Secretary's Report May 2019 to April 2020

Well what a strange end to the year we are reporting on.  We could not have known this time last year that we would have been experiencing the problems of Covid19, moving into Lockdown and, therefore, no formal meetings since 9 March. This, of course, meant that we were unable to hold the AGM, discussion on the Resolutions and no reports or voting for a new President and Committee.   Please be assured that the Committee are still here to help and support you.

We had a number of local speakers who gave talks on subjects as wide ranging as a ‘Biothermic Digester’, as a new way forward of treating organic waste, to courses and events run at the Ammerdown Conference & Retreat Centre and to learning about the underground history of Frome with a system of tunnels.  We met Linda who came with her trainee Guide dog Grace and gave an interesting and informative talk on the work of the Guide Dog organisation.  An author came and talked about her life and the books she had written and gave some short readings.  The Committee organised some fun evenings which covered ‘Food & Drink’ tasting, how to make Ribbon Trees as a Christmas decoration, a ‘Back to School’ themed event and another night of Activities and a Quiz so that members could get to know each other a little better.  April saw our first Zoom meeting.  Our speaker from a local florist was obviously not able to join us on the making of buttonholes but from a You Tube clip we were encouraged to have a go at home and show others what we were able to make.

Our President’s Evening was held in August at the Rec Field where we were able to join in playing games (at times quite competitively!) of Golf Croquet and then enjoyed a finger buffet supper and drinks.  We were lucky with the weather!  At Christmas we celebrated with an evening meal at the Mendip Inn near Oakhill.  Again we made donations of Christmas food to the Foodbank in Frome, instead of doing a Secret Santa.  We also continue through the year to support them with food and other household donations and more lately some members have opted to make on-line donations.  Our Birthday was celebrated with a lunch in the Village Hall followed by a film – those members who attended had a very enjoyable time.  We arranged a visit the Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury, which had recently re-opened.  A very interesting visit and a chance to learn more about local history.  In February we went to see the Snowdrops at Camerton Gardens.  They looked stunning and the grounds were much bigger and with more to see than some of us had realised.  Several members joined in a walk for ACWW, which this time we did in August, followed by some really tasty refreshments at a member’s home.

Wider WI events have included the National AGM in June where Mary represented our WI and other local Institutes.  Both Resolutions “Rural Bus Services” and “Don’t Fear the Smear” were voted on and received overwhelming support.  Several of our members also attended as observers.  The County AGM was held in November in Taunton when we took our YMCA Shoeboxes to add to the very many that were being collected there.  A very interesting day and enjoyed by those who went.  At the end of May three of our members went to help at the County WI Refreshment tent at the Bath & West Show and were also able to have enough time to look round the Show for themselves.  We put two teams into the County Quiz and one team won and went through to the Finals in October.  Frome Group held a Social afternoon in July and an evening in December.  Members were encouraged to take a greater part in these additional events. Two members attended an Organza Workshop where they learnt how to make corsages.  Some others have attended courses at Denman and shared what they made with us.  Members are reminded that we hold a Bursary which would help towards the cost of courses at Denman or more local ones.  One member attended a course in Shepton Mallet to learn how to fully use her new sewing machine.  Several members have been busy making Twiddlemuffs and Blankets for dementia patients.

We continue to support local Village events.  Our main fund raiser is the Summer Fair in June – where we sold ice creams and ran the Tombola stall.  We also continue to organise the Village Clean early in the Spring – and always welcome support from other people living in Leigh on Mendip.

Members have enjoyed the Monthly lunches at The Bell and the Coffee mornings in the Hall.  Both of these events are another good opportunity to catch up with each other.

Thank you to everyone who helped put the Programme together.  We wait to hear when we will be able to meet again but look forward to when it does happen.