The Forest Group October Meeting
Monday, October 10th, 2018
RECORD OF AUTUMN MEETING, 8th OCTOBER 2018
Irene Wilkinson, the Chairman of Forest Group welcomed everyone to our Posh Hats and Afternoon Tea which was held in the Tarvin Community Centre on Monday 8th October at 2.30pm.
Our visitors for the afternoon were from Gowy Group, Malbank Group, Georgina Denning, our WI Advisor, Gina Hague, Haughton, Faddily & District WI, and Val Ingram, Bridgemere WI.
Members really got into the theme of the event and arrived wearing hats of a wide range of styles and colours which created a buzz in the room as members told each other about when and where they had last worn their hat.
On arrival members were given a glass of prosecco or orange and were seated at tables which had been dressed in gingham tablecloths with a delightful flower display of white roses and greenery. Each table had a platter of sandwiches and cake stands filled with delicious cakes, scones with cream and jam and shot glasses of panna cotta, chocolate mousse and Eton Mess.
The afternoon began when 97 WI members stood and song Jerusalem with great joy and gusto.
After which Irene told members that the business part of the meeting was suspended and that the theme of the meeting was for members to enjoy themselves. She then introduced the speaker Sue from Felicity Hats who was standing next to a table covered in an array of hats of all shapes, sizes and colours.
Sue told members that she had a passion for hats from the age of 15. She had further enjoyed this passion by going with work colleagues to Royal Ascot, which fuelled her love of the hat. After retiring from her job with Tetley’s Brewery, she then opened her own Felicity Hat Hire Shop on the Wirral. She explained how hats should be put on by standing upright, looking straight into the mirror and going from the front of the head to the back. She demonstrated the technique with a variety of hats while explaining their design qualities, how they should be worn, who the designer was, and the various materials used to make them. Many of the hats were made from Sinamay which is woven from the processed stalks of the abaca tree, a banana palm native to the Philippines. Several members then had an opportunity to model one of the exquisitely designed hats. After Sue had finished her talk members had an opportunity to examine the hats and discuss the hats with her.
The vote of thanks was given by Lyn Rischmiller from Utkinton
Then it was time for everyone to enjoy a very delicious afternoon tea.
Irene announced that any member with a coloured sticker on the underside of the plate had won the Flower Decoration on their table.
Our competition inspired by Posh Hats was A HATPIN. Nine WIs entered, Eaton, Darnhall & Wettenhall, Delamere, Duddon & Clottton, Little Budworth, Kelsall, Peckforton & Beeston, Ukinton and Tarvin. Sue was asked to choose two of her favourites and they were:
Best in Show – Tarvin WI: Runner-up – Eaton WI.
Sue told members that hat pins were no longer used as they damage the hats, instead small pads are attached to the crown of the hat to ensure a tight fit.
The raffle was drawn.
Irene thanked everyone who had helped to put the afternoon together.
Georgine Denny thanked Irene and her team for putting on a splendid afternoon which everyone appeared to thoroughly enjoy.
Irene reminded everyone that the next Forest Group event would be the Carol Service in St Andrews Church, Tarvin on 3rd December.
She then closed the meeting wishing everyone a safe journey home.
(Margaret Matthews, October 2018)
