Autumn is here ....
And WeyBay holds its Country Fayre.  A very successful Country Fayre was held in the October meeting, now in its second year.  The various categories of photography, patchwork and knitting, floral art, crafts, cakes, jams and drinks were well advertised in advance and attracted a lot more entries than the previous year.  They were congratulated by the judges Sarah Simpson, who judged the crafts and flowers and Neil Coad who judged the food and drink.  Sarah said after the meeting that the work was very creative and imaginative, and it was a pleasure to do the judging.  

The list of winners can be found in the minutes of the meeting on the Meetings 2019 page.

President Sheila Vogwell thanked everyone for their contribution and thanks must go to the committee for spending the day collating and exhibiting all the entries.  A lot of work but everyone agreed it was well worth the effort.

But WeyBay continues to enjoy a variety of meeting and outings. Twenty five WeyBay members enjoyed a fabulour trip to Ford Farm on the Ashley Chase Estate, makers of many cheeses but famously Coastal Cheddar. Ford Farm are now one of the biggest cheese producers in the country, all made by human had not a robot to be seen.
Some of it is Cave aged at Wookey Hole Caves, but they have since built their own huge cave in the hillside at Litton Cheney. The 200g and 400g wax-

coated Cheddar truckles are best sellers at Christmas and the Dorset Red, a mild, orange cheddar cold smoked over oak chips is a firm favourite with the local population. It is certainly worth checking out their on-line shop for Christmas present ideas. Thank you to Marisa for organising the outing.

Photo shows the group kitted out in matching head gear and jackets during the visit to the cheese making site.
DORSET FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING
Did you go to Dorset Federation’s 2019 Annual Meeting at the Lighthouse Poole in October? If not make sure you attend in 2020! 

This is the meeting held once a year and is necessary to read the Treasurers report and pass any notices pending as well as hearing a summary of Dorset Women’s Institutes activities from the Chair currently Marilyn Holehouse. To offset what can sometimes be tedious there are usually a couple of good speakers and this year didn’t disappoint.

The star of the morning session was (in your writer’s view) not the farmer James Cossens - though his talk of farming on his large North Dorset farm was certainly interesting - it was in fact three ladies from the Armed Forces Diversity Engagement Team. They are based at Sandhurst, are made up from the Army, Navy and RAF and certainly challenged our perception of females in the Armed Forces. Their presentation was slick, funny and informative and your writer thinks many ladies at the meeting will be encouraging their daughters and granddaughters to consider it as a career.

The main speaker in the afternoon was Tom Heap from the BBC's Countryfile.   He said he usually follows glamorous Ellie and hunky Adam to present the serious side of farming, so instead of Tom Heap they call him the Grim Heaper!  However, he gave an uplifting talk entitled Reasons to be Cheerful outlining what we are actually getting right in the countryside.

With a lively few numbers from Wyke Regis WI choir and a good few photos of Dorset WIs on the big screen it was certainly a good day and a date for your diary for next year. 
LAST CYCLE RIDE OF THE SEASON

Five WeyBay members met at the Palm House by Weymouth's inner harbour for the last cycle ride of 2019. They picked what turned out to be practically the only dry sunny day in October and cycled to the Boat That Rocked in Portland's Marina and back again. 

The photo from left shows Anne Marie Collins, Jan Summers, Bev Foster and Gill Stockley. Sandra Jones took the photo.
Many thanks to Jan for leading a variety of interesting, inclusive cycle rides mainly on cycle paths and always including a coffee stop.
If you would like to be included on Jan’s cycling emails please speak to Jan Summers at the meeting. She will email in the Spring when the cycling recommences.

A PACKED SUMMER

Weymouth has enjoyed one of the busiest remembered. And WeyBay has been out and about enjoying the sunshine.  The traditional summer beach party was a sell-out.  The WeyBay members meet at Greenhill on Weymouth's Esplanade alongside Aunty Vi's cafe.  They brought their own nibbles and beverages and were served a delicious paella.  

What a special place to meet up with friends.  Many thanks to the committee for organising this wonderful evening.  

On Wednesday 3rd July was the Annual Weybay bike ride. Seventeen members joined in this event. The weather was quite hot so a cooling breeze on the cycles was appreciated.  Some members cycled from Preston to join the start at the Palm House in Weymouth's inner harbour.  Jan Summers, the organiser, had to contend with cycle path being closed and quickly had to think of a different route.  The group cycled back to the sea wall for coffee and a chat, back on the bikes to Cove Pub, Portland for lunch.

A great day was enjoyed by all.  There is a Weybay cycling group that meets on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning.   For more information please speak to Jan Summers or make inquiries at the monthly meeting.

Autumn beckons and there are plans are in hand for the second October Fayre when members are invited to take part in this fun event.   Spending time by the beach or on a walk, members can take a photo for the photographic section Title "Beside the Seaside" which can be anything from views, wildlife, flowers, beach scenes etc.  Collecting berries or fruit? there is a section for jams and preserves, gin and wine.   The floral section is an arrangement theme title "Beside the Seaside", maybe find something interesting on the beach which could be added to your arrangement.  And there is a section for craft items and art work and cakes and baking. 

Other events being organised is a visit to Ford Farm at the Ashley Chase Estate at Litton Cheney on Wednesday October 9th and the traditional 'Trust Me You Can Do This Triathlon' on Saturday September 7th.  Check out the What's On pages for details and keep an eye out for other events coming up soon.

JOIN A GROUP
The ethos of WeyBay relies on members joining in and contributing to the programme.  These smaller groups are a good way of meeting other members in a relaxed way.  Find out what is happening by checking the website for updates and getting contact details from the monthly meetings.

The Spa book club usually have their August meeting outside and previous August meetings have been at Greenhill and Ringstead. This year was spent beside the lake at Littlebredy and a suggestion of a game of rounders was well received!  The game of walking rounders was harder than it sounds with teams penalised for running for a ball but the game was still a lot of fun with no balls or fielders ending up in the lake!

The game was followed by a scrummy picnic and they even managed to discuss this month’s book which was Michelle Obama’s Becoming.  This had mixed reviews - some felt Michelle’s account of her life and time in the White House was rather boastful but those who had bought the audio book read by Michelle Obama herself, really enjoyed it.  It is a long book so the audio is an easier option.  One book that all the book club enjoyed was Should You Ask me by Marianne Kavanagh. It was based around Wareham in the Second World War and we all loved the interesting story made even better by references to all the local places.  The current read which is proving a hit is a Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman.  Photo below shows the Book club and friend at the lake at Littlebredy.

On Wednesday June 26th seventeen members of WeyBay had a fabulous evening tasting 5 different wines with assorted cheeses. Carl from Delicious on Custom House Quay, Weymouth, showed them how to taste, smell and enjoy the different wines from varied countries. It is hoped to run another course later in the year.

On Wednesday 23 May, 13 ladies had a wonderful morning making Wheat and Lavender Wreaths with Catherine Nix from My Scented Home at the New Vic Bars.  
 
Eight  members of  Weybay WI walked from  Sandsfoot Castle along the Rodwell Trail to  Portland, stopping for a welcome drink at The Boat that Rocks at Portland Marina.  Members enjoyed  the walk in the sunshine taking in the beautiful views across to Portland.  The walk was led by Jo White, the organiser for this group.  If you are interested in joining please contact Weybay-WI@hotmail.co.uk or speak to Jo at the monthly meeting. 


The lunch club has become active again with a programme set for the rest of the year.  The WeyBay WI lunch/supper club met at the new Mexican Restaurant, Loco Lobo situated in The Cove in Weymouth harbour.  Ten members enjoyed a delicious lunch, wonderful Mexican dishes with lovely views to the harbour.  May's venue is the newly refurbished John Gregory pub.  Thank you to Anne Neil for organising this group.  

It might seem that there is an tendency to chatting eating and drinking in these groups and it has to be said, the meetings.  We make no apologies for that. WeyBay WI has always had an important proviso - that members enjoy themselves! 

THINGS TO DO
Have you checked out our Things to Do pages?  The WeyBay committee have been busy arranging trips and get-togethers for WeyBay's lucky members.  In the next weeks there are a cycling day in the New Forest and a visit to Morton Church planned as well as the monthly 'coffee mornings with a walk' and newly formed Lunch Club.  Keep an eye on the website to see what's going on or find out details from the monthly meetings.  

WeyBay members have joined an institution that was started 1915 and now has 205,000 members in 6,800 WIs.  It is the largerst voluntary women's organisation in the UK.  WeyBay is part of the Dorset Federation based in Dorchester. 

Each WI is self-governing within the framework of the WI constitution and rules.  

The WI is a diverse organisation open to all women with WIs in towns, cities and villages.

Denman College is an adult education centre in Oxfordshire run by the WI and courses run there are available to all members.

Regional events are organised and advertised in Dorset WI News which are handed out at meetings. 

Members have the opportunity to learn new skills, to take part in wide-ranging activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.  The possibilities are endless.
 
WeyBay WI adds one other important proviso - that members enjoy themselves!
 

Announcements

  • WEYBAY’S NEW YOGA and SOUNDBATH EXPERIENCE 15 of our members took up the whole new experience of Ashtang Yoga followed by a Sound Bath at Dorchester Yoga Centre last Sunday evening. Mark Winterburn taught us how ...
    Posted Oct 15, 2014, 4:47 AM by Sandra Jones
  • 2014 TRUST ME YOU CAN DO IT TRIATHLON Seven WeyBabes swam, walked and cycled in the second of the 2014 'Trust Me You Can Do It' Triathlon. The Triathlon was organised by Carolyn Lyness and started with a ...
    Posted Oct 6, 2014, 1:13 AM by Sandra Jones
  • EXPLORERS GROUP The third meeting of the Explorer group was on a breezy August Day and was organised by Carolyn Lyness.  She chose Worth Matravers in the Purbecks to explore and those ...
    Posted Aug 26, 2014, 1:16 AM by Sandra Jones
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