WI aim: to inspire and enlighten A selection of a few years of past speakers to give an idea of the types of talks at Shadforth WI 2009 - India, Gardening, Alzheimers, Music, Dance, FolklorePerformance by "'Spot On' Song and Dance" (June 2009).
Garry Hillery - "Hanging Basket
Demonstration" (May 2009). Garry Hillery demonstrated how to plant out hanging baskets and talked about plants, as well as his work as a trainer at Finchale Training College, a national, specialist College providing vocational training to enable unemployed, disabled adults gain the skills they need to enter and retain employment. The hanging baskets he created and brought along were lovely. Garry’s knowledge, passion and enthusiasm were impressive and his talk was entertaining and infectious. After a talk on plants, the following discussion regarding this year’s Resolution for the National AGM which urges the government to devote more money to the problem of the disappearing bees, a problem which could cause severe problems to plants throughout the UK, was particularly poignant. Joe Maloney & friends - "Billingham Folklore Festival" (March 2009). Representatives from the Billingham International Folklore Festival talked about their well established festival which collects together skilled performers from all over the world and celebrates it’s 45th Billingham International Folklore Festival on 1st - 8th August 2009. They talked about their selection processes (choosing only around eight acts from the hundreds that apply), the challenges of hosting the performers who arrive from throughout the world, of funding and finding suitable venues year after year. This is one of the most respected international folk festivals and it offers performances to the public and workshops for local children. You can find out more at: www.billinghamfestival.co.uk Tom Harker and Aileen Scott - "Memories Are Made of This" (February 2009). Four people came to talk about different aspects regarding the care and treatment of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Tom Harker sang a selection of entertaining songs and spoke about his own experiences as a carer for his wife. Ann and Vivienne, from the Bowes Lyon unit in Durham, and Jennie, from the Carers Support charity, spoke about the help and support available, both for patients and their primary carers and families. Judy McLean - "My Journey to India" (January 2009). Judy McLean and her daughter Alison spoke about their journey to the east of India in November 2007, illustrating their talk with slides. They saw all sides of life on their journey which was mainly to visit areas which have been linked to Durham, through the continued support of the parish of St Cuthbert in Durham, for over 40 years. They visited schools, dispensaries, religious institutions and leper colonies. They talked of local issues from the problems of elephants trampling crops, to the stigma still faced by lepers, for example the many people suffering from leprosy who live on the coast at Puri. They also spoke of the devastating effects of more recent acts of religious persecution and murder in the east of India, since December 2007, which has affected people of all religions and caused set backs in the valuable work to bring positive changes to the area. On a happier note they talked of the pleasure of the people that they visited and the happy singing children that welcomed them at the various schools and institutions. They could see how support from Durham was making a real difference and was highly appreciated. In particular they visited Belpahar, in the east of India, where the parish is twined with the one in Durham. Judy and Shadforth raised money for through an ‘Open Gardens’ event in June 2007 and as a ‘Thank You’ the Sisters at the church in Belpahar gave Shadforth a tapestry, showing two green birds, which is proudly on display in Shadforth Village Hall. 2008 - Slavery, Wills, Silversmith, Music, Dance, Preserves, Fjords, DanubeBarbara Beveridge - "Leazes Dairy Preserves" (November 2008). For the November meeting Barbara Beveridge, from Leazes Farm near Bishop Auckland, came to talk about her business Leazes Dairy Preserves. She explained how she set it up at home, around the time when the supermarkets were squeezing milk prices and her and her husband decided that their farm should branch out into other activities. She talked about the creation of her distinctive preserves labels, complete with a picture of a Friesian cow, and selling through fairs and a farm shop in Wolsingham. In setting up her preserves business she was strongly supported by her local WI, which she still attends even though it is nearer to their previous farm. She said how she really enjoys the friendship it offers and that she has learned so much through it. In particular, she recently received a travel grant from Durham County WI Federation to attend a preserves course at the WI’s Denman College, which really helped with new recipes and gave advice on selling preserves as a business. The best part of her talk was, of course, getting to taste her work! These included: apple chutney with cheese, mango chutney with crackers, caramelised onions with sausages, pate and elderberry chutney, teacake with marmalade, wild bramble chutney, and rhubarb and ginger chutney (though not all at once!), and finally a seasonal Christmas pudding and rum sauce! (Now don’t you feel hungry reading this?!) Vivien Slack performing with "'Spot On' Song & Dance"
(September 2008). For the first meeting after the
August break, instead of a speaker, we were entertained by the group Spot
On. With one of the group indisposed due to illness, the two extremely
talented sisters sang a selection of songs from the Shows and from the Forties
(Andrews Sisters style). Their choice of songs was different from the norm and
very enjoyable. After the show they stayed to enjoy a supper of a choice of four
homemade soups and stotties (rather than the usual tea and biscuits!). Everyone
enjoyed Spot On’s performance so much that we have invited them back for 2009!
Les Howe - "Silversmithing" (July 2008). Les Howe is a silversmith and a member of the Society of Northumbrian Craftsmen. He specializes in Celtic jewellery and in creating his work he is inspired by the cultural heritage of the North East, for example historic artefacts like St Cuthbert’s Cross from Durham Cathedral, the Lindesfarne gospels and knot-work designs from this region. His work is handcrafted in silver and 9ct yellow, red and white gold in his workshop in County Durham, and it is hallmarked at Sheffield Assay Office. Amongst his commissions have been work presented to HRH Prince Charles and a Pectoral Cross for a former Bishop of Durham. For us he spoke about his occupation in general and brought along some lovely examples of his work. Age Concern - "Wills, Trusts & Power of Attorney" (May 2008).
Age Concern talked about legal issues that everyone should consider, as well as particular issues that people face as they age and the support available. For further information about Age Concern see: http://www.ageconcern.org.uk John Charlton - "North
East Connection With Slavery" (March 2008). John
Charlton gave a very interesting talk about how the North East was involved in
slavery and also how it affected the whole UK and beyond. He put the issues into
the social context of the time, for example describing the feelings of a ship
worker who worked on ships that moved goods and how he personally felt when his
job changed to moving human “cargo”. He also spoke about the people involved in
the anti-slavery movement and their contributions to abolition. For more details
about this very interesting subject see his book Hidden Chains: The
Slavery Business and North East England, published in October 2008 by
Tyne Bridge Publishing (ISBN: 978-1857951233). 
Kenneth Mankin - "Things European" (January 2008). Kenneth Mankin performed a son et lumière style slide-show to music, to illustrate his sea and river tours around Europe. First he transported the audience on a Norwegian journey by ship to and from Bergen, travelling up the coast, through fjords, past the Arctic Circle to the land of the midnight sun and reindeers (with snowy weather but sadly no Santa!). The second tour was along the Rhine and Danube, from Cologne to Vienna, and finally some scenes of Berlin, both pre and post the fall of the Berlin wall! | 2007 - Mining, Poems, Craft, Queen's Garden Party, Home SittingJean Carlisle - "Queen's Garden Party" (September 2007).
Jean, who on her last visit to SWI amused everyone with her tale of her son’s Irish wedding, returned to talk on her experience at the Queen’s garden party. She also told of her husband’s charity fundraising which earned this invitation. After loosing much of his sight, her husband spent time making fudge and toffee which he sold, raising a substantial amount of money for charities relating to sight-loss. Barry
Mead - "Woodhorn Colliery 'Mining Memories'" (July 2007). Barry gave a very informative and interesting illustrated talk on mining in the North East, and the lives and conditions of those who worked in the mining industry. He contrasted the history with life in the North East today, where he has spoken to children who had never even seen coal. Joyce Swan - "Poems What I Wrote" (May 2007). Joyce entertained everyone with a selection of her poems from an extensive collection of her work. "Poetry" could sound stuffy, but Joyce's poems would make anyone love the genre. All her poems expertly observed "truisms" of everyday life and were very funny! Joyce has not published her poems to date, but hopefully she will in the future!
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