Aston & District W.I May Report

Our President, Glenys Inight, welcomed everyone to the meeting especially the members who had been in hospital recently and Chris Bailey our W.I. Advisor

After singing Jerusalem, she introduced our speaker for the evening, Mr Steve Booth whose talk was “The History of Staffordshire Oatcakes” He had taught History in a Secondary School and liked to let the pupils know about their local history which included the oatcakes. Oatcakes are made from the oat plant and Dr Samuel Johnson defined the oats in a memorable way in his dictionary “ a grain which is given to horses but in Scotland supports people”. Oatcakes started in the Moorlands, where it was difficult to grow wheat, so they sowed acres of oats. Oatcakes are made from Oats and Water kneaded together and put on a backstone ( small round griddle) to bake. They started off like our loaves of bread but as time went on became the flat ones we know today. The oatcake recipe was passed on from person to person and elderly widows would make them and sell them through their sash windows, known as” holes in the wall” to the factory workers, to make some money. Then the government stopped people selling through the “holes in the wall” and this was the beginning of the end of homemade oatcakes, as a factory could make them so much cheaper. One of the tales he told was of Lord Holdcroft who came to Burslem and tasted Mrs Arnold Bennett’s oatcakes and fell in love with them and she was asked to send some to his home in London every week and annually on Easter Monday he would come back to Burslem to pay her for them!! Today, we still eat oatcakes usually filled with bacon and cheese.

It was a very interesting talk, and he was thanked by Rosie Lomas.

The winner of the competition for a recipe using oats was Jackie Leigh.

We then moved onto the business, our president informed us of an event at W.I House on 18th July when new members could visit the house and meet the trustees and advisors.

Some members had asked if all our meetings could be held in the afternoon, instead of at present, half in the afternoon (Winter) and half in the evening (Summer). Chris Bailey oversaw the ballot and declared that the majority decision was to move all the meetings to the afternoon. This will now be implemented.

Ann, our treasurer, asked members to think about ideas for a fund raiser.

Ann will be hosting the NFWI Annual Meeting (via zoom) on Wednesday 4th June, and asked members to let her know if they would be attending.

Malbank Group: Diane reminded members of the visit to the Black Country Museum. The Autumn meeting is to be held on Tuesday September 16th and the speaker will be Lady Dodd (Wife of the late Ken).

Eileen Fleming has made our entry for the “Open Meeting” competition poster, and this will be sent to W.I. House. Thanks were given to Eileen.

The box for “The Blister Packs “ was put out and was filled to overflowing – who knew we all took so many tablets!! It will be put out again next month and then they will be sent to be recycled.

W.I. Darts Competition – we are entering and there is to be a practice at the home of Rosie Lomas on Wednesday 14th May at 10am.

Members were told of the Federation Monopoly Event to be held at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight on Friday 20th June.

The Walking Group are meeting at The Lion at Malpas at 10.30am on Wednesday May 7th followed by lunch.

Nantwich Show – we now have the schedule, and a meeting has been arranged for Wednesday May 14th at 11.00am at the home of Rosie Lomas. Members were asked to come along and bring their ideas.

An afternoon tea at The Bhurty has been arranged for Friday June 20th.

Irene informed members she had booked the workshop with Moulton Glass for Friday 24th October at 2.00pm. The cost £6.00 p.p.

The members then enjoyed tea and cake along with a competition to get as many 4 letter or more words from “Staffordshire Oatcakes”. This was followed by the raffle.

Our next meeting on June 6th at 7.15pm will be a V.E. celebration and the competition is for a war memento.

Visitors and new members are always very welcome.

For further information please look at our website:- www.astonanddistrictwi.org.uk

Jenny Bourne