October 2026

A Message from Kate

It was good to see so many members enjoying the talk about the Manchester Blood Bikes-it was fascinating and we all learnt a lot, including the fact that they get no government funding. 

The Cheshire Federation Autumn Meeting in Chester was an uplifting experience. The speakers (Dr Mark Williams and Baroness Floella Benjamin) were both excellent and emotional and we were also entertained by the Chester Rock Choir. If you get a chance to attend one of these events I would certainly recommend it. The six of us that went enjoyed ourselves immensely.

It is our annual meeting in November. If anyone wants to join the committee please talk to one of the existing committee members to find out what it entails. New members are important to bring in new ideas.

October’s meeting is Mark Nyman talking about ‘Happy Scrabbling’, which should be fun. I look forward to seeing you there

Best wishes

Kate

Birthday Greetings

Many happy returns to members celebrating their birthdays in October

Angela B., Sally, Kate Y., Anna, Angela S., Lesley 

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, 15th October

7.30pm

Speaker-Mark Nyman “Happy Scrabbling”.

Rota Volunteers- Door-Marie   Cake-Lynda  Raffle-Chris B, Kate J.  Meet & Greet-Ann L., 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.

Raffle

September Meeting Report-Attendance: Members-31   Visitors-2   Income: Raffle-£36  Door-£10  Cakes-£11

November Meeting-Annual Meeting and Wreath Making with Victoria of Blue Door Flowers.

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

Heatons WI News.

Future Payments-Now we have our new online bank account set up, our preference would be for you to pay for future events by BACS. We will still take cash/cheques but it is easier for our treasurers if payments are made online. 

The important thing would be to put in the right reference e.g. Chatsworth Trip. You will always be told what the reference should be. If you pay by cash or cheque, you must put them in an envelope with the amount, your name and what it is for. 

New Book Group-Change of Day-This will now be on the second Wednesday of the month meeting at the Moor Top at 7.30pm. For further details please contact Perveen, or Sue W..

Advance Notice-Drop off arrangements for donations of chocolate for the chocolate tombola at the Heatons United Church Advent Fayre on 21st November in aid of our chosen charity are as follows-

From November 1st to any member of the Fundraising Team

Sunday November 15th between 12noon and 5pm at Trish Campbell's house, or Sue Johnson's house. 

At the meeting on 19th November.

Christmas Tree Festival-After last year’s success we are again organising the festival at St. Paul’s Church. It will be open on Saturdays and Sundays running up to Christmas between 12noon and 3.00pm, starting on 5th December. We have offered to help on Saturday, 12th and would like to ask members to volunteer. There will be a signup sheet at this month’s and November’s meetings. Our tree will be decorated with items for the children who use the Transport for Sick Children charity-small soft toys for the younger children, approximately 6 inches, and key rings for the older ones. We are hoping to make teddies etc. and are asking members if they could help us in this-there are a lot of children! We can provide yarn and toy stuffing, which must meet EN71 (European toy safety) or BS5852 (flammability) standards.  If you would rather buy these we are asking that the soft toys are no bigger than 6 inches. Please speak with Sally or Linda McD. for further details.

Pens for Sale-We will be selling the surplus pens bought for our birthday at the monthly meetings. They will be £1.50 each.

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

Friday, 16th October-Fundraising for Transport for Sick Children. 1.30pm-3.30pm at the Moor Club, Heaton Moor Road. Cakes, a raffle and a table top sale. Drinks available for purchase. If you are unable to attend but would like to buy raffle tickets, at £1 each, please put the money in an envelope with your name and the amount enclosed and hand it to somebody who will be attending. All are welcome. Please come along to support our charity for this year.

Dates for Your Diary

Thursday, 26th November-There are still 6 places available on the trip. Chatsworth Trip. The cost is £20 which can be paid with cash or by Bacs, reference Chatsworth Trip. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Perveen to add your name. This has now been opened up to female friends and family. We will leave at 9.30am and be back at approximately 6.00pm.

Wednesday, 2nd December-Christmas Lunch at Cure. A £10 deposit is required by the October meeting either with cash or by Bacs, reference “Xmas lunch”

Wednesday, 9th December-Christmas Dinner at Cure. A £15 deposit is required by the October meeting either with cash or by Bacs, reference “Xmas Dinner”.

Please pay deposits by the October meeting, preferably by Bacs to our new account.

Further details of all three events will be available nearer the time.

If paying with cash please put money in an envelope with your name, the event and the amount.

North East Cheshire Group News

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

Tuesday, 10th November-Autumn Meeting.  7:30 pm at Poynton Civic Hall. The speaker is Lesley Smith with her presentation of Florence Nightingale, one of the most influential women of the Victorian age. This fascinating portrayal explores her courage, conviction and extraordinary vision that changed the future of healthcare forever.

Many of you may have previously seen Lesley’s presentations of Boudicca, Queen Elizabeth I or Sex and the Tudors.

Tickets – costing £6.00 – will be available at this month’s meeting. As Lesley Smith is a very popular speaker, it’s suggested to buy your tickets early! Please place cash in an envelope with your name, the event and amount.

Cheshire Federation News

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

Details of all of these activities have been sent out previously by email.

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 B. 

Wednesday, 22nd October/Tuesday 10th November-Artificial Intelligence (AI) Virtual Training.

Thursday, 19th November-A Morning of Festive Fun, Japanese Kokodama. 10.00am-12.00noon at Byley Village Hall. Tickets are £30. Closing date-19th October.

Thursday, 19th November-An Afternoon of Festive Fun, Sugarcraft Decorations. 1.00pm-3.00pm at Byley Village Hall. Tickets are £15. Closing date-19th October.

Tuesday, 1st December/Thursday, 3rd December/Saturday 5th December-“Open House at Christmas” at White Friars, Chester. 10.30am-12.30pm or 1.00pm-3.00pm.Tickets are £5 and include tea/coffee and a bacon bap (plant based and gluten free options available). Closing date-30th October.

Digital Friend-We are looking for a member to take on this role. You would be a contact for our WI who helps others with everyday digital tasks, such as joining online meetings etc. You would have support from the Website and Social Media team at Cheshire Federation. Please let Linda know at lindawi0604@gmail.com if you would be interested.

NFWI News

The WI Diary 2027 is now available to order from the WI Shop. The diary has a RRP of £6.99. This year's diary features beautiful cover artwork by WI member and artist Paula Milner (The Crafty Lass) of Boddington WI, Northamptonshire Federation. The slim pocket diary is perfect for staying organised on the go and includes a week-to-view format, detailed calendars, and additional pages for notes and telephone numbers.  https://shop.thewi.org.uk/

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 Mc.D

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, tinned rice pudding, tinned tomatoes, toothpaste (for adults and children), toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, cat and dog food, carrier bags. 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),  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.