Aston and District W.I. Report

Our President, Glenys Inight, welcomed everyone to the meeting.

She told the members that there had been a full page in the Chronicle of our visit to David Wilson Homes.

Three members were attending the CFWI Autumn meeting at The Storyhouse, Chester. On October 20th

She also thanked the members who had come to our last committee meeting, to see how the W.I. works, and have agreed to join the committee.

Members were reminded of the zoom meeting on Tuesday 28th October at 7.00pm with Cas Holmes who is a Textile Artist.

There are to be two CFWI competitions – members are invited to write a 500-word story entitled “ A kind heart cannot look away” to reflect on what heart means to you. Entries to be in by February 7th 2026, so there is something to do on the long Winter nights. There is also a photography competition “4 seasons of the W.I.” to set 4 original Spirit of the W.I. across the seasons from Sept ‘25 to Sept’26.

Four of our members have been invited to Willaston W.I. on October 8th. The Speaker will be giving a talk entitled Secrets of Handwriting .

The Darts ladies are meeting on Tuesday 7th October at 10.30am at the home of Rosie Lomas.

Glenys then presented Rosie, as Bowls captain, with two shields, one for the team being W.I. winners of the Malbank Group competition and again as coming runners up in the CFWI bowls competition. Well done to all.

The Luncheon Club are to meet at The Farmers Arms, Ravensmoor on Friday October 10th – 12 noon for 12.30pm.

Members were reminded about The Moulton Glass workshop on Friday October 24th 2.00pm – 4.00pm

The Malbank Christmas Carol Service is to be held on Monday 1st December at Central Methodist Church, Nantwich . Members were invited to suggest a theme for the service.

Our Christmas Luncheon is to be held on Friday 12th December at 12 noon. Members were reminded to bring £27.00 to our November meeting.

Glenys then introduced our speaker Alison Long; our original speaker was unable to come to the meeting and Alison was a wonderful substitute. Her talk was entitled “ I was a disappointment to my mother”. Her own mother’s upbring had been in the days where children should be seen but not heard and education was a waste of time for girls! Her mother had been in service but as time went on this was expurged from her memory. Her father and uncle eventually set up a transport company A G Bird & Son in the hope that one of the brothers had a son to follow in their footsteps but her uncle had three daughters and when her mother became pregnant ,she would definitely have a boy and his name was to be William Alfred, the baby came early and was a girl – What a disappointment!!

As a youngster she was a real tomboy, her mother made her frilly dresses, which she hated – another disappointment. She was sent to Boarding school which she hated. On leaving school she left home as soon as she could and went to work on the railways. Her mother never understood loans and Alison having a “credit card” brought the family into disrepute. Her mother was a “Mrs Bucket” just like Patricia Routledge’s character. There were so many other stories, and laughter filled the room all through her talk. She ended by saying “what doesn’t kill you will make you strong” She was thanked by Barbara McMahon.

The competition for a cross was won by Irene Williamson.

We then had tea and cake, and the raffle was drawn. The end of an excellent meeting.

Our next meeting, our AGM, is on Friday November 7th at 2.00pm when our speaker will be Denise Fisher – a storyteller.

The competition is a poppy.

Visitors and new members are always very welcome.

For further information please look at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3461119860775431/

Jenny Bourne