Innerwheel

ASSOCIATION OF INNER WHEEL CLUBS IN GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND SPRING 2020 | ISSUE 61

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Enid Law’s Charity for 2019-2020

www.innerwheel.co.uk I know many of you have already been fundraising for RDA. I visited the Leeds RDA centre on Boxing Day and saw for myself President how hard the volunteers work under difficult conditions. If you haven’t already done so, please make contact with your local centre to see for yourselves the valuable work being Enid’s Letter carried out.

With all my good wishes to you all for 2020. Please carry on working together in the true spirit of friendship. Spring 2020 With my Kindest Regards, Dear Friends, With sincere love, support and friendship,

I am sure you will forgive me for beginning this message to you on a very personal note. We often talk, perhaps somewhat Enid glibly, of the comfort of the “Inner Wheel blanket” . Well I have certainly experienced that warmth and comfort in the last few difficult weeks. I have been overwhelmed by all your cards and messages of sympathy to myself and my family. We cannot thank you enough for your generous donations to the charities we support.

We must all look forward as a new year - indeed a new decade - brings us fresh opportunities and challenges. I know you will all be working hard in your communities to enhance the name of Inner Wheel and thus allow our great Association to continue.

The Conference Committee under the chairmanship of Sue Allen is working hard to make sure your visit to Belfast will be a memorable one. I look forward to meeting you all there in April. It is a wonderful city and we are assured of a warm Irish welcome.

Margarette Golding Award for Mary Clough Mary Clough of the Inner Wheel Club of Blyth (District 3) was presented with a Margarette Golding Award for 65 years of service to the community at the Inner Wheel Club of Blyth’s Interclub on 11th November 2019, by District Chairman Gill Boag-Munroe. She was thrilled, as were the members, that we had been successful in securing the Award for her. Her daughter and Margarette Golding Award granddaughter arrived to see the presentation.

Sadly, Mary was Award for Mavis Silley admitted to hospital the following day and Brigg Inner Wheel Club (District 127) is full of amazing ladies although she spent but one in particular stands out spectacularly, not just for her a week in a Nursing work and dedication to Inner Wheel, but for the voluntary work Home, she was within the various local communities that she has lived in. This readmitted to hospital is especially true of the involvement that she has had with St where she died on Andrew’s Hospice at Grimsby since its inception 40 years ago. 22nd January 2020. It is because of this dedication to helping others that Mavis has been awarded a Margarette Golding Award. We, in the Inner Wheel Club of Blyth, We presented the award to Mavis at our October meeting, a already miss her so special evening anyway as it was our club member and District much but we can Chairman Pat Alston’s official visit. Special guests in the form hear her chivvying us of her husband, son and daughter surprised the unsuspecting along. Mavis while VIP guest, Association Past President Ann Acaster, had travelled from York to be at this auspicious occasion. It was a most exciting and emotional meeting that won’t be forgotten in a hurry!

Page. 2 Innerwheel Honour for Member of Crook Club The Inner Wheel Club of Crook (D3) is very proud to share the following statement made by Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of Durham.

“On the instructions of Her Majesty The Queen, The Sovereign Head of The Priory of England and the Islands of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, and of His Royal Highness Richard Duke of Gloucester the Grand Prior, I was invested yesterday with the Insignia of Commander of the Order.

The Order of St John is a Christian Order of Chivalry. Its roots go back many centuries to the first hospital in Jerusalem. The Order has a long and fascinating history, but the nature of the Order as a Christian Order is not just about its foundation and history, it is a present reality, being a major international charity with over 250,000 volunteers and staff in more than 40 countries.

The Priory in which yesterday’s Investiture took place stands on the site of the original round church built by the Knights of St John and consecrated in 1185. Today only the Crypt of this church survives. Rebuilt several times, today the Priory Church is used for the services and investitures of the Order. It was an amazing experience for my husband and I, a special day, a great privilege for me to be received 50 years into the Order.”

Sue has been a member of our Club since 2006. She has of Riding for the Disabled devoted much of her life to supporting and fundraising for charities, in particular the work of Cancer Research, Our Club, Edgbaston Convention, was delighted when both locally and nationally and to hospice care across one of our members, Maggie, was fortunate to be the Lieutenancy area and when time allows, is an active selected to attend a reception in London in December member of Inner Wheel. 2019 in the company of the Princess Royal to celebrate 50 years of Riding for the Disabled Association. The Thanks to Margaret Compton reception was held at Saddler’s Hall in the City of London which is a very splendid building and home to the City of London Livery companies. By all accounts it was a lively affair – lots of chat whilst attendees waited to be introduced and not too much formality. The Princess Royal was introduced and spoke to all 120 guests; an enjoyable occasion.

RDA, which is Association President Enid Law’s chosen charity, is a national charity which provides riding, carriage driving, vaulting and show jumping to children and adults. Today RDA has 500 Member Groups with 18,000 volunteers helping over 25,000 people. Maggie first became involved many years ago when working as a physiotherapist with children and on retiring, became a volunteer. The Princess Royal is President of the Association and very supportive. RDA is a wonderful organisation and gives lots of coaching, therapy, pleasure and fun to all its participants and volunteers too! Maggie Moore is delighted that the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in GB & I is supporting RDA this year. Gay Bligh Inner Wheel Club of Edgbaston Convention - District 6

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 3 this challenge and succeed. Matida will be joining us at GOVI Fulfilling a dream sometime in Feb to see what has actually been achieved. The experience I’ve chosen to share is one that took us to Dakar As Ambassador of Sightbox Trust, my dream was to go back to in Senegal. I had done some research prior to Nov 9th and The Gambia and spend time with visually impaired children and discovered Mercy Ships was docked in Dakar until June 2020. young adults developing their communication skills, confidence I sent an email explaining who I was and what I was doing and and independence. So having given up a full time job, with much asked if it would be possible to board the ship. After some time, planning and a programme put together with the Rotary Club in I received an email to say that we could go on board the ship for The Gambia by which the project is supported, we packed 120kg a 2-hour tour to see the work that was being done to improve of equipment including our clothing. We held a bon voyage people’s lives. As you can imagine, this was an experience never party to say farewell to family and friends and Nigel, my husband to forget. Meeting the crew, surgeons, patients and their families and I took off on November 9th 2019 from Manchester Airport was truly amazing. What made the experience even more to Banjul, The Gambia for 5 months. special was that I was allowed, as Ambassador of Sightbox Trust, On arrival at Banjul airport we were unexpectedly met at the to present the ship with a Sightbox to help those patients and bottom of the steps of the plane by VIP security. Bags were their families who had sight issues. This box will now remain on collected and we were driven to where we would be staying board and will travel wherever the ship goes. New Mercy Ships for the 5 months. Our accommodation was a 2-bed bungalow being built will also have Sightbox on board. What an honour for semi-furnished in a secure compound - with a 4 x 4 vehicle. It Sightbox Trust and also to be allowed to go on board at any time did not take long to settle in amongst our friends and acclimatise I wish in the future. to 11 hours of hot sunshine every day and the challenges of daily This has certainly been one special dream and I hope you have water and power failure! enjoyed reading about it and for those on Facebook seeing Many meetings were planned in our programme – this included many more photos. I return to the UK at the end of March those with various Government Ministers, the British High 2020 and I look forward to seeing many of you in April at our Commissioner, the 5 Rotary Clubs in The Gambia and visiting Conference in Belfast. the compounds of local people and their families as well as Angela Williams D18 attending Gala dinners and organising a hospitality night.

Mother & Daughter

Rachel Creegan, a member of the Inner Wheel Club of

Montrose, recently wrote about “Inner Wheel and Me” in the

Montrose Newsletter. The mother and daughter photograph was

taken at the 70th Charter lunch of St Andrews Inner Wheel Club

(District 1).

“I’ve been aware of Inner Wheel and Rotary for as long as I can remember and that’s because I’ve been aware of the fun and enjoyment my Mum and Dad have had through being members, committee members and presidents. When I moved to Montrose and Mum, Muriel, asked me if I’d be interested in joining Inner Wheel, I didn’t think twice; I knew it would be a really enjoyable Presentations of white canes, sightbags, gym kits, projectors, thing to be involved in. Whilst I don’t manage to attend every laptops, hand balls with bells and card games in braille took meeting, it’s lovely to know that once a month, there is the place as well as speaking at seminars. Downtime was also opportunity to head out for a few hours, enjoy a meal, chat and important in the planning so that we could explore the country speaker in a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. It’s important to and admire the birds, flowers, animals and sample the good food me because, returning home after nearly 20 years away, I don’t and wine. have a huge social circle in Montrose; Inner Wheel has given me My dream was certainly fulfilled and much, much more but I am the opportunity to meet new people and to meet up again with now going to share with you a challenge I had to overcome and people I have known all my life. one experience that stood out. Inner Wheel is an At the first meeting at GOVI school I noticed that there was only opportunity to do one sighted teacher at the school and out of the 35 students something alongside my only three or four had some vision. This was something I had to Mum that is a bit different overcome and fast. Luckily I met up with Matida, a past Head Girl from the normal “mum from GOVI whom I had met back in Jan 2018. She had invited and daughter” type of us to go and visit her and her family in their compound. Matida thing and I love it!” has very low vision and was so happy to meet us again. She has now been placed in a school for sighted children and is doing So as Rachel says, “If any very well. Over a small cup of hot condensed milk with mint and of you have daughters, lemon grass which we enjoyed while sitting under the mango daughters-in-law, nieces tree, I expressed my concerns. Matida looked at me, took my etc that you think might hand and told me, “Angela, you have the passion, you have a want to give it a go, strong heart; go and teach the teachers and children, I know once or twice, to see if you can do it and they will love you for it as you will be helping they’d enjoy it, then I can to change their lives”. To hear those words from a 14 year old thoroughly recommend whom I had only met and taught briefly on my previous visit it. I come away feeling all was very touching. I made a promise to her I would overcome cheerful every time!”

Page. 4 Innerwheel Dressed Dolls Project

About ten years ago, a lady called Jane Hider visited the Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton, home of Merry Makers, a local craft group. Jane is a teacher of the blind and frequently visits orphanages for blind children in India and Ethiopia. She asked if anyone would dress dolls for the children in the orphanages. The challenge was taken up by Linda Bolton, a club member who describes herself as a “compulsive knitter”. Since then over a hundred dolls have been dressed in Church Stretton and dispatched to the orphanages. Other club members of Church Stretton Inner Wheel have become involved over the years with present club secretary Anne Tipper being a supporter. Linda says she is now well known in all the charity shops of the area as she is forever asking for suitable dolls to dress. As a direct result of Jane’s involvement with the orphanage in The Ark Unveiled! India, one young blind lady came over on her own to Church At the October meeting of the Inner Wheel Club of Wrington Stretton and stayed with Jane. She addressed a large audience at Vale, the long-awaited presentation of our knitted Noah’s Church Stretton Secondary School, reading very movingly from Ark took place! This has been the project of a weekly her braille notes. This was the first time she had ever been out of Knit & Natter group instigated about three years ago by India. handicraft supremo Kate Arklay. Meeting every week in From a simple scheme to dress dolls, things have expanded Kate’s conservatory (but lately in various venues owing to further. Jane appealed for donations of gifts to be sent out to major renovations) the knitters started with blankets, teddies Ethiopia for Christmas. Linda has also organised the making of and baby hats, then progressed to knitted people for a shoulder bags for the older girls so that they had somewhere 2019 calendar sold in aid of children’s charities and many safe to keep their bits and pieces and bus tickets when they go members bought these at District meetings. We were very to school. grateful for that. Thanks to Mary Phillips - Church Stretton The idea for an ark was a stroke of genius on Kate’s part. You can see just how creative this project has been with each of the knitters taking on a pair of animals ranging from large to small. Mr & Mrs Noah are surrounded by elephants, tortoises, giraffes, zebras, lions, sheep (why didn’t the lions eat the sheep???), crocodiles and a delightful pair of skunks. There are monkeys hanging off the side of the ark with snakes below. It isn’t clear but there’s a mouse sitting on the roof of the Ark along with two ladybirds on a leaf! The Ark will be raffled in aid of children’s charities, in particular one relating to Bristol Children’s Hospital where new procedures in heart surgery are being tried out.

A mammoth project – and thank goodness that mammoths are now extinct! Well, have you ever tried to stuff an elephant? Thanks to Desi Fradgely

Wallasey’s Support for Railway Children Our District 18 International Service charity this year is Railway Children. This charity states, “We believe in a world where no child ever has to live on the streets.” Internationally, the charity operates in India and East Africa. We enjoyed the company of its Founder, David Maidment, at our November club meeting at the Inner Wheel Club of Wallasey. Three days later we held a Proms style fundraiser which was supported by many Inner Wheel members from District 18, including our District International Service Organiser, Joan Quaille.

We recently received a letter of thanks and a certificate from David after our efforts raised a substantial sum for his charity. Our members are all very enthusiastic in their support of fundraisers as you can see in the picture of our Proms event.

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 5

Dear Beryl , Barnstaple’s It so nice hearing from you, I am happy you can notice in my communications that I am happy and moving on well with my training, It good to know that all that the Inner Wheel ladies Support for have resumed their monthly meetings, please extend my gratitude and sincere thanks to every one because if it was not for all your support possibly my life would not be so positive as Ugandan Girl it is now and for sure I am making the most of my time left on Kira. Each month, the members of the Inner Wheel Club of Barnstaple receive news from the girl they have sponsored this I am utilizing my reaming time well as much as I can. I am year. Sherina is a Kira Farm Student in Uganda. So far, she has happy to let you know that I have finished harvesting my maize learnt hairdressing skills and studied how to plant a vegetable garden and the harvest I has been so huge, I am so grateful that I have got a chance to learn such amazing huge yielding garden. She can then take these skills back to teach others in farming skills, I cannot wait doing it at home and training other her village. Her letters are sent to Beryl Jones, the Club’s Past people. International Officer. Still this month I have learnt a lot about goats farming. In my village we do not have milking goats but I was so surprised getting to Kira finding goats that produce much more milk than our local cows in the village. I am so keen to promote goats farming in my village because of it so many benefits for example having the best nutritious milk. Not so many people in my community know about this but I am willing to promote it. Have you ever taken goats milk?

Love you lots.

Yours. Sherina (Note - I have left Sherina’s letter as I received it from The Club Correspondent of Barnstaple Club as I feel it gives a real flavour of her experience through her own words and expressions.)

World Inner Wheel Day in Auckland It was a lovely way to spend World Inner Wheel Day with friends from Auckland East Inner Wheel Club. Members met at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club at Orakei, Auckland for morning coffee and cakes. We spent a lovely sunny morning catching up and admiring the wonderful views over the Harbour. I even had a chance to catch up with Paddy Clement, a Club Correspondent from District 11. Ann Scaife – District Editor D4 One Brave Lady! The Inner Wheel Club of Redditch recently put on a quiz evening for President Rosie to support her chosen charity Cancer Research, looking into childhood tumours. Why was this such a special evening? Because 3 years ago she lost her beautiful granddaughter Lois to one such tumour, at the age of 3½. The whole evening was great fun, well supported with a wonderful Ploughman’s supper provided by the committee and our usual amazing puds and together with a raffle, a great deal of money was made for the charity. We are all so proud of Rosie and how she has managed to create a positive result from this dreadful situation, so that hopefully, one day, other families will not have to deal with the sadness that her family has had to deal with! Isn’t it amazing what can be done in the name of Inner Wheel?!

Page. 6 Innerwheel Visit to the for students, past pupils, current and past staff. It was decided as a lasting legacy that money should be raised to help build a second level school in Uganda. Through Fields Old Nick! of Life this was accomplished in 2010 when the Bethel Royal School in NAKASONGOLA, Uganda was opened with an It was an arresting sight to see both President Sinister Susan enrolment of 120 students. In 2019 there are nearly 1000 and Vice President Callous Christine of Brigg Inner Wheel in day pupils and boarders. the stocks at the Victorian Police Museum and Magistrates Court on the club’s recent outing. They came mob handed “I AM GIRL” facilitates Gender Equality and Menstrual with Mavis the Moll, Manic Marjorie, Crafty Kate, Jailbird June, Hygiene thus assisting girls to complete their education Dynamite Deborah, Maureen the much more comfortably. This initiative seeks to improve Minx, Crackshot Kathryn, Miscreant the attendance of adolescent girls in school and is being Margaret and Suzanne the Sneak but implemented in Bethel Royal School with the assistance of they all got off with a warning! the Fields of Life. This involves the provision of reliable water During a guided tour of the Victorian sources, improved washing facilities and also appropriate Police Museum and Magistrates sanitary protection. Court, which was originally opened in 1860 and was a working Police Some girls do not attend school during their monthly Station up until 1974, we learned menstrual period as they do not have sanitary wear or pants. about the crimes, the criminals and This disrupts their education and so their education suffers. the punishments. An initiative is in progress to provide reusable sanitary There was so much to see and read wear by generating tailoring and soap making skills in the about and we looked at exhibits community. Some girls have never heard of sanitary towels. that we could remember from our childhood days such as police boxes, Londonderry Inner Wheel members gave generous funding walkie talkies like bricks and models towards this project and I also took much needed supplies of Panda cars. We kept together in a with me. While there I visited both primary and secondary group as there was talk of ghosts of schools which was a very humbling experience. We also prisoners who had died in the cells! visited engineers drilling for water and the official opening of a water pump. The whole community came out to welcome We found an interesting photograph of a policewoman called us and the women danced, sang and waved branches. I was Edith Smith. Edith joined the Women’s Police Volunteers in given the privilege of cutting the ribbon (banana leaf) and 1914 and was posted to Grantham to assist in issues including was then presented with a live cockerel which I believe is drunkenness and the widespread use of cocaine. In December a great honour. I was glad I was reared on a farm and the 1915 she became the first female police officer to receive a Chief informed me that I was the first white woman this warrant, giving her the power to arrest. Edith was a caring community had ever seen – some shock!! It was a very person and tried to deflect women of ‘ill repute’ from bad emotional occasion. behaviour rather than arrest them. She was a trailblazer for all who came after her. Sylvia Allen-Hamilton The original Magistrates Court, which was upstairs above the cells, is now a tiny theatre with about 50 seats and the whole place is run by volunteers who also stage plays. We went into the café where a veritable feast awaited us. The buffet was all homemade with quiches, sandwiches, cakes and much more all washed down with bottomless pots of tea and served by two lovely ladies who again were volunteers. It was an excellent evening but we were glad we all escaped a custodial sentence! Suzanne Griffiths D 127 News from Londonderry Inner Wheel

“I AM GIRL” is a programme which is committed to ensuring young girls in Africa are empowered to complete their education and grow into healthy young women. This initiative was supported by Londonderry Inner Wheel, on my trip to Uganda.

My name is Sylvia Allen-Hamilton and I am a member of Londonderry Inner Wheel. I was invited by the Principal, as a past pupil of the Royal & Prior School, Raphoe, Co. Donegal, to go on a fact-finding mission to Uganda along with a team from Fields of Life. Fields of Life is a Christian Organisation who work with local communities and churches in East Africa to bring about change through the provision of education, clean water and health promotion.

In 2008 the five 1608 Royal Schools in Ulster celebrated their 400th anniversary. All five schools hosted inter-school events

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 7 North Fylde Project For the last four years, North Fylde (D19) Inner Wheel’s overseas project has been the continuing support for a project in Kitale, Uganda. Their financial support has resulted in a Mill and the acquisition of Mosquito nets. Unfortunately, floods struck the area last year totally destroying many homes, parts of the school, including toilets, books and equipment. With roads deluged, canoe was the only way of transport. It will take some time to repair and replace homes and possessions. The people of Kitale were not deterred and immediately gathered together to get the school reopened. The toilet block had been destroyed thus causing a major health hazard. Three days later with three toilets fixed they were ready for the school to reopen. The teachers’ toilets still need repairs so North Fylde’s donation will go towards that work. Such is the overwhelming spirit and determination of the Kitale people, why wouldn’t anyone want to help those who show such spirit and cheerfulness to keep themselves self-sufficient? In support of the project Maureen Romer and Judy Eaves, the International Representatives of North Fylde Inner Wheel, arranged an afternoon tea party to raise funds. The event was held at the home of Judy Eaves when around 40 members brought the most delicious array of cakes and sandwiches. With the help of the two raffles, the afternoon resulted in an amazing sum. Many people question the validity of supporting charities internationally, wondering where donations are being spent and whether much of the money is subsumed into excessive executive salaries. In the case of Kitale, Inner Wheel have direct contact with project workers Mike and Linda Willetts who have been attached to the project for over 12 years. They ensure that every penny given will go to the work that is ongoing with no unnecessary bureaucracy to eat into donations. Linda and Mike are inspiring and Inner Wheel will continue to support this exemplar of self-sufficiency and determination. Club Correspondent: Sheila Hutchinson – article by Gemma Jackson A Little Challenge Pattie Beresford, President of Marlow Inner Wheel (D9) has Presentation to set us a little challenge. Pattie told us, “Last Saturday morning I did my 100th parkrun – which is a free, timed 5km run at 9am every Saturday, Jessie’s Fund happening at venues all over the world. Mine was at Black Park near Langley, together with Bob and 843 others!” She At the recent Council meeting, Immediate Past President Ann is seen holding up her 100 run T-shirt awarded by parkrun to Acaster presented the final cheque to Lesley Schatzberger those who have achieved this milestone. of Jessie’s Fund. This brought the total to almost £40,000. These events take place in many parks and seem to attract a Lesley spoke briefly about some of the ways in which our large following of runners who just want a little bit of exercise. money has helped. She told us of a 14-year old boy with Her achievement has encouraged the District Chairman of D9 moderate learning difficulties and very low self-esteem who to consider joining Pattie at some point. Pattie’s dream is to had become much more confident as a result of the music see a large number of Inner Wheel members putting on their therapy offered by Jessie’s Fund. running shoes and helping publicise Inner Wheel in lots of A young girl who had suffered a stroke and brain damage different locations. was able to accept the changes in her life because of the I wondered how many other Inner Wheelers also do parkrun? assistance given by Jessie’s Fund and could go back to (parkrun.org.uk) school. Perhaps the lasting impression, however, was a sound clip of a child playing the melody on a piano when shown how to by one of the Jessie’s Fund team. Lesley presented a certificate only to find to her delight that it was out of date owing to the latest contributions!

Footnote : the jewellery collected at Conference last year and at other points raised a total of almost £2,200.

Page. 8 Innerwheel Innerwheel - Highclere & Thames Afternoon Tea - FP Spring 2020 _Layout 1 13/01/2020 13:03 Page 1

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Day 1 Travel to your hotel. Day 1 Sunday: Travel to London – Tea on the Thames. Travel to London at your leisure to arrive early afternoon. Depending on Day 2 Highclere Castle and ‘Downton Villages’. timings, you maybe able to check in at your hotel. You will need to be at We start our day by visiting Highclere Castle, the real ‘Downton Abbey’, Tower Pier at around 3.00pm, as your boat departs at 3.30pm for a and home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. The current design of 90-minute cruise. Your A Highclere was completed in 1938, when the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon brought fternoon Tea wouldn’t be right without scones, jam and a generous dollop of cream, so fear not, you’ll find those along in Sir Charles Barry to transform his classical Georgian mansion into a with the selection of finger sandwiches and cakes. grand mansion that would impress the world. We take a self-guided one- hour tour of the public rooms, including the state rooms and bedrooms On arrival back at Tower Pier, make your way to your hotel, where the rest where scenes for the show were filmed. There’s time to discover the of the evening is at your leisure. ‘Capability Brown’ designed grounds, browse the gift shop, and perhaps Day 2 Monday: London – Shopping / Museums. stop for tea and cake at one of the tea rooms. Enjoy a full English breakfast in the hotel and you then have some free Depending on your visit time at Highclere, there maybe time in the afternoon time to explore the sites of the Capital. We can arrange a visit to The to spend some time in the Cotswold villages of Shilton and Swinbrook. Tower of London, maybe a trip on the London Eye or a guided tour around Docklands. Leave London at your leisure to return home. Day 3 Return home.

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Prices do not include coach hire or travel insurance. See website for full T&Cs. Bookings subject to availability and Greatdays Holidays terms & conditions which can be found at https://www.greatdays.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/ ABTA Y0380. www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 9 Author Corinne from American visit to Marlow Inner Wheel Club Dublin - District 16 Marlow Inner Wheel Club member In Dublin we love visitors, so President Maureen Boothman Corinne Badnell has written two books was delighted to receive an e-mail from Norma Trillia from El which are being sold in aid of Inner Cerrito Club, District 519, in California. She was visiting Ireland Wheel and Rotary Charities as well with her husband, Rotarian George and her daughter and as two other Charities. She is a very son-in-law. Norma has held many positions in her club and talented artist and writes under her District and was Charter President. She served at National maiden name of Corinne Allen. level and was an IIW Board member attending 10 consecutive One book is called “Sharing Thoughts” international conferences. which developed from her time in There are seven hundred Inner Wheel members in the US in charge of two care Nursing Homes five Districts and the National organisation meets twice a year when she used these ideas and – next time in San Antonio, Texas. drawings in training her staff in skills and teamwork. The short verses match They have the same difficulty as us – getting new younger perfectly with the amazingly members and are now trying e-members. They are finding perceptive artwork. it fairly useful and realise that after a time those who are e-members become enthused and want to join as The other book is a colourful children’s story called active members. “Blossoming Out”. Based on one of her grandchildren, it is a charming story with a message based on a rabbit family. Each They are a small club with only 10 members, 5 of whom are book costs £7.00 with the proceeds being split among the four active so they have joined up with the Sacramento District. charities. They have produced a children’s book (kind of like the Ladybird Joan Clerehugh - Club Correspondent books) in English and Spanish. They also knit teddy bears and bring them to hospitals and other organisations and distribute them to all ages – particularly enjoyed by older lonely people who cuddle them immediately. They also do layettes for babies. Support for The She loved her tour of Ireland and learned how to make scones! As a former Home Economics teacher, she was particularly Swindon Foyer 16 proud of this achievement. Helen Duffy Members of the Inner Wheel Club of North Wilts (D10) held a very successful Bridge Drive towards the end of last year and proceeds from this were donated to The Swindon Foyer. Between the staff and our members, we decided that some of this money would be used to provide the kit for their Futsal football team (named Stonewater FC). Futsal is played on a smaller hard court with five players per side. The teams play for twenty minutes each half.

Swindon Foyer is part of Stonewater Housing Association, providing vulnerable and homeless young people, between the ages of 16 to 25, with safe, furnished accommodation. All residents are given their own bedsit room, with en-suite bathroom and a fridge freezer. There are communal rooms for socialising and developing life skills. Training and support is provided by coaches, who can help them achieve their aspirations, as well as supporting them in accessing education, training and employment opportunities.

The team kit was duly ordered during the summer and, thanks to a donation from one of our members, we were proud to ‘fly the flag’ for Inner Wheel, by having our Inner Wheel Logo and club name printed on the front of the shirts. Good luck Stonewater FC! Margaret Bracher

Page. 10 Innerwheel Midhurst and Petworth D25 – Then and Now We celebrated our 50th Birthday at Cowdray Park Golf Club with our Rotary friends and with a speaker who made the evening memorable with her amusing account of her time as a pilot. We had a beautiful celebration cake made and decorated by two of our members, and our 50th anniversary regalia was proudly displayed. The evening was also special as we had a talk from founder member Peggy Goodale. Celebrating U.N. But what is special about this is the pictorial contrast which the intervening 50 years shows. It’s interesting to compare them and see how things have changed. Not a lot really! Both International day of peace groups are looking cheerful, although in 1969 hairstyles and In North Wales mode of dress were more formal. And the sun finally shone on the righteous.... The Inner Wheel Club of Llanfairfechan and Penmaenmawr (D18) held their annual Afternoon Tea in sunshine for the first time ever! Tables and chairs which were originally set up indoors had to be hastily relocated in the garden, when the sun broke out an hour before proceedings began. The Afternoon Tea was supported by Inner Wheel, Rotarians, friends and neighbours and members of Wyn’s Way (a local friendship/support bereavement group). Inner Wheel ladies provided a sumptuous tea and ran a tombola, sales table and a raffle. A record amount of money was raised for the local food banks. Muriel E McGrath

everyone hated me. I thought I’d never get far in life and that Making a I’d fail my exams – I had no hope or optimism. It made me depressed and I suffered from anxiety. I was also overweight and everyone used to pick on me. I started starving myself Difference and making myself sick which made me ill and [I had] even We raise money – we donate it to a huge number of more time off school. My confidence was so low. Then I got different charities – we receive thanks from the charitable referred to Sheffield Young Carers and I started having one- organisations – but do we ever get to hear exactly how much to-ones in school. It really calmed me down having some good our work does for individuals? Following a donation to time to myself to talk – we looked at managing my anger Sheffield Young Carers, the Inner Wheel Club of Abbeydale and building my confidence together and it started the cogs had a chance to appreciate just how important a little help turning for me. Then I joined a Sheffield Young Carers group can be. The letter was written by one young carer. and it was the best opportunity of my life – it really turned my life around. C was 14 when he joined Sheffield Young Carers. He has been a carer since he was six, when his mum was diagnosed At the group, I finally met people who were young carers with various mental health issues. He also cares for his two like me and who understood and liked me. Meeting other disabled younger siblings and in the last year his dad has young carers made me feel so much better about myself. I become very ill, developing brain and heart problems which started attending school more and behaving much better. significantly affect his mobility and health. Here is C’s story in I also began to care about myself again so started eating his own words: well and being more active which meant I lost loads of weight. Now I look and feel really good – I like myself now. “I do pretty much everything for my brothers. It can be really Sheffield Young Carers has … made me feel proud of myself tough sometimes but I just get on with it. Sometimes I have to and built my confidence so much – it’s like I’m in a different stay at home to look after my mum too, as she can’t be on her world. Everybody sees me as a valued person now, everyone own at all. I used to skip school to help look after her when respects me and I respect them. People even come to me for she was bad – I was just too worried to leave her. Before I help now – if you put me back a few years ago, I could never joined Sheffield Young Carers, I didn’t feel human. It was like have imagined this. It’s been a heck of a journey but it’s been everyone was normal but I wasn’t. I used to get bullied and so worthwhile. Now I’m on the right track, thanks to Sheffield beaten up after school because they knew I had low self- Young Carers, I know I won’t ever fall off again!” esteem and wouldn’t tell my parents. I also had a really short fuse and I got excluded nine times, as well as always having Here is just one way in which Inner Wheel really does help loads of detentions and ‘isolations’ at school. I used to think others through its fund-raising.

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 11 D1 KINROSS AND DISTRICT

Kinross and District Club is celebrating Inner Wheel Day by joining together for friendship and fellowship at the President’s house for lunch. There will also be a display of WORLD photographs, going back to the very beginning of the club in November 1981, showing all the presidents and some of the many events that have taken place over the years. For our service to the local community we are working with the Day Centre in Kinross to offer a Tea Dance to all the people who attend, with lots to eat during the event and a ‘goodie bag’ to take home. For service to the wider community we are having a collection of jewellery, gadgets and currency at our lunch. We will then be sending them to Jessie’s Fund. These items will then be recycled for cash to provide extra funding for their music therapy projects around the U.K.

PITLOCHRY On Inner Wheel Day, Pitlochry members had a soup lunch at President Gill’s, where they brought food items for the local food bank. We’ve done this for the past three years now and our contributions would seem to be appreciated. DAY D6 KIRRIEMUIR REDDITCH The Inner Wheel Club of Redditch has decided to brighten it up a little and celebrate our lives as members of Inner Wheel by dressing up in anything pink!! We are having a pink themed quiz (with a special pink prize) and someone will win a prize for being the pinkest person! Any donations will be given to the District Chair, Claire’s charity - Cancer Haven.

COVENTRY On Inner Wheel Day some of our group met for a simple shared lunch in the home of one of our members. Each month we collect food for either The Carriers of Hope or a Kirriemuir Inner Wheel ladies gave the sheltered Housing local food bank. Complex, Kirkton Court, an Afternoon tea and entertainment for Inner Wheel Day. D4 AIREBOROUGH On World Inner Wheel Day Aireborough Club, D4, gathered at the White Swan Hotel in Yeadon for a social lunch. It was an icy start to the day but the sun was shining. We were the only people eating in the large back room which overlooks the cricket ground and there was no unnecessary piped music to interrupt the flow of friendly conversation. We ate a good lunch with efficient service although the rest of the pub was very busy. The Aireborough Club doesn’t meet in January and it was nice to have the opportunity to chat and wish a Happy New Year to those we haven’t already met since Christmas. D9 The party of 17 was made up of 11 members with 6 family and MARLOW friends including two prospective members. The Club had what we call a Textile Lunch at a member’s home. We knitted and sewed blankets and ‘fish and chip’ Baby outfits that we send abroad and premature baby squares which go to neo-natal units in hospitals. Our Raffle was for Women and Girls. CAVERSHAM We held our lnner Wheel Day the day before as it was our club meeting day. We had a soup lunch at the home of Vicki Mountford - including a raffle.

Page. 12 Innerwheel READING MAIDEN ERLEGH D21 Our club undertook to do some community work at CHURCH STRETTON Lakeside Care Home and then enjoyed a soup lunch for all To celebrate Word Inner Wheel Day eleven members of members afterwards at a member’s house. Church Stretton IW met for lunch in a local hostelry. At our Club meeting this month we will mark IIW Day with a soup D12 and puds lunch followed by a talk by Dr Jenny Howard on her What a lovely - sensible Inner Wheel idea! Ethiopian charity. Money raised at the lunch will be given to the charity. Here is how some clubs celebrated, turning into quite a gathering! BREWOOD AND DISTRICT Friday 10 January 10.30-12.30pm A ‘Joint’ World Inner Our Club is supporting our local Brewood Dementia Support Wheel Day (Thanet Clubs: Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate Group for World Inner Wheel Day. The Group meets monthly and Westgate and Birchington) - approximately 90 at our local Cricket Cub and enjoys a stimulating ‘Singing for members could be attending a celebration at the home of the Mind’ session with local musical Entertainers. We will be Broadstairs IW President Ann Bignold. providing a cold lunch following their February Meeting and All members from each of the Clubs have been invited and we are hoping to provide some different entertainment for the asked to bring 3 raffle prizes and also suitable donations for session. It is the Group’s Policy that all volunteers undertake a the food bank. Money raised will go to Porchlight which is ‘Dementia Friends’ session which some of us are taking part in District Chairman Liz Lister’s chosen charity. at the local Medical Practice. WALSALL ARBORETUM The Ladies of Walsall Arboretum held a frugal lunch on World Inner Wheel Day. Contributions of homemade soup and bread were consumed, along with tea and cake! An afternoon of fellowship followed with the opportunity to socialise not usually afforded at our regular meetings. Proceeds from the lunch and raffle will go towards the President’s chosen charity, Walsall Young Carers.

D20 YEOVIL Our way of celebrating World Inner Wheel Day was to spend time at District Chairman Maureen’s home. She hosted an open house where members were invited to come along, enjoy good company and refreshments while carrying on with their own craft projects. A group of DUDLEY ladies started cutting out pre organised shapes in material, waterproof fabric and towelling before sewing them This year to celebrate World Inner Wheel Day members of the together to make sustainable sanitary wear which will be Inner Wheel club of Dudley collected tinned and packet foods sent to disaster areas. This is the beginning of an ongoing and a selection of toiletries which are desperately needed project as part of Maureen’s 20:20 Mission charity choice at the Dudley Food Bank. The goods were stored at one of for her year. our member’s homes until she and President Chris could give them to the Food Bank in Dudley. These were gratefully received and will go to those who need our support.

NEWPORT 4 C’S EVENT. Coffee, Cuppa Tea, Chocolate (Hot), Cake.

Everyone was welcomed to the event held locally in Newport. A fifth “C” should have been Chatter, plenty of it with friendship and fellowship. Members of other Clubs attended along with many local residents. We were joined by District Editor Judi Moore and District International Officer Margaret Williams.

UTTOXETER At our Uttoxeter meeting each member took the address/ email of a District Chairman of Districts in Australia and will be writing letters to each on behalf of the Club. This was our IIW Day contribution.

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 13 D21 D23 PENKBRIDGE ALLOWAY

The ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Penkridge celebrated Our Annual Soup lunch for World Inner Wheel Day was held World Inner Wheel Day by providing a selection of cakes, at the home of President Kay Oliver. Thanks to all who helped sausage rolls and pork pies to the day residents at Age UK (to to make this event a very pleasant and sociable occasion. The have with their afternoon cup of tea). funds raised will be added to the Christmas Coffee Morning donations for South Ayrshire School Clothing Fund. We were well received by both the residents and the staff. Our ladies thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was well worth doing. It was a nice way to spend World Inner Wheel Day and, judging by the reaction of both carers and residents alike, I don’t think we will necessarily restrict our visits in the future just to World Inner Wheel Day.

LARGS

In Largs, (D23), we have a dedication service in a local church. We have 5 churches to choose from! We then have lunch afterwards. The service is usually held in the Church of the President and this year we went to St Columba Parish WHITCHURCH Church, a well-known landmark situated close to the seafront.

Whitchurch Club celebrated World Inner Wheel by holding They have a new young minister, so he asked one of us to a Frugal Lunch together. Members enjoyed delicious talk about Inner Wheel to the congregation. Appropriately homemade soup and read their favourite poems. Monies the District Membership and Development Officer was raised are to be donated to a local charity ‘Time Together’ ‘volunteered’ so she was able to raise our profile a little in the which is run by Cannon Dr Judy Hunt. town.

Musings of a District My club, Altrincham, has had four District Chairmen over the years. It is one of the seventy-niners - being formed in 1930. Historian - District 5 The first of these was Mrs. Phyl Lord in 1951. She knew Mrs. Golding quite well, but it wasn’t until we were contacted by In Inner Wheel we are always looking to the future. Anything Phyl’s mother, Bunny, that we knew exactly how well she to promote our organisation to attract new members, to knew her. Bunny was compiling a scrapbook of her daughter’s inform them of our efforts to help the local and the wider life and came across her Past District Chairman’s badge with community and to show how we enjoy ourselves. her Member of Council bar attached. This was no ordinary However, the past is just as important as it is the history of the badge as it had belonged to Mrs. Golding herself and it was movement which has influenced our lives and our made of 9 carat gold! Not knowing what to do with this, she actions today. contacted me and gave us the precious badge which is now in the District’s framed collar. Regalia that no other district owns. When I took on this position I inherited past copies of Quinta – the magazine of District 5 - some going back many years It amazes me how uninterested clubs are with their history. and containing some fascinating insights to the Mrs. Golding Ladies, we must look forward to the future, but we neglect years. The days when there were no motorways, no sat navs, our past at our peril. In fact, Altrincham’s minutes do not where hats and gloves were worn, when the District Chairman mention the visit of Mrs. Golding to the club to present the visited all 75 clubs for her District visit - plus Coffee Mornings, charter. They do, however, list how many jars of jam and Afternoon Teas, Bridge Lunches, etc. The instructions given were - which number bus to catch and where to alight cakes were made for a coffee morning!! and then the directions to the venue. Remember, not every Tell everyone what a grand organisation we are and be proud member drove a car. A gentler age for all. of your history. Today it is quite different with the pace of life being hectic and Betty Hayhurst – District 5 Historian many other things taking up our valuable time.

Page. 14 Innerwheel D24 Thanks to all the people who have contributed As a District, we are focusing on Friendship with a lunch and material for the Spring magazine. It has been an ex-Mayor (Female) as our guest speaker. Friendship and amazing to see the variety of activities for World kindness should be at the heart of what we do so we wanted Inner Wheel Day and the number of charities to emphasise this as we all fundraise and do acts of service throughout the year. This lunch provides members with an which will benefit. Perhaps some of the projects opportunity to socialise which isn’t always possible at District will give other members ideas for future years. Meetings. In a change to our previous pattern, there will not be a printed Conference magazine this year D25 but reports and photographs of the highlights of We are all familiar with ‘Friends’ the hit sitcom that aired for a the Belfast Conference will be available online whopping 10 seasons (236 episodes from 1994-2004). It is via the Association website. More details of how now having a resurgence owing to Netflix and a whole new to access this will be available at a later date. audience. I can almost hear you singing ‘I’ll be there for you’ as you read this. Once again it has ben a difficult process to select Friends is a comedy show based in Manhattan about six material for this issue – so if your World Inner friends who go through just about every life experience Wheel Day event has not been mentioned, it imaginable together, love, marriage, divorce, children, is no less valuable – it simply reflects that the heartbreak, fights, new jobs, job losses and all sorts of drama. space within the Association magazine is Many of us in Inner Wheel have also been ‘friends’ for decades not elastic! and supported each other throughout that time. Coming together on Inner Wheel day reminds us of the bond and strength of friendship that we share with each other and women all over the world.

Most of the clubs in District 25 met for lunch with many clubs having a ‘bring and share’ lunch whereby members bring a dish for others to enjoy. At the lunches some clubs held raffles to raise money for their President’s charity, some clubs knitted squares for wheelchair blankets and sorted stamps. Some clubs held a bring and buy stall. Some clubs contributed to their local foodbanks. One club filled 23 backpacks with various items of stationery, toiletries and shoes for Mary’s Meals. Whatever each club did, there was much ‘chatting and laughter’. ‘Friends’ endures because of its relatability and its focus on friendships and relationships – rather like Inner Wheel. D127 ALFORD AND MABLETHORPE

We celebrated our Inner Wheel Day by completing a number of interesting tasks: Stamps were cut to benefit Oxfam, Ring Pulls were collected and Blankets were stitched together for local use and for the Fistula Hospital project. All of this was accompanied by friendly chatter. BARNSLEY

On Friday 10th January 2020, the ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Barnsley District 127 celebrated World Inner Wheel Day. A coffee Morning was held at the home of PP Bernise Wilkinson with all the money being raised being given to Ad Astra Barnsley (Raising the aspirations of children and young people). A very enjoyable morning was had by all. CLEETHORPES

We celebrated Inner Wheel Day by having a meal at Cleethorpes Golf Club. Miriam Cobley, our last remaining Founder Member, was in attendance. We collected items for St Andrew’s Hospice which can be used within the Hospice for patients and their families, or used as Raffle Prizes or sold in their shops.

www.innerwheel.co.uk Page. 15 Conference Belfast 27th-29th April 2020

GREAT SPEAKERS • EVENING ENTERTAINMENT CITY WALK • GOLF • CHARITY & RETAIL STALLS

Learn so much more about Inner Wheel Meet new and existing friends - with a number of International members joining us

SPECIAL RATES ON BELFAST CITY SIGHTSEEING BUS! SPECIAL GROUP RATES FOR TITANIC EXHIBITION!

FIND LOTS OF INFORMATION ABOUT BELFAST ON THE ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL RDA BRANCH REMEMBER TO TELL THE ASSOCIATION OFFICE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE RAISED

www.innerwheel.co.uk