Yearly Archives: 2013
2013 Trips
| Date | Place | Cost | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 17 | Willow Road | £5.50 | Val Garnier |
| May 17 | Blenheim Palace | £25 (£23 Concessions) | Gillian Kitcherside |
| June 12 | Chelsea Physic Garden | £8 | Madeline Rhodes |
Please note these trips are arranged for the Wimbledon WI only. You will need to attend our meetings and be a member to book a place! We usually open the invitation to family and friends as well, members please see the details for individual trips or speak to the social committee.
The Social Events sign up table is in the reception area at the meetings, payment (preferably by cheque to Wimbledon WI) will be required at the time of booking.
Hot Topics January 2013
60 members braved the weather on Monday evening to hear Melanie Monaghan from Merton Young Carers, our chosen charity this year, tell us about work that they do, and that we will be supporting.
This was followed by an entertaining and informative talk by Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Williams, Merton Police Commander, who, amongst other things, reminded us that we should never hesitate to dial 999 if the need arises. He also told us that there is an opportunity for a member of the public to ride out in a patrol car each month. Any volunteers??
Prison Food!
Twenty or so fresh inmates lined up by the gates of the prison. Shivering in the cold, grey damp air, nervous anticipation spread quickly through the ranks. The prison warden eyed us grimly as we proffered our photographic identification – numbers were issued, and hung round our necks, mobile phones were confiscated till our release. I was number 9 as the first 15 of us were marched through the gates on the way to Clink.
Across the exercise yard, through the automatic doors which locked shut after we passed through and we were in a holding bay waiting for the next set of doors to open. We were famished as we anxiously awaited the rest of our group to join us. Would they all behave and conform, and if not, it didn’t bear thinking about.
Our leader, Agnes who had obviously been in some kind of gangland fight earlier, was calm and in control as she led us on to the prison refectory and the much awaited meeting of our fellow lags.
After having been warned about what happens if you grass up in the Clink, I will skip the interim passage, suffice to say, we served our time and were freed to leave and join the outside world. Am I a better person for the experience, yes. Can I honestly say that I won’t go back – no. I bonded “in there” and if my ladies go back – I’m going with them.
Katie
Trip to “the Clink” January 2013
http://www.theclinkcharity.com
https://twitter.com/theclinkcharity
