February 2026

A Message from Kate

I think we all learned something new about the Heatons at January’s meeting during Phil Page’s fascinating talk. He has offered to come again anytime, so we may well take him up on that offer in the future. It was good to see so many there at our first meeting of 2026.

We have just completed the plans for the 2026/27 programme which will be revealed at the February meeting. 

As you know we have been consulting you about whether to continue with competitions, the overwhelming majority of those who voted did not want competitions anymore, so next year there won’t be any. We have however decided that we will still have a cake challenge in November, but it will not be a competition-more will be explained nearer the time. 

The committee have agreed to award 4 more bursaries this year. These will be drawn at the May meeting, so think about what you might want to spend a bursary on-it can be spent on anything that can be described as educational.

This month’s meeting has been organised by Sally, Linda and Ann and is crafts which should appeal to all and also should be fun. I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes 

Kate

Birthday Greetings

Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in February

Pat M., Liz R., Krys, Trish, Perveen, Jan

IMPORTANT NOTICE-Register and Evacuation Procedure-It is important that you sign in BEFORE finding a seat at the beginning of the meeting. This is for your safety as, if we have missed adding you to the register and we have to evacuate the building, we will not have an accurate record of who is in attendance. This also applies if you arrive late or leave the meeting early. Please let Linda McD. know (or Sally in Linda’s absence). Our evacuation meeting point is on the field opposite the car park entrance.

Monthly Meeting

Thursday, 19th February

7.30pm

Spring Crafts-Decorating wooden heart key rings and making paper hearts-this fits in well with the resolution and our chosen charity.

The Heatons WI Show-Theme ‘THE SEASONS’

Please label your items with your name.

The categories are as follows 

·       Photograph of a native British animal or bird (incl. pets)-this needs to be a physical photo

·       Painting or drawing with a nature theme.

·       A knitted or crocheted item.

·       Yarn craft – embroidery, tapestry, needle felt etc.

·       Paper craft – greeting card, origami, collage etc.

·       An upcycled / recycled item.

·       Sewing – any item.

·       Baking – biscuits

·       Small flower display

·       A short poem 

Competition- None

Rota Volunteers- Door-Chris Benson   Cake-Pat F.   Raffle-Anna, Diane   Meet & Greet-Emma, Margaret L.

We would be grateful if those of you on meeting duties please arrive by 7.15pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Linda McD. so that she can send out an email to fill the slot. Thank you.

January Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-37  Visitors-2   Income: Visitors-£10   Raffle-40

Cakes-£11

March Meeting-Speaker Jackie French will talk about ‘CSI in Reality’.

March Competition-Name and describe a new Cluedo character.

Reminder-The bar at the Sports Club is card only. Please note that tap water is freely available from the bar.

Heatons WI News.

The Lunch Hour-Our first Lunch Hour meeting was a great success with fourteen of us enjoying a meal at the Moor Top. If you are interested in joining the group please get in touch with Perveen.

Food Hygiene Certificate-We are looking for volunteers to complete a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate. There are free courses available on line so you would be able to complete it in the comfort of your own home. Please speak with a member of the committee for further details.

Standing With Giants Poppies- Request for WI Support with Poppies for 2026. Please bring your poppies to the February meeting and give to Kate Y. or let a committee member know if you are unable to attend the meeting and we will make arrangements for you to drop them off.

·       Knitted or crocheted poppies are welcome.

·       There is no specific pattern or size required — members are welcome to knit or crochet in any style they choose.

·       Poppies should be red (any shade of red is absolutely fine)

·       Where possible, they kindly ask that pure acrylic wool is used, as it offers the best colour retention for outdoor display. They understand this is sometimes referred to as solution-dyed acrylic, where the dye is locked into the fibre during manufacture and is much more fade-resistant

The Royal Cheshire County Show 2026-The theme this year is “4 Seasons”. If you would like to enter and for more information please contact Sally. You do not have to let her know what you are doing just the section you would like to enter.

Raffle Prizes-We are always in need of prizes for our monthly raffle. If you have any new and unused items to donate please see Perveen. Please note that if you bring an item to the monthly meeting it will not go into that evening’s raffle. Perveen will hold it over until another meeting.

Heatons WI Events

Barbara Yates Memorial Service-Please note the change of time from 10am to 10.30am. All are welcome.

Saturday, 27th June-Save the date. Trip to Harrogate. More details to follow.

North East Cheshire Group News

If anybody is interested in any NEC Group activities please contact Angela S. 

Tuesday, 21st April-Spring meeting. Poynton Civic Centre at 7.00 pm for a 7.30pm start. The speaker is Olivia Potts who was a criminal barrister and is now a food writer and baker. Tickets are £6 (limited) and are available from Angela S. at this month’s and March’s meeting.

Cheshire Federation News

If anybody is interested in any Cheshire Federation activities please contact Angela.

CFWI Virtual WI-If anyone is interested in joining, as a dual member, or has a friend who would be interested in finding out more, please contact Angela.

Cheshire News-If you would like a hard copy of this please let Linda.

Saturday, 21st March-Green Dot Day 2026. Join the Cheshire Climate Ambassadors at WI House, Chester 10am to 3.30pm. Cost £10. Closing date 10th March. A ballot will be held if oversubscribed.

Monday, 23rd March-Spring Council Meeting at Nunsmere Hall, 10.45-3.15. Doors open at 9.30am. Speakers are The Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Sherin Akhtar who will be talking about her career, role and chosen charity, Chester Women’s Aid and Will Kirk best known for being part of the expert team  on BBC’s ‘The Repair Shop’. Tickets are £10 and the closing date is Friday, 27th February.

Thursday, 23rd April-Hat Works Museum Tour and Afternoon Tea at Stockport Plaza. Meeting at Stockport Hat Museum at 10.30am followed by afternoon tea at 1.00pm. The cost is £22.50. Closing date 25th March. A ballot will be held if oversubscribed.

Tuesday/Wednesday, 16th/17th June-The Royal Cheshire Show. Special offer tickets £25 (normal price £37.50). The offer is valid until 15th May. There will be a signup sheet for the next few months. Please see Sally for more details and to make payment.

Friday 26th-Monday 29th June-Wild in Fylde. This camp will be at Fylde Scout Activity Centre and costs £75. Booking opens on 14th February. Please see Angela B. for further details.

Member’s Notice Board

If you have a notice you would like to be included in the Members’ Notice Board section of the newsletter, or know of any local events other members may be interested in please send details to Linda McD. 

St Martin’s Foodbank-1st Wednesday of the month. Please drop off at Kate J’s house. There will be a box for donations on the drive if the weather is dry or in the porch if wet, from 10am until the evening. URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS: Long life fruit juice, long life milk, tins of coconut milk, biscuits, tinned meat e.g. ham, corned beef, tinned chickpeas, tinned potatoes, shampoo, long life sponge puddings, toothpaste (for adults and children), tooth brushes. Other requested items-snacks such as individually packed chocolate bars, cereal bars, breadsticks and crisps, sanitary towels,  tinned fruit, baked beans, tinned rice pudding, tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, peas, carrots), tinned tomatoes, rice, tinned soup, dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas), pasta sauce, sugar, toilet rolls, soap (bars), cat food.  

The Children’s Society-The shop at Moor Top is in need of books, jigsaws, DVDs and CDs. If you are having a clear out please could you take them to the shop where they will be gratefully received.

Recycling 

RNIB Stamp Collection-Shirley Shaw is collecting used postage stamps for the RNIB. She will bring boxes to WI meetings for members to put their used postage stamps in. You will need to separate UK mainland from the rest of the world, including Isle of Man, Jersey etc. Shirley will collect and send them to the RNIB, who get £20 per kilo.

B&Q is recycling plastic plant pots, small electrical items, batteries, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes

John Lewis is recycling duvets and pillows.

Superdrug Pharmacy at the top of Merseyway Shopping precinct is collecting empty medicine blister packs.