What's new
Make sure that you come back here often to catch up with all that's happening at GFWI.

Christmas Concert Cover competition
Entries are invited to design this year's programme cover. They can be hand drawn or computer generated (A5). The winner will be given two free tickets to either concert. Entries to WI House by 22 October.

County Whist Tournament
Members play at WI and Group level and then each winning Group pair will compete in the final to be held in march 2009. It costs £6.50 to enter. Application forms and guidelines with your WI secretory.

GFWI Competition Results
The Banff Trophies (WIs with the most new members recruited in 2007) were won by: Stonehouse (Under 25 members) and Sevenhampton WI and Bredon WI (over 25 members). The Tim Poole Cup Competition (Design a WI Newsletter) was won by Moreton in Marsh

Regular spot for WI on Radio Gloucestershire
Tune in to BBC Radio Gloucestershire every Thursday afternoon at 2:40 pm for a new WI feature. Steve Kitchen will be speaking to a member of a different WI each week about what's happening in their village and WI. If your WI hasn't yet signed up, it's not too late. Just contact our Press Officer Sue Wilson.

2010 Calendar photo competition
Yes, that's right, 2010! As usual competition for inclusion of photos will be stiff. The subject will be A Gloucestershire Rainbow. More details from WI House.

Skittles Champions
Congratulations to Presbury who beat Frampton on Severn in a nail biting finish to win the overall trophy. Well done, too, to Staunton & District who retained the Plate trophy.

Welcome to Silverdale WI
The newest member of the GFWI family is Silverdale WI, which meets in Hucclecote.

"The Gloucestershire Floods 2007" - a great success
Many WI members were caught up in the dreadful floods and their aftermath. This incredible new book, compiled by Sue Wilson and Gill Thomas, captures the stories of WI Members and local people caught up in the worst civil disaster ever to strike the county. Illustrated with 100 photographs, this fascinating book offers the reader a valuable record of flood-hit Gloucestershire.

The book was launched at an event at the Abbey House, Tewkesbury on 7 November and it recent extensive publicity, including a live interview with Sue Wilson on BBC Points West.

Sales have gone way beyond the publisher's expectations and It is already in its third reprinting.

All proceeds from this book will be going to the Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund. Order Forms to buy your copy at the discount price of £8.50 from WI House are in the October news sheet.

Quiz Final result
Congratulations to May Hill WI, the winner of the Echo Challenge County Quiz.  Frocester WI came second, with Bishops Cleeve WI a close third.

Cotswold Life Offer: Six issues for only £6!
Sign up for six issues for just £6 and your subscription will continue at the special offer price of just £8 every three months by Direct Debit. That's a saving of £13 on the usual subscription prices and includes free delivery anywhere in the UK. Details on how to benefit from this amazing offer from your WI Secretary or from WI House.

New Edition of The Menu available
A brand new edition of The Menu, GFWI's guide to the many learning opportunities it offers has just been published. Your WI secretary has a copy and more may be obtained from WI House.

New WI formed at Redbrook
The latest WI to join us is based in the Forest of Dean. Redbrook WI had their first, well attended, meeting on 14 June, at which Tamzin Powell was elected President and Linda Parks secretary. They've dubbed themselves a "crochet and Chardonnay" WI in contrast to the traditional "Jam and Jerusalem" model. Sounds fun!

Lisa Lovering joins the GFWI Executive Committee
We welcome Lisa as a co-opted member of the County Executive. She is well known as president of Tutshill WI.

Gill helps out at Denman's Textile Treasurers
County Chairman Gill Thomas has been helping out at the very well received Textile Treasures exhibition recently mounted at Denamn College. Have a look at the Jam & Jersulalem blog for more details.

WI on TV - what do you think?
With a whole series on BBC4 devoted to WI members and one of our own members participating in Big Brother, these programmes have attracted at lot of interest from members and non-members alike. What do you think? Visit the Jam & Jersulalem blog and have your say!

Young Person of the Year is WI secretary
Great news that Meredith Fisk, Secretary of Stroud Shambles WI has been awarded "Young Person of the Year" by Stroud Town Council for her work with this new WI. Meredith sets a fine example to all with her enthusiasm and willingness to get involved in this new venture and has thrown herself wholeheartedly into the role. Meredith, we are so pleased that your commitment has been recognised and send our warmest congratulations. Your WI friends are very proud of you!

Nailsworth WI scoop award
Nailsworth WI and Nailsworth Country Market are joint recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Award for Services to the Community. In her citation Nailsworth's mayor recognised their many years' continuing, imaginative and caring contributions to the well being of the town. She added that much had been achieved by both past and present day members of both organisations, which share several members.

Albert Hall presentation for Ros
A loud cheer went up from the Gloucestershire delegation at the Royal Albert Hall as Ros Renfrew was presented with the Huxley Cup, her prize for winning the National Federation flower arranging competition at the Royal Show last year. As you can imagine, the Huxley Cup is hotly contested and Ros is to be congratulated on winning such a prestigious competition. Well done Ros!

A challenge
The WI Carbon Challenge, supported by Marks and Spencer, was launched at the NFWI AGM and we invite you to measure your carbon footprint using an online calculator and receive tailored tips to help reduce yourr impact on the environment. Many Gloucestershire members are already taking action to reduce their carbon footprint by refusing excess packaging, by shopping locally and acting responsibly to minimise their effect on the environment. The challenge will inspire us to take this action further and encourage others to join us in our efforts against global warming.

We hope that both WI members and everyone else in the county will take up the WI Carbon Challenge to reduce their carbon footprints. Climate change is the biggest challenge facing society today, and with this campaign we can all play a part in tackling global warming. More details about the challenge can be found at the National NFWI website and everyone who signs up can use the WWF’s footprint calculator designed for use in the WWF One Planet Living campaign.

Lesley was in the house!
WI members in Gloucestershire and beyond watched Big Brother 8 with interest as Lesley, a member of Tetbury WI, faced the challenge of living in a rather different household from the one she's used to. WI friends in Gloucestershire admired her serenity and ability to adapt to such an unusual lifestyle. Well done, Lesley!

Let's Cook!
Diana Gaskins, an experienced cookery teacher, has spearheaded GFWI's contribution to this joint Food Standards Agency (FSA) and WI drive to support the teaching of Home Economics skills and thereby improve the nation’s diet and health.

We have put together three courses, starting with one at the Hesters Way Children’s Centre in Cheltenham. Each lasts six weeks and involve a group of eight young women. Their children are cared for in a crèche while they make full use of the excellent, purpose-built kitchen facilities on offer.  At the end of the session, the children join them for lunch and the Mums take away a recipe folder so they can practice at home.

The next GFWI “Let’s Cook” course will begin in the Forest of Dean shortly, with a third at a venue yet to be decided.  Mums really do want the best for their children and know that freshly prepared food is better for them than the highly processed food that they are buying right now.  We’re looking forward to hearing more success stories from the project over the next few months.

Duchess visits WI stall
On the 30th November 2006, Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, switched on the Christmas lights in Tetbury.  While on her "walk-about" she visited the WI stall where members were giving away hot mince pies.  The President, Judi Mason-Smith, introduced a number of the ladies and a long and animated conversation was enjoyed with the Duchess.  When HRH was offered a mince pie, she put two into her bag - guess who the second one was for?

Welcome Marjorie
A very warm welcome onto the Executive Committee to Marjorie Vaughan, who joins as a co-opted member.

2000 WI members protest
Jo Kay (Winchcombe WI) and Gill Thomas went along to the HQ of the local NHS Trust to hand over letters sent on behalf of well over 2000 members, protesting against the changes proposed to our local health services in Gloucestershire. Becky Parish, a member of the Consultation Committee was there to receive them and thanked members for taking the trouble to write. She reassured Gill and Jo that every letter would receive an individual response and that the comments made by members and their families were a vital part of the consulation process. The Cheltenham Echo were there to record the event and were supportive of this eleventh hour attempt to influence the decision making process. Thanks to Rosemary Dyke and members of Birdlip and Brimpsfield WI for their energy and hard work in rallying members throughout the county to write on behalf of their WI.

Huxley Cup success for Ros
Ros Renfrew of Forthampton WI has won the coveted NFWI Huxley Cup for Gloucestershire Federation with her magnificent flower arranging exhibit at The Royal Show. Congratulations, Ros.

Awards for Betty Rout and Josephine Fairey
Betty Rout of Shurdington WI was invited to tea with the deputy Mayor of Cheltenham recently where she was presented with an award for the considerable voluntary work she does in her community. Betty had been nominated for the award by fellow Shurdington member, GFWI vice chairman Margaret Clarke. Both Margaret and county chairman Gill Thomas were present at the ceremony where Betty received her Alderman Charles Foster MBE award.

Josephine Fairey of Nailsworth WI was presented with an Adult Learners Award in recognition of her achievements over several years, developing her embroidery skills to advanced level. Rosemary Davis, WI Adviser and Secretary of Nailsworth WI nominated Josephine and was present at the awards ceremony in the Gloucestershire County Council Chamber, together with Josephine's daughter, Yvette. It was the first award Josephine has been given and she found the whole occasion very exciting.

Gardeners Question time comes to Tutshill WI
Over 200 people packed into Wyedean School's dining room at the invitation of Tutshill WI to participate in a recording of the hardy perennial Gardeners' Question Time on 24 April. Members of Tutshill had worked hard on the refreshments and there were yummy vegetable-based cakes (including carrot & banana, sweet potato & ginger and a delicious courgette cake). Natural fruit spritzers were the drink of choice. The GQT panel were housewife's favourite Bob Flowerdew, Carol Klein (familiar from Gardener's World) and Gloucestershire's own Chris Beardshaw, chaired as ever by the affable Eric Robson.

The audience was made up of local people from local gardening societies as well as many WI stalwarts from across the county. NFWI chairman Fay Mansell was there too; as a member of Gwent Federation, she didn't have far to come. Two programmes were recorded, the WI-themed one will go out on 7 May (repeated on 10 May) and the second programme will be aired on 25 June (repeated 28 June).

Questions to the panel included one about growing fruit trees in Aylburton and advice was sought from a member of The Chase WI about the umbrella plant on her landing, which isn't looking too healthy!

Royal member for Tetbury WI
The Duchess of Cornwall is to join the Women’s Institute. She will become a member of Tetbury WI, near to Highgrove. Judi Mason-Smith, President of Tetbury WI, said: “ We are honoured that Her Royal Highness is joining us. We would be very pleased to welcome her at any of our meetings and to keep her in touch with everything we are doing.”

The Duchess became interested in the WI when she met former National Chairman, Barbara Gill, and some of the women who inspired the Calendar Girls film, at a function at Clarence House. She was so impressed that she decided she wanted to become a WI member herself.

Chairman of Gloucestershire Federation of WIs, Gill Thomas, who announced the Duchess' decision at the Annual Council Meeting in Cheltenham Town Hall on 22 March said: “The WI is the largest independent women’s organisation in the country. We strive to improve the world around us and having Her Royal Highness as a member in Gloucestershire will only help us to further our aims. We are both delighted and honoured that she is keen to be involved with us.”

The Duchess' decision attracted a lot of press attention (click on the name to read the story): BBC News, The Daily Telegraph, The Western Daily Press, National Federation of WIs, The Royalist, FemaleFirst, Community Newswire, Megastar, Gloucester Citizen: story #1, story #2, story #3.

Look at the Press Release.

BBC Radio Gloucershire Interviews
Listen to four recent interviews with GFWI members...

© GFWI 2005-2008. All rights reserved