November 2025

A Message from Kate

Last month was a fascinating insight into Mastermind-little did we know that one of our members could have also enlightened us! 

I would also like to pay tribute to Barbara Yates who has sadly died-she was one of our earlier Presidents

(jointly with Trish) and played a very important part in many aspects of our WI for many years. That is all I will say as there is an obituary in this newsletter.

This year has flown by and again it is time for our Annual Meeting. You will be receiving the Treasurer’s and Secretary’s report by email to give you time to study them before the meeting. They do, however, tell you that we are a vibrant WI with lots of subgroups and a healthy bank balance. If there are any subgroups you think we need to start, we are always ready to listen.  We also still need a volunteer to be our NECG representative. Please let me know if you are interested.

This year we have three of our hardworking committee members stepping down. Deborah has been our treasurer for the last six years. She has efficiently and effectively looked after our money and kept immaculate books which have been passed by the Financial Examiner. She has left everything in very good shape to be handed on to her successors. 

Ann has kept the minutes of both the committee and monthly meetings as well as being one of the craft group organisers. 

Karen was our social secretary for a long time, she is also our NECG representative and for the last two years has been our secretary.

Both Ann and Karen have in the past been part of the programme planning team. They are both highly efficient and reliable in all their roles.

All three will be greatly missed, Deborah will still be around to advise us if needed and will hopefully enjoy meetings in a more relaxed way. Ann and Karen are both moving on to pastures new, and I wish them all the best for their new lives and hope they find good WIs to join.

The rest of the committee are happy to continue and we do have two members who will be joining us. I am happy to continue as President for one more year, if members would like me to.

I look forward to seeing you at the Annual meeting and to tasting your loaf cakes. After the main business there will be a demonstration of CPR by Steve Turner, which fits in with our resolution and our charity.

Best wishes 

Kate

Birthday Greetings

Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in November

Yvonne, Lyndsay

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, 20th November

7.30pm

PLEASE NOTE-We have a full agenda at the meeting so would like to start the meeting earlier at 7.30pm. Please ensure you are signed in and in your seats by then.

Annual Meeting- The order of the evening will be as follows:

1.      Singing of Jerusalem

2. One minute silence for Barbara Yates

3. Ordinary business

4. The Annual meeting (Reports attached)

·   Appointment of new committee

·   Treasurer’s Report-Deborah

·   Annual Report-Karen

·   President’s Address-Kate

·   Election of the president-conducted by tellers

5. Break

6. Steve Turner-a demonstration of CPR

Competition-Bake a loaf cake. Please leave it whole and you will be responsible for cutting your own cake on the evening. Please bring a knife. Members will vote by placing a dot by their favourite.

Rota Volunteers-Refreshments-Pat F.  Door-Linda McD.   Raffle-Margaret L., Krys Meet & Greet-Julia, Chris Benson

Raffle

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.

October Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-37  Visitors-2   Income: Visitors-£10  Cake-£11 Raffle-£41

December Meeting-Christmas Social

December Competition-Create a winter scene composed in any medium. Maximum sixe A4.

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

Heatons WI News

Barbara Yates Obituary-Barbara was a stalwart member of the Heatons WI almost from its inception and was an active participant, being a past joint president and a North East Cheshire representative. She loved the social events and outings, attending many until failing health prevented her from doing so. Even then she took a keen interest in all WI matters.

She was a valuable and enthusiastic member of the quiz team and right up to the end could answer a tricky question or crossword clue.

Barbara participated fully in Book Club with her insightful comments and gained the reputation of being the only member to read every book to its conclusion when others of us fell by the wayside!

Barbara had a wonderful sense of humour, an impressive intellect and a very kind nature and as a keen baker she donated to every bake sale and otherwise generously supported our fundraising efforts.

The past few years were very difficult for her but she is, at last, at peace and will be laid to rest beside her mother in the Cambridgeshire village where she was born.

Rest in Peace Dear Friend.

Chocolate Tombola-We will be collecting chocolate at the next meeting on 20th November for the chocolate Tombola at the Heaton United church Christmas Fayre on Saturday 29th November. This is to raise money for our chosen charity, the Oliver King Foundation. Any items e.g. selection boxes, boxes of chocolates and chocolate bars would be gratefully received.  If you are not coming to the meeting you can drop them off at Trish’s house on Sunday 23rd November between 10am and 4pm or message her and she can arrange collection. Thank you once again for your continued support.

Christmas Raffle-Perveen is still looking for items for the Christmas raffle so she can make her wonderful hampers. She has plenty of toiletries but is need of chocolates, biscuits, decorations and bottles, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. All gratefully received. Many thanks.

Lunch Group-There has been a good response to the reforming of this group. It will start in January and will be organised through a WhatsApp group. There will be a signup sheet at the next few meetings so please add your name if you are interested. Alternatively please get in touch with Perveen if you cannot attend the monthly meeting but would like to be added.

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

Christmas Tree Festival- We are supporting St. Paul’s Church Heaton Moor with their Christmas Tree Festival. Approximately 30 trees will be on display from schools, businesses and community groups. The church will be open throughout December on Tuesday evenings, from 4.30pm to 6.00pm and Saturday mornings, from 9.30am to 11.00am (not Saturday 27th) and Saturday, 3rd January. Entry is free but the church would welcome donations towards a new accessibility ramp. Refreshments will be available. Come along and get into the Christmas spirit.

If you have any hats or gloves for our tree please bring them to the meeting this month or let us know and we will collect from you.

Saturday, 29th November-We are having a table at Heaton Moor United Church Christmas Fayre for a chocolate tombola to raise funds for our charity.

Wednesday, 10th December-Christmas Meal-This will be at Cure Restaurant, on the corner of Heaton Moor Road and Shaw Road, at 7.00pm. Please pay the balance of £21 to Perveen at this month’s meeting and you will also have to make your choices. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Perveen as soon as possible. The cost is £31 which includes a tip. Attached is the menu.

Cheshire Federation News

If anybody is interested in any Cheshire Federation activities please contact Angela at angelabritland@hotmail.co.uk

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.

NFWI News

Learning Hub-Here is a link to the WI Learning Hub where you can access a variety of courses for free

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: Snacks such as individually packed chocolate bars, cereal bars, breadsticks and crisps, packets of biscuits, sanitary towels, tinned meat e.g. ham, corned beef, tinned fruit, baked beans, tinned rice pudding, tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, peas, carrots), tinned tomatoes, rice, tinned soup, dried pulses (lentils, chickpeas), pasta sauce, sugar, shampoo, toothpaste (for adults and children), toilet rolls, soap (bars), cat food. They currently do not need cereal or pasta. 

The Children’s Society-The shop at Moor Top is in need of books, jigsaws, 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.