Former CFWI Chairman and current Assistant Media Officer Sheila Goldsworthy writes a wonderful monthly WI column for The Cornishman. Here is Sheila’s May column:
Maltesers are good for you. This is surely good news for those of us who have fallen in love with those “non-fattening centres”, the well-known advertising phrase from many years ago. Maltesers are made by Mars who also make the delicious Mars Bar, and they have completed a very worthwhile contract with Fairtrade, thereby helping the cocoa farmers in their goal to assist their communities. Ten years of working together with Mars to sell their cocoa on Fairtrade terms has already delivered a fairer deal for thousands of cocoa farms, backing their efforts to drive positive change in their areas. Now their further aim is to promote and deepen the long steady partnership of Mars and Fairtrade set to reach 5,000 farmers in the coming five years. When you choose Fairtrade chocolate you know that farmers and workers who produced the cocoa are receiving an additional premium on top of the price of their crop which they can invest in their villages and use to fight the effects of poverty and climate change. Whatever your Fairtrade treat of choice is, and there is an overwhelming selection, it is all about choosing a fairer future where people behind our food production and goods can earn enough to both take on the climate crisis and meet their basic needs
Excitement is growing concerning all the Platinum Jubilee events scheduled to take place this summer. WI members always enjoy a Garden Party and the Federation Garden Party being held at Tregrehan Garden in Par, on Saturday 2 July, from 2.00-5.00pm promises to be a convivial affair. As well as the usual delicious refreshments, there will be music, fun and games for everyone with free admission for children under the age of 10. Entry tickets (only £3!) may be bought in advance or purchased on the day. An added attraction is the opportunity to hire a stall, to raise funds either by having a sales table or by running a game. The cost of the stall is £10. A 6’ table will be provided but you must bring your own chairs. For further information contact the CFWI office. This will be such a red letter day, and the highlight of the WI summer.
Further Platinum news, but first you have to start knitting! To honour the Queen’s long standing relationship with the WI, members are being asked to knit a corgi named WIinnie and hide her in their local community as a fun surprise for others to find and keep. These can be left in parks, on walking trails, community centres, benches or beaches. The lucky recipients will be able to log their find on an interactive map on the NFWI website. The knitting pattern can be found in the March edition of WI Life, with full details of this competition, and there is a winner who qualifies for a prize! The Queen will surely be delighted to welcome a whole nation of knitted corgis to further celebrate her special year.
The Royal Cornwall Show is almost here; such a joy, after a disappointing time of years without the Show. The WI Marquee will again be exhibiting our members’ talents, and all that is captivating and thought-provoking. Furthermore, the Federation stall this year will include handmade items, knitted, quilted, patchwork, painted, wood-working embroidered, ribbon work, painted pebbles jewellery, pokerwork, metal work – anything that shows off WI members’ handiwork.
Members have now been informed that Denman has been sold. While many will feel very sad that this stage of WI participation is over, we can be very pleased that it is to become a family home again, with the purchaser having a family connection to Marcham Park, the previous name of the estate, where they will now live. Cornish members have spent so many happy times there especially when the Cornwall Federation took over Denman for several days, travelling in a double-decker, giving those members who would otherwise not been able to go, an opportunity to participate in a variety of educational courses, enjoying the renowned “Denman Experience”. We shall always remember the wonderful opportunities and memories that Denman gave us and now wait to hear what the next chapter will be.