Ashbourne Show
21st August
The Ashbourne Show was back this year with the usual WI tent. There was quite a team getting everything ready yesterday so it was all in place before the crowds came today. As well as the preserves, cakes and plant stalls each local WI put on a display featuring a season - Ashbourne WI chose spring. We had displays about the various activities happening in Derbyshire and a special display from the Derbyshire Federation Archive Team showing activities and campaigns over the years.
Garden Party
12 August 2021
Ashbourne WI celebrated summer in glorious sunshine with a garden party at the home of our secretary. There was certainly a buzz in the air as we met each other face to face again - for the first time since March 2020 and it was lovely to see everyone. We agreed that the zoom monthly meetings had been useful but we are looking forward to returning to meeting in St John’s church hall in September.
The girl who sewed parachutes (by zoom)
8 July 2021
Members enjoyed our July meeting when Chris Baker talked about his novel "The girl who sewed parachutes", reading extracts from it. He started by telling us the roundabout path that lead to him writing the novel. A longstanding interest in astronomy resulted in him publishing a book on astronomy and that experience made him decide that he could write a novel. It was a long process with research on his subject, followed by writing the first draft which was critiqued by his wife, and then the revised drafts were reviewed by friends, before he took a writing course which led to a complete rewrite. It was all worth it as the book has been successfully published and is available on Amazon.
Rummaging in the Queen's Wardrobe (by zoom)
10 June 2021
10 June 2021
Lois gave us a fascinating talk on clothes in the Elizabethan period and, in particular, some rather fine examples from Queen Elizabeth I's wardrobe.
We had a report from Stephanie on the recent NFWI Annual Meeting. It was a very interesting day - the format, the speakers and that apocalyptic hour or so when the internet "was broken" interrupting not just the WI but Google, Amazon and The New York Times to name but a few sites. The WI however (and as ever) was well prepared and very quickly switched to YouTube so we continued to receive the speeches that way until normal internet service was restored.
We had a report from Stephanie on the recent NFWI Annual Meeting. It was a very interesting day - the format, the speakers and that apocalyptic hour or so when the internet "was broken" interrupting not just the WI but Google, Amazon and The New York Times to name but a few sites. The WI however (and as ever) was well prepared and very quickly switched to YouTube so we continued to receive the speeches that way until normal internet service was restored.
Resolution meeting (by zoom)
13 May 2021
This year's resolution is to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. President Jill took us through the information from NFWI and the meeting voted unanimously in favour of it.
The resolution debate was followed by a quiz which was good fun. Using breakout rooms on zoom we split into teams and this gave us the chance to chat in small groups as well as ponder our answers. A lovely evening.
The resolution debate was followed by a quiz which was good fun. Using breakout rooms on zoom we split into teams and this gave us the chance to chat in small groups as well as ponder our answers. A lovely evening.
The Founders of The WI (by zoom)
8th April 2021
Sixteen members and two visitors joined us over zoom to hear Barbara Lawson-Reay talk about the founders of the Women's Institute in Wales. The first institute was formed in Wales following a meeting held by Col Stapleton-Cotton at his home when the local women resolved to form a Women's Institute meeting monthly for educational and social purposes. It was a fairly large group of women, meeting in the local Men's Institute and during WW1 working to provide food for the community. Barbara told us the stories of a number of key figures in the early life of the WI in Wales, an inspiring bunch.
The competition was our earliest memory of the WI and there were nine very different memories entered. These were judged by our speaker and she awarded joint first place to Barbara and Lois with Laura in second place. Congratulations to our winners and well done to all who entered.
The competition was our earliest memory of the WI and there were nine very different memories entered. These were judged by our speaker and she awarded joint first place to Barbara and Lois with Laura in second place. Congratulations to our winners and well done to all who entered.
Royal Crown Derby (by zoom)
11th March 2021
We had a good meeting in March when 22 members and a visitor joined to hear Liz Woledge talk about the history of Royal Crown Derby. Once again we met using zoom but this did not stop Liz sharing pictures of the beautiful china with us. She also had a number of pieces to show that allowed us to see the scale as well as the decoration. For the very early pieces, the makers had to carefully balance the china to stop it sagging as, for example, with a bull posed over a tree trunk to support its body. Early pieces were completely hand painted but in 1764 the use of copper plate printing enabled transfers to be used. The factory gained the right to use a crown following a visit from George III in 1773, but it was not until 1890 that they gained a royal warrant.
The March competition "a photograph of pottery that is precious to you" was judged by Liz Woledge and won by Joyce with her Swiss Stein with Linda in second place with her piece 'Linda'.
The March competition "a photograph of pottery that is precious to you" was judged by Liz Woledge and won by Joyce with her Swiss Stein with Linda in second place with her piece 'Linda'.
Honey Bees (by zoom)
11th February 2021
Our February meeting was once again held using zoom and we we joined by 23 members. We had a fascinating talk from Richard Rickett on honey bees from their anatomy (who knew it was so complex) to the incredibly well ordered life they live. He told us that today's honey bees are the same shape as those found in 18,000 year old fossils and it was particularly intriguing to hear how they fan the nectar overnight to turn it into honey.
The eleven competition entries gave a variety of different recipes for both food and cosmetics; congratulations to Jenny and Laura for their winning entries.
The eleven competition entries gave a variety of different recipes for both food and cosmetics; congratulations to Jenny and Laura for their winning entries.
A California Road Trip (by zoom)
14th January 2021
Once again we met using zoom. Our meeting started with Anthony Savage telling us all about the 2021 census, an important survey that government use to plan future services and allocate funding. This year it will take place this year on Sunday 21 March and every household will receive an information pack with all the details in the next few weeks. The census will be mainly digital but paper questionnaires will also be available if you cannot complete it online. We were assured that all our data will be secure.
Then Vivien Tiano transported us to the sunshine of California. Through her family history research she discovered cousins in Los Angeles and so flew over to meet them. She told us a little about her impression of the journey and arrival in USA where, as she said "they do things differently there; everything is bigger, from the hotel beds to the meal sizes". After a whistle stop tour of the sites in Los Angeles with their cousins they hired a camper van (which was also bigger than they wanted) and drove up the coast and then across into Indian territory. From there it was down through the volcanic area with mountains, craters, lakes and into the strange land of ground that bubbled and was too hot to walk on before heading to the Yosemite National Park and so back to Los Angeles. It must have been a fantastic trip for them and the photographs were stunning.
Vivien kindly judged our competition - "music for a road trip". In first place was "In the summer time" by Mungo Jerry and second place was "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard.
Then Vivien Tiano transported us to the sunshine of California. Through her family history research she discovered cousins in Los Angeles and so flew over to meet them. She told us a little about her impression of the journey and arrival in USA where, as she said "they do things differently there; everything is bigger, from the hotel beds to the meal sizes". After a whistle stop tour of the sites in Los Angeles with their cousins they hired a camper van (which was also bigger than they wanted) and drove up the coast and then across into Indian territory. From there it was down through the volcanic area with mountains, craters, lakes and into the strange land of ground that bubbled and was too hot to walk on before heading to the Yosemite National Park and so back to Los Angeles. It must have been a fantastic trip for them and the photographs were stunning.
Vivien kindly judged our competition - "music for a road trip". In first place was "In the summer time" by Mungo Jerry and second place was "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard.
Tudor Christmas Traditions (by zoom)
10th December 2020
We had a good meeting earlier this month when 18 members zoomed in to hear Carol Burnett tell us all about how the Tudors celebrated Christmas over the Twelve Days of Christmas. Many of the traditions and food such as carol singing, decorations and yule logs are still around although in altered forms. While we'd recognise some of the food they ate, some sounded really bizarre.
The December competition was "a Christmas past"; we had five entries that our judge really enjoyed reading.
The December competition was "a Christmas past"; we had five entries that our judge really enjoyed reading.
Annual Meeting (by zoom)
12th November 2020
Our meeting on Thursday was held on zoom (the only way we can meet at the moment) and it was good to see so many familiar faces again with twenty people joining the meeting. It was our annual meeting and so, as usual, we had reports from the treasurer, secretary and president. Listening to these reports reminded me just how much we have managed to do this year, despite restrictions. The committee and president were re-elected.
Following the business meeting we had fun making kings to decorate a Christmas tree in St Oswald's church next month. Although the church has had to cancel its Christmas tree festival, we have been asked to decorate one of the four trees they are planning - quite an honour. Kits were delivered last week and Lois demonstrated how to make them up. In another first for us, we split into groups of 4 or 5 to chat while we stitched and some even managed to complete a king.
Following the business meeting we had fun making kings to decorate a Christmas tree in St Oswald's church next month. Although the church has had to cancel its Christmas tree festival, we have been asked to decorate one of the four trees they are planning - quite an honour. Kits were delivered last week and Lois demonstrated how to make them up. In another first for us, we split into groups of 4 or 5 to chat while we stitched and some even managed to complete a king.
Storm in a Teacup (by zoom)
8 October 2020
We welcomed nearly 20 members and one visitor to our October meeting, held once again by zoom. Ann Featherstone had been inspired by a newspaper cutting to investigate the story of a waitress in the early 20th century. Waitress's employment conditions were poor - they were expected to provide their own black uniforms, be smart, work long hours, be subjected to high fines if work was not up to standard, be permanently cheerful (and little flirty) with customers, and all for low pay. The article described an event when a summary sacking led to all waitresses walking out and being sacked when they refused to go back. The customers were on their side, supporting their campaign for better conditions and raising funds to help fight their cause. Ultimately, with support from women's groups and trade unions, the waitresses set up their own café and the customers followed them. It was a great story about standing up for what you think is right and succeeding in pursuing your goals.
Archiving - documents and artifacts (by zoom)
10th September 2020
It was really good to restart our meetings with the September meeting held virtually when the Federation archiving team gave a fascinating talk on its work. We heard how important our WI records and minute books are as they give an insight into the social history of previous generations. The team gave us a few examples of the stories they'd found. These included Elmton WI's concern that children were not drinking the free school milk at school but taking it home to share with their families; Bolsover WI supporting the resolution in 1947 that in the interests of hygiene all bread should be delivered wrapped; also Beeley WI whose president in 1927 urged that old grievances be forgotten and a fresh start made with good spirit - but we never did find out what had happened before!
The team prepare records for archiving before taking them to the Derbyshire record office where they are kept in the right conditions and made available to researchers. We saw examples of the items stored at Derbyshire House and examples of how they are used such as in displays like the one at the Ashbourne Show and in publications such as the DFWI centenary calendar. We also saw examples of the damage we cause (with the best of intentions) by poor storage, such as by folding silk cloth which breaks the thread on the fold, exposure to light which decays fabrics and fades colours, paper clips which rust over time and damage paper, and sellotape which discolours paper over time.
Our competition was "a favourite family photograph and why".
The team prepare records for archiving before taking them to the Derbyshire record office where they are kept in the right conditions and made available to researchers. We saw examples of the items stored at Derbyshire House and examples of how they are used such as in displays like the one at the Ashbourne Show and in publications such as the DFWI centenary calendar. We also saw examples of the damage we cause (with the best of intentions) by poor storage, such as by folding silk cloth which breaks the thread on the fold, exposure to light which decays fabrics and fades colours, paper clips which rust over time and damage paper, and sellotape which discolours paper over time.
Our competition was "a favourite family photograph and why".