WI Group meets in Audlem

WIs from the Malbank Group in South Cheshire and their visitors converged on Audlem last night (18th May) for their Spring Meeting and were enthralled by tales of life with Fred Dibnah.

Fred, awarded the MBE in 2004 for services to broadcasting, first entertained the public as a steeplejack and steam enthusiast. His garden became familiar to television viewers as, with his band of helpers, he worked on various projects to restore to life forgotten engineering gems.

His life was sadly cut short by cancer but he lived to receive his MBE from the Queen who was fascinated by his exploits as a steeplejack.

Other women found him fascinating too and he was married three times. His widow, Sheila, was the guest speaker at the Malbank Group Meeting and her vivid description of the climb up a 225 foot chimney in Bolton on one of their early dates was both terrifying and hilarious. Just hearing her account of going up that vertical ladder was enough to turn knees to jelly!

Life with Fred was never dull: it is not every bride who gets to honeymoon in a car park at Wigan Pier after a slow journey from Bolton in a favorite steam engine. One senses that Sheila would have taken it all with good humour. It was she after all who suggested that the tables at their wedding reception be decorated with golden spanners! The vote of thanks to Sheila Dibnah was given by Jennifer Jones from Willaston WI.

Trophies were presented by the new Group Chairman, Marion Proudlove, to Peggy Hankey from Audlem WI for winning the Dominoes competition, and to the following institutes:

• Hatherton and Broad Lane for winning the Darts competition with Audlem and Bridgemere in joint second place
• Scrabble winners Audlem with Willaston second
• Bridge to the joint team of Aston and Burleydam with Marbury second.

The evening's competition for a poker was won by Aston and District WI with Nantwich second and Burleydam third.

Both Marion Proudlove, and new secretary, Sue Thomas, took to their duties with aplomb and were thanked by Mary Diggle on behalf of the visitors. It had been a most enjoyable meeting.

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