Trip to Alington Grange for Shaw & Whitley WI

Our meeting was opened by Sylvia our president, the minutes were read and signed.

Seventeen members and friends attended Alington Grange on Thursday 29th June, we went round the beautiful gardens, then we enjoyed tea and cake. Five of our members are going to see ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ this Saturday at Swindon, then on 19th August we are going to see ‘Lady in a Van’ at the Royal Theatre in Bath.

Two of our members, Lin and Marilyn, did their regular visit to Mavern house where they took a cake (which they made earlier) and then made one there, which went down well with a cup of tea.

Our speaker for the evening was Daphne Atkinson “Life below stairs” who showed a slideshow and talked about her mother’s experience starting work at the age of fifteen as a housemaid for the Marquis of Bristol at Ickworth House in Bury St. Edmunds, now owned by the National Trust.

This was an informative and interesting talk, which had been put together with such care from her mother’s letters, the work was hard the days long but she enjoyed her time there and all the staff were well fed.

Jackie then gave the vote of thanks, we finished the evening with tea and biscuits. There will be no meeting in August, but we will be having a coffee morning on 3rd August at the Reading Rooms, selling cakes and scarves and accessories.

The local toddler group will be having a table, so why not join us.

Carol Hughes.