committee for next year. Institute cups were presented for the winners at Ashbourne show, in our institute competitions, and for outstanding contribution to the institute.
We ended our meeting with a quiz and social time over a cup of tea.
It was also our annual meeting where we heard about our very busy year and elected the committee for next year. Institute cups were presented for the winners at Ashbourne show, in our institute competitions, and for outstanding contribution to the institute.
We ended our meeting with a quiz and social time over a cup of tea.
The Life of a Helicopter Pilot
13th October 2016
We had a great time at our meeting this month, listening enthralled to Jolyon Maclaine as he described his work as an RAF helicopter pilot. Flying training was long and, despite qualifying for flying fast jets (most pilots dream), he asked to fly helicopters. His enjoyment of his job came over as he described working to support the army in Britain, Northern Ireland, Belize, and other parts of the world. He then moved to working on air-sea rescue operations, before being asked to train other pilots. His enjoyment of flying these wonderful machines shone through his talk and he left us wanting more.
At the meeting we also discussed arrangements for the group meeting next month and for our 90th birthday which we are celebrating with a meal in December and a birthday cake (of course).
At the meeting we also discussed arrangements for the group meeting next month and for our 90th birthday which we are celebrating with a meal in December and a birthday cake (of course).
Women in Parliament
8th September 2016
Clare Mullen gave a fascinating talk on From Suffragettes and Beyond - Discover the History of Women and the Vote. She told the interesting story of how women won the vote, from the earliest petitions and protests to the direct action of the Suffragettes and beyond. We heard about when women first sat in the Lords and what they did when they got there. We discovered the changes introduced by early women pioneers. Plans are being developed for Vote 100 commemorations in 2018.
125th Ashbourne Show
The 125 show was held on Saturday 20th August 2016 at the Osmaston Polo Ground