Kingston

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KINGSTON WI: It was not the warm summer evening we had hoped for but the pavilion was ready for Kingston WI Summer Soiree. The committee welcomed the members who were invited to choose a drink of wine or fruit juice. The evening began with the president, Beverley Wakeford-Brown, directing the members towards the tables of finger foods for vegetarians and meat eaters quiches, pizzas, salads, cheese and biscuits and more wine and juice. The queue took ages to thin, the drinks flowed, friends chatted and seconds were offered if members could eat any more. After the savouries there was a short business part of the evening delivered by the president. Valerie Simmons told us of members who were recovering from illness or operations and Penny Crawley finalised the numbers for a trip in late September to the Queen Elizabeth Tower, where Big Ben is. The craft club is every Friday 2pm to 4pm at the Pavilion; Pilates continues on Tuesdays, 2pm to 3pm at the Parish Hall; Choir is on Fridays at 4.15pm at Peggy Nicholson's house; Tap Dancing is on July 28, 7.30pm to 8.45pm at the Parish Hall and the book club Thursday July 21 at Anna Phillip's house. The Kingston WI had made cakes and served refreshments at the village Fete on June 18 and Â£703.05 was made. Well done.

After the business Helen Dudley read her report of the WI AGM held at the Brighton Centre on June 11. More than 4000 WI members from all over the country gathered for their annual meeting. Two resolutions were adopted, one about carers of dementia sufferers being able to stay in hospital with their dependents and the other about waste food from supermarkets being given to charities. There were two speakers on the day, Rhona Fairhead of the BBC and Baroness D’Souza, the Lords Speaker, who told us of their very important work. A very interesting day ended with a Union Flag, draped singer giving a rousing performance of Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory to a sea of WI members waving the Union Flag.

When the business had finished the guests were asked to help themselves to strawberries and cream, cakes and flapjacks. This was followed by tea or coffee. By about 8.30pm the evening grew warmer the sun appeared and the sky turned a wonderful deep pink. A real WI members delight, let alone any shepherds about in Kingston.

Our next meeting on September 1 at 7.30pm is on The Origins of Jazz at the Parish Hall. Contact details: Beverley Wakeford-Brown 01273475456 [email protected]. (Helen Dudley).

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