Last updated 11:38, Friday, 11 July 2008

Wild West ALLENDALE enjoyed an energetic evening when Valerie Sparkes visited at the May meeting. She demonstrated a number of dances before inviting members to join in.

There appeared to be a disproportionate number of left feet at the beginning but soon many ladies were following the simple routines and clapping and stamping – more or less – in time to the music.
Supper followed the Western theme with chicken legs, sausages and beans washed down by ginger beer. Prizes were awarded to the best dressed cowgirls and Indians.

AT THEIR last meeting Acomb members were entertained by John Cox with a programme of music and readings ranging from “Country Gardens” by Percy Grainger to an amusing poetic plea by Pam Ayres to avoid ad hoc kissing of acquaintances in the street – “It’s a very dodgy habit we’ve imported from the French”. 
Other highlights were one of school inspector Gervase Phinn’s anecdotes about judging a poetry competition, “The Gardener’s Hymn” (“All things paraquatable, the Lord God made them all”), and Aaron Copeland’s music for “Appalachian Spring”.

ON MAY 14, Andy Snell gave a tasty demonstration of Asian Cookery to Stamfordham.THE May meeting at Dilston was a sad occasion as the pianist of many years Eva Heslop retired. All the members wish her well.
Originally from New Zealand, Andy has developed an interest in exotic food.
Armed with a wok and two hot plates, he deftly cooked three spicy dishes. A seafood salad of squid, prawns, fennel and water chestnuts with a delicious dressing containing Thai fish sauce, followed by a Chinese chicken dish cooked with, soy sauce, five spice and a plant called galmgngal, and finally a fresh mussel stew with coriander and a sweet chilli sauce.
Whilst chopping and stirring he regaled us with tales of his travels as well as tips for cooking some of the ingredients.
Barbara Irvine

The May meeting at Dilston was a sad occation as the pianist of many years Eva Heslop retired. All the members wish her well. Members discussed Kirkley WI who were coming later in the month for a tour and talk about Dilston Castle and then afternoon tea in the hut.
The guest speakers were home grown talent as two of the members Margaret Sprout and Mo Lucas gave a flower arranging demonstration. Many thanks for a lovely evening.
Ann Hogg

AT THE May meeting of Hedley on the Hill members voted on one of the two resolutions put forward by the federation. Margaret Chambers then welcomed Mrs Longi from the Association of Country Women of the World, who told us how much the people working in the association had done, raising money and helping underprivileged rural communities worldwide to gain access to water, providing sanitation, and increasing food production.
ACWW also promotes education, health and nutrition schemes, thus raising the standard of living in the communities.
Wendy Chalbly won the raffle and Gillian Mason the competition. Arrangements were made for the group meeting at Snods Edge and the July visit to Chester’s Gardens was discussed.

MICKLEY'S meeting in May was a mixture of homely fun and business, where members and visitors alike joined in.
The visitors, Joan Sawyer, Liz Christopher, and Barbara Young, all gave a useful contribution to the evening.
Members had their annual beetle drive. Elsie Osborne and Jean Pescod were joint winners. Dot Pattinson won the booby prize. Margaret Bateman and Isobel Ashworth won the raffle.
The serious business of the evening was the issues raised by the resolutions to be discussed at the AGM. The issues are: the improper imprisonment of the mentally ill, and to ban bottom trawling in sea fishing.
There are two sides to each issue: the moral or ecological one and the realistic or material one.
Jean Pescod