Fiona welcomed 70 members and 3 guests.
Subscriptions: These are now overdue. If you have been unable to make the last 2 meetings and still want to join again this year, please notify Wendy. As we have to send all subscriptions in at the end of March, any members who have not paid or made contact by then will, we assume, no longer wish to be a member and will be deleted from our database.
Future Events: There are places for the following events.
The Clink Afternoon Tea, Wednesday, 6th March (£18 includes gratuity)
Quiz, Saturday, 6th April (£14 includes Ploughman’s Supper)
Chiltern Valley Winery, Tuesday 23rd April (£35)
Covent Garden Walk, Thursday, 16th May (£10)
Wimpole Estate, Cambridge, Wednesday, 26th June (£37)
Please let Gillian know as soon as possible if you would like a place.
The 39 Steps: We have been asked by one of our members to inform you that the Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club’s next production will be The 39 Steps. It is being performed from 20th-23rd March at 7.45pm at Adrian Mann Theatre Ewell KT17 3DS. Tickets cost £13. For further details and bookings, please visit http://www.sadc.co.uk/ or https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sadc
Cygnet Players – Kiss Me Kate: We have been asked by Cygnet Players, an amateur, non-profit theatre group, to inform our members of their next production, Kiss Me Kate. It is to be performed 20th-23rd February at the London Oratory School, Fulham. Tickets are £16 each or for groups of 6+ £10 (for Wednesday and Saturday) or £12 for groups of 6+ (for Thursday and Friday). Box office 07941 448 689
https://www.cygnetplayers.com/shows/current-show/kiss-me-kate
Suggestion Box: Fiona reminded members we have a suggestion box for ideas for speakers/activities etc. The committee try to create a programme which is varied and interesting and appreciate that they can’t please everyone all of the time. They are already planning programme/ideas for next year so if there is anything members would like to be considered, please let the committee know.
Green Hearts: Beautiful things can happen when you make, wear and share a green heart this February. We can protect the places, people and things we love from climate change. The changes needed to protect our world have begun. We can have 100% clean energy within a generation – but it needs us to show our love to make it happen. Together, we want a world powered by clean and secure energy within a generation. So wear your green heart and show people that you care about climate change.
Guest Speaker: Our speaker, Mary Forlenza, gave us a very entertaining and enjoyable talk on Great Lovers. She gave us an insight into some intriguing romances from Romeo and Juliet, Edward VII and Lilly Langtry, Bonnie and Clyde, Dr. Crippen and Cora Turner, Mussolini and Claretta, Frankie and Johnny and our very own Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, who despite all her wealth and riches during her marriage to Lord Hamilton, died destitute in Calais. Mary ended on two personal, but nonetheless, fascinating love stories regarding her Italian husband’s acquaintances.
Jigsaw4u Representative: Jenny Harwood gave us an introduction into what Jigsaw4u, our chosen charity, does in the community. Jigsaw4u is a charity that provides a wide variety of services across the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton. They are not only known for their bereavement counselling but also for Home School Links, support for individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence or offering specialised support for victims of crime aged 11 to 17. They also work with the missing persons unit so that they can conduct a Return Home Interview to gain insight why the young person “went missing”. These are just a few of their projects. For further reading visit https://www.jigsaw4u.org.uk. Jenny finished with a very poignant video of 2 families going through bereavement counselling proving that this is a very worthy charity.
Quiz: Fiona reminded everybody that our Quiz Evening on 6th April at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Church Path, Merton Park will be for the benefit of Jigsaw4u and urged everybody to try and make the evening. It will not only be a fund raiser for our charity but also a fun evening. Tickets are £14 which includes a ploughman’s supper and there will be a paid bar. You can either make up a table of 8 or come on your own and join a table. Everyone welcome. Please contact Gillian if you would like a ticket.
LOST PROPERTY: A grey scarf was left behind at the last meeting. Please let the committee know if it is yours.
Diary Dates:
Monday, 18th March. Surrey Federation of WIs Annual Council Meeting. Dorking.
Monday, 18th March Meeting – Alison Kirk, Paracise
Saturday. 6th April. Quiz Night
Monday, 15th April Meeting – Jan Young, Art Expert. Book sale/jigsaw swap
Wednesday, 5th June, 2019. NFWI AGM, Bournemouth
July 12-14th Surrey WIs at Denman
Monday, 7th October. Surrey Federation of WIs Autumn Meeting
