Burleydam WI meeting

Burleydam and District WI met on the 6th October.

We are used to government regulations that require businesses to record accidents and dangerous occurrences and probably, by now, what sort of sandwiches their workers bring for lunch.

Little Moreton Hall, however, has a logbook with a difference. They record ghost sightings! Jean Williams, who spent some years as a guide at this National Trust property near Congleton in Cheshire, talked of many things that visitors to such houses may not realise.

As well as the ghost, apparently seen by a child during one of Jean's tours, she had to contend with six hungry geese who enjoyed joining visitors' picnics and film and television companies who find this Tudor Cheshire gem an irresistible setting for their period dramas.

Social historyJean had previously visited Burleydam to talk on History Roots and her knowledge of social history is impressive. Her upbringing as a farmer's daughter on a Cheshire estate, and the sense of loss she felt when that part of her life as a farmer's wife came to an end with their farm tenancy, gave her the spur to write a book.

The Gentle Ribbon was written in longhand and when it was finished was put away in a cupboard. Fortunately, Jean was encouraged by friends and family to retrieve and publish it. Written as a fiction but based very much on her great grandmother, grandmother and mother, it tells the story of their lives in rural Cheshire as told to Jean as she was growing up.

Members also heard about the Cheshire Federation Autumn Meeting which had taken place that day and were encouraged to respond to the Government's Great Care Debate on the proposed structure and funding options for care for the elderly and disabled.

The competition for "My Favourite Brooch" was won by Ann Rutter, 2nd Mary Stevenson and 3rd Liz Gentil.

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