Meeting Reports

August for our WI always means our annual outing, something we have done since our WI began in 1925. Our very first in that year was to Severn Beach and a new Pumping Station but this year it was a visit to the American Museum and a look around Bath. It is back to almost normal in September when we will be having a Fun Evening of Bingo which, judging by the last one, will be very enjoyable. Our speaker in October will be giving us a Blue Plaque Tour of Gloucestershire and there is a competition for an Autumn Decoration.

There are still things to look forward to before the end of the year, one is the Group Party in early October when the theme is a “beach party”, and we have a theatre visit to see That’ll be the Day at the Roses Theatre near the end of October. November always means it’s the AGM and the last meeting of the year in December is a Social Evening and American Supper. There are sure to be more interesting speakers in 2027 and anyone who would like to come along to any of our meetings, either as a visitor or new member will be made very welcome.

It was extremely warm for our July meeting and fans in various forms were flapping throughout the evening. Next month there will be no meeting as it is our annual outing to the American Museum and Bath and hopefully the weather will be cooler in September when we will be having a fun evening of Bingo. The Group Party in October has a beach party theme, something that would have been very welcome for this month!

Our speaker for the evening was Sue Dove with her talk Life and Times of an Adult Tutor. She told us that from the age of 11 she had wanted to be several things including a teacher, vet and song writer and when she grew up she did become a teacher and taught in many different places and to many different people. Adults with special needs, alcoholics and drug addicts and the unemployed all benefitted from her lessons that included drainage, (gained from a previous job) as well as the history of Cheltenham, health equality and diversity, cooking and convincing prisoners that even they had good transferable skills due to their illegal activities! To end her talk she asked for eight volunteers, gave them all a handbell and by pointing at them individually they managed a recognisable rendition of Jerusalem. Another enjoyable talk and our next one in October will be a Blue Plaque tour of Gloucestershire by Andrew Miller. If anyone would like to come along to any of our meetings, either as a visitor or new member they will be made very welcome. We meet at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of every month in Quedgeley Village Hall.

It was a sunny evening for our June meeting and after a rousing rendition of Jerusalem we heard the usual business. Last month’s Resolutions had been passed, the GFWI AGM had been broadcast over Zoom and the trip to Llanthony Priory had been enjoyed by those who went. Details were given for our August outing and we were reminded that the Group Party in early October will have a beach party theme. Our Lunch Club are enjoying meals at various places and we are still taking donations for Quedgeley Pantry.

Our speaker for the evening was Rachel Treweek, the Bishop of Gloucester. She gave a warning that she could “talk for England” but what she did tell us was very informative and enjoyable. She was born in Hertfordshire and in her family the church was part of her life. She wanted to write children’s books, be a doctor or teacher but she trained as a speech and language therapist at Reading University. She eventually went on to study at a theological college and in 1992 the church voted for women to be ordained as priests and Rachel was ordained in 1994. She worked in deprived areas of London and also with several prisons, progressing to Archdeacon then in 2015 became the first female Bishop of Gloucester with all the work it entails. This includes a seat in the House of Lords and she explained what it was really like and not what people thought it was as the Lords reviews legislation, holds the government accountable and contributes to debates. As Bishops have to retire at 70 it will be a few years before Rachel leaves her very busy post as Bishop of Gloucester. July will be rather different when the speaker will be talking about The Life and Times of an Adult Tutor with the competition being a saucy postcard!

May for WIs means Resolutions when members choose and vote on important issues on which they want the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to campaign. From equal pay to climate change, mental health and violence against women, over the past 100 years the WI have embraced a diverse set of challenges that has brought about a real change. This year there were two Resolutions to discuss, Accessible public toilet facilities to promote dignity, health and social inclusion and Action on women’s homelessness. Members vote and the results are taken to the Annual General Meeting and eventually go on to form the basis of a WI campaign.

We are nearly half way through the year but there are still plenty of things to look forward to, theatre trips, our August outing to Bath and the American Museum and more interesting talks. We have had an invitation to the Group Party which has a beach theme, heard a report on the GFWI AGM and then members voted on the Resolutions. Following all this we had an enjoyable Social Evening, with wine, nibbles and a General Knowledge Quiz. Who knew that the internet was created in the 1960s or that the strongest muscle in the human body is in the jaw?

It was a warm evening for our April meeting and after the singing of Jerusalem we heard that last month’s talk about the Midlands Air Ambulance had raised £114.37, there is a theatre trip at the end of this month and a tour of Llanthony Priory in June. Votes were taken on where we should go on our Summer Outing and Bath and the American Museum was the most popular choice. April means the payment of subscriptions so we will be ready for another entertaining year.

We saw the return of Paul Murphy with the second part of his talk on Charlie Chaplin. Paul is an excellent and amusing speaker, helped by the fact that he is experienced in amateur dramatics but also does many different talks, two of which we have already seen, the Von Trapp family and Sid James. We heard a lot of details of Charlie Chaplin’s life, from the workhouse to millionaire film actor, producer, director and writer of over 200 songs and music, a lot of talent from such an interesting character. As well as his very entertaining talks, Paul also covers step-by-step art lessons and magic shows so perhaps we will be having yet another visit from him in the future. In May there will be a discussion on the WI Resolutions followed by wine, nibbles and a quiz.

Magazines and pens were on our seats ready for our March meeting when we would be hearing about the Midlands Air Ambulance charity but first we heard the usual business. After celebrating our 101st Birthday Supper in February with the usual delicious food and puddings it was now back to normal. We were reminded that our WI subscriptions are due in April and that a theatre trip and tour to Llanthony Priory were both coming up. Of interest to any members who do craft work, WI House in Gloucester has lots of fabric to give away free to anyone who could make use of it.

The speaker was Nicole Beebee with her talk with videos on the Midlands Air Ambulance charity that began in 1991. With three air ambulances covering six Midlands counties including Gloucestershire, each year it costs in excess of £10 million to maintain the three aircraft and the provision of a lifesaving service with each mission costing an average of £2,950. Each aircraft carries a crew of a pilot, two paramedics or a paramedic and flight doctor plus full life-support equipment but the charity does not receive funding from the NHS, Government or National Lottery so relies entirely on the support and generosity of local people and businesses. They need to raise £16 million pounds every year and have responded to more than 67,000 missions, making them one of the busiest air ambulance services in the UK. Although our WI gave a donation many members also donated and received a free pen and the informative Take Off magazine where they can learn more about the charity.

The Village Hall was bustling and there were delicious smells coming from the food for our 101st Birthday Supper that we would all be enjoying after the usual business. We welcomed two visitors and heard about the Lunch Club and two trips, one to the theatre and another to Llanthony Priory, both coming up in the next few months. Thanks were given to Sandra Hughes for the excellent updating of our website which we hope will encourage more members to join our WI, the money that was donated instead of sending Christmas cards will be given to the Quedgeley Kitchen for their funds and two bookmarks were given to members who had been with our WI for ten years. The first competition of the year was for a homemade birthday card but, as we hold competitions several times a year, cash prizes and a trophy were presented to the winners of last year’s competitions. We were reminded that subs of £54 are due in April. Finally, on to the food which was baked potatoes and several different fillings along with salad and followed by the usual delicious puddings, all provided by the committee and other members. Thanks were given for yet another successful Birthday Supper. In March we will be hearing about the Air Ambulance Heart Defibrillator and we look forward to welcoming any new members or visitors.

Our first meeting of 2026 began on a sad note when we spent a few moments remembering one of our members who had recently passed away after a long illness. After the singing of Jerusalem we heard the usual business that included the discussing of the Resolutions, important issues on which they want the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to campaign. Two members were presented with bouquets and cards for there recent 80th birthdays and we heard about some upcoming visits to look forward to in the next few months.

Our talk for the evening was on the Gloucester Men’s Shed, an Australian concept that was started in 1990. When it was realised that the effect would get men doing things where they can pursue hobbies and learn new skills and more importantly get men talking, the idea spread to other countries. The Gloucester Men’s Shed, originally called the Kingsway and Quedgeley Men’s Shed changed its name and now welcomes members from several parts of the county. The ages range from men in their 70s to the youngest at 26. Many wooden items are made including planters, bird and hedgehog boxes for rescues, memorial plaques and benches, some of which can be seen around our local area. Next month is our 101st `Birthday Supper when we will be celebrating with the usual delicious food and puddings.