MONTHLY MEETINGS 2026
These meetings take place in Kelsall Methodist Hall
on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30 pm
Visitors are very welcome.
These meetings take place in Kelsall Methodist Hall
on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.30 pm
Visitors are very welcome.
Wednesday 1st April.
Tonight we were renewing our Subscriptions, collecting used electrical items for recycling, talking about the need for some help for the Committee, and meeting our new WI Advisor; and welcoming our speaker for the evening, Angela Ashcroft. Angela had brought many boxes with her which were shrouded in mystery as they were covered up on the tables; once she began her talk she took them one by one, revealing the little worlds inside the wrappings and the story which went with each one. Angela makes all the small interiors herself, ranging from tiny scones, cakes, books and toys, and she also wallpapers the rooms and furnishes them. They varied from her father's shed to a smart three storey house by way of a charity shop and a pub. She has used her hobby to make money for charities, as well as giving her hours of pleasure; a true enthusiast. Tea and cakes were welcome after Dorothy's vote of thanks. Have a look at Angela's rooms below.
Words/Photos: Fiona
Tonight we were renewing our Subscriptions, collecting used electrical items for recycling, talking about the need for some help for the Committee, and meeting our new WI Advisor; and welcoming our speaker for the evening, Angela Ashcroft. Angela had brought many boxes with her which were shrouded in mystery as they were covered up on the tables; once she began her talk she took them one by one, revealing the little worlds inside the wrappings and the story which went with each one. Angela makes all the small interiors herself, ranging from tiny scones, cakes, books and toys, and she also wallpapers the rooms and furnishes them. They varied from her father's shed to a smart three storey house by way of a charity shop and a pub. She has used her hobby to make money for charities, as well as giving her hours of pleasure; a true enthusiast. Tea and cakes were welcome after Dorothy's vote of thanks. Have a look at Angela's rooms below.
Words/Photos: Fiona
Wednesday 4th March
We began our meeting tonight with an update on our friend and past President Jane; the news was not good and we were all glad we had sent a bouquet for her birthday recently.. Communications are via her husband.
After some notices and a reminder about next month being the time for renewing subscriptions, Pat welcomed our speaker for tonight, the very colourful Bollywood Dancers for Fun. Vivien introduced us to her fellow dancers and began with some very upbeat music and an energetic dance to go with it. As she had threatened previously, she then invited us up onto the floor to dance a routine with them - which we did with varying success! Unfortunately, some in the audience took photos, which you can see below; it was a very good work-out and we wont need to go to the gym this week! After some more dancing and an explanation of the meaning of some of the movements, Audrey gave a vote of thanks, after which we enjoyed our tea and cake while admiring the knitting and crochet items Jane B's Craft Group have produced for the Countess and Leighton Hospitals end-of-life teams. We have also started to collect recyclable unwanted electrical items before our Green Dot Day in June.
Words: Fiona Photos: Margaret/Avril/Fiona
We began our meeting tonight with an update on our friend and past President Jane; the news was not good and we were all glad we had sent a bouquet for her birthday recently.. Communications are via her husband.
After some notices and a reminder about next month being the time for renewing subscriptions, Pat welcomed our speaker for tonight, the very colourful Bollywood Dancers for Fun. Vivien introduced us to her fellow dancers and began with some very upbeat music and an energetic dance to go with it. As she had threatened previously, she then invited us up onto the floor to dance a routine with them - which we did with varying success! Unfortunately, some in the audience took photos, which you can see below; it was a very good work-out and we wont need to go to the gym this week! After some more dancing and an explanation of the meaning of some of the movements, Audrey gave a vote of thanks, after which we enjoyed our tea and cake while admiring the knitting and crochet items Jane B's Craft Group have produced for the Countess and Leighton Hospitals end-of-life teams. We have also started to collect recyclable unwanted electrical items before our Green Dot Day in June.
Words: Fiona Photos: Margaret/Avril/Fiona
Wednesday 4th February.
We started our meeting tonight with some sad news; Pat told us that four of our well known previous members had died recently. Also she read out an email from Jane, our President, who was resigning from her role due to ill health; we held a minute of silence in recognition of those losses which were truly felt by us all.
As we resumed our normal pattern for the evening, Fiona went through the Budget for 2026; there were several items to be discussed and voted on, and Pat then welcomed our Speaker for the evening, Matthew Lepp of TigerMuffin Soaps from Formby. Matthew and his sister Becky (who use their family nicknames as their company name!) have been making soap and body care products for over 20 years and have a wide range of cruelty free and mainly vegan products. Matthew began by demonstrating how to make some mini soaps in glorious pink and scented with essential oils of sweet pea in little moulds; later on he made a bath bomb, and as the mixture stiffened up, it was very hard work to beat the mixture together but the result was excellent. Throughout his demonstrations Matthew regaled us with funny stories and jokes about how our ancestors kept clean - or didn't! While the Greeks liked showers after anointing their skin with oils, scrubbing with sand, then scraping with a metal tool, the Romans are famous for their baths which they used after also scraping their bodies to get rid of dirt and sweat. It seems that we in Britain after the Roman occupation also used scraping - but usually without the benefit of Roman baths! The oldest soap is supposed to have been developed in Syria but it was very harsh and burnt the skin, so it was only used to clean clothes. It wasn't until the 18th century that something like the soap we know today was developed. Matthew brought a large selection of products with him and he was kept very busy once Heather had done the vote of thanks. It was a very entertaining evening!
Words/Photos: Fiona
