For the past several years, Crowlas & Ludgvan WI and St Mary’s Isles of Scilly WI have twinned, sharing visits back and forth and making lasting friendships. This year was the turn of the St Mary’s IOS members to welcome Crowlas & Ludgvan, and they did it in their typically warm and welcoming island style.
The trip provided the group from Crowlas & Ludgvan with not only a taste of the holiday-maker’s view of the islands but an insight into the life of those who call Scilly their home. From the moment the St Mary’s IOS members met the Crowlas & Ludgvan members from the boat, they were looked after extremely well. Whilst there, they enjoyed trips out including a visit to the recently added attraction of the camera obscura: a chance for a bird’s eye view of St Mary’s and an update on local gossip. A trip to St Agnes was wonderful despite the mizzle. The Museum gave the women a flavour of the history of the islands, their people and their fauna and flora.
Members were wined and dined not only at their hosts’ homes but at a couple of local restaurants which gave an opportunity to meet more of the Scilly Isles WI members who joined in for the meals out and other activities. A real highlight for the Crowlas & Ludgvan members was the opportunity to attend St Mary’s IOS’s monthly meeting and to hear speaker Will Wagstaff. The meeting was a very social event. Will’s talk detailed his work from Scilly to Antarctica and was accompanied by an excellent slideshow of the birds, sea creatures and landscapes of these places.
The Crowlas & Ludgvan members headed for home agreeing that the purpose of this trip was to seal the relationship between them and their Scilly neighbours, and a resolve to extend the hand of friendship to the St Mary’s IOS WI members whenever they venture to the mainland.
Why don’t we have a WI trip to Scilly?
Great suggestion, Margaret! It may be cost-prohibitive for a large group, but we can give it some thought.