Has Covid19 stopped Saddleworth WI? Absolutely not!!
Saddleworth WI knows how to make the most of a bad situation. Has Covid19 stopped them doing what they like to do best? Absolutely not!!
They still have their Monthly Meeting with Guest Speakers, the Book Group, Quiz Nights as well as a Tuesday Tiffin (just a chat with friends old and new) but now they meet on Zoom. They have also arranged a few small group walks which have been very popular. They refuse to be beaten by this virus and are still welcoming new members into their family of women.
Unfortunately, It has been impossible for Saddleworth WI to carry on with the planned calendar of Workshops, Events, Trips and Speakers. Many have been postponed or cancelled but the team has been busy putting together the diary for next year and already have in place the Guest Speakers for the first six months. Details of these will be published on the website and circulated to the members in the near future.
The August Members Zoom Meeting welcomed Misba Khan, who gave a fascinating talk about her experiences taking part in an “All-Woman expedition to the North Pole”. She talked about her training regime in Heaton Park, the desert and Iceland, the fundraising and the problems getting acceptance for her feat in her community. She showed slides of the trip and explained the many threats, particularly polar bears.
A documentary crew was filming the trip and Saddleworth WI will show the film later in the year.
September’s Members Meeting will see the members entertained and informed by guest speaker Andrew Nelson giving a talk entitled “Women in Art”.
The Walking Group is back in action, with small groups taking part in socially distanced walks and this is proving to be very popular.
The Book Group meet every month on Zoom and the newly formed Photo Group continues to post pictures on a weekly theme, such as Curves, Glass, Food and Pairs.
There is plenty going on for the members to get involved in.
SWI did plan to have an Autumn Fair this year but unfortunately had to cancel this. They wanted to show Saddleworth that their WI has moved with the times and wanted to showcase their organisation. They had started to plan this event, had the room booked and had gathered together a few ideas on how it would run. All is not lost, as they have now rescheduled this event for the Spring.
A trip to see Nutcracker at the Lowry theatre in November was in the diary but they were recently notified by the Lowry that this is being rescheduled for the same time in 2021. So they have that to look forward to next year!
Christmas may still seem a long way off, but it will be here before we know it. The Conference Centre in Harrogate hosts an annual Country Living Christmas Fair and Saddleworth WI have enjoyed visiting it in previous years. At the moment, the venue is being used as a Nightingale Centre, so it is impossible to say whether the Christmas Fair will go ahead. If it does, Saddleworth WI will arrange this very popular day out for the members.
Continuing to think about Christmas, this year they are hoping to host their own SWI Christmas Dinner and Dance at Saddleworth Rugby Club.
Saddleworth WI has plenty of other ideas in the pipeline, such as an evening at Caffe Grand Abaco, a Workshop at Saddleworth Cookery School, a trip to see Lion King, a visit to a Soap Opera Set, a Make-Up workshop for the more mature skin, a Fashion Show, and a Fish, Chips and Quiz Night. Something for everyone!
When things get back to ‘normal’ Saddleworth WI will meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 7.00 for 7.30 pm in the Oak Room of The White Hart, Stockport Road, Lydgate, OL4 4JJ. Visitors are very welcome with a small fee of £3. New members would be very welcome and from 1st October the fee would be just £10.75 for SIX MONTHS to the end of March 2021. The annual subscription will then be £44 for the following 12 months.
Contact us on 07763 028466 or visit us at www.saddleworthwi.com
