Former CFWI Chairman and current Assistant Media Officer Sheila Goldsworthy writes a wonderful monthly WI column for The Cornishman. Here is Sheila’s April column.
It is with great optimism that we open the April issue of County News to find so many winning occasions to look forward to – now we just need the right weather to benefit from these events. However by 30 August, temperatures should have risen enough for us to relish a very special event. CFWI is planning a camping holiday, in their words, “like no other”. There will be something for everyone including outdoor activities, indoor events, crafts, competitions and above all fun. The weekend will be held at Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre on the south coast of Cornwall with views over St Austell Bay – an idyllic venue. The sea-themed weekend will include activities such as a beach walk and talk with Three Bays Wildlife, an artwork workshop with found beach items and a sea-themed book group discussion, as well as the opportunity to try out some stand up paddle boarding and kayaking. WI members are renowned for trying something different! The cost includes accommodation for two nights in shared bunkhouse style tents or timber pods, all activities (and any materials required) and all meals. The cost is £225 for the full weekend.
If a night under the stars is not for you, at least you can enjoy one of the renowned CFWI trips this summer, when we can appreciate the beautiful scenery of Dartmoor. This trip contains all the features WI members love, stunning scenery, coffee breaks, garden centre visits and of course retail therapy coupled with happy chats with our friends. Perfect. On Thursday 25 July, we leave Chy Noweth at 9am, travelling on to Cornwall Services. The next stop is Endsleigh Garden Centre for that coffee and a little spend. After travelling across Dartmoor to Yelverton, the next destination is the Garden House at Buckland Monachorum where there is a 10-acre garden in different themed areas – a gardener’s delight. There is also a café, bookshop, and plant sales. The final stop for the day will be Tavistock for a little exploration, leaving there at 5pm for the return journey. Cost of the day is £31.
The new resolution to be debated at the NFWI Annual Meeting at London in June, reads as follows: There is a chronic shortage of NHS dentists and people are suffering health issues as a result. The NFWI calls on the Government to increase investment in the training and retention of dentists and to review the current inadequate contracts, in order to insure everyone can access an NHS dentist wherever they live. We know to our cost that Cornwall is short of dentists so members can find out more about the pros and cons of this resolution by attending one of the Resolution Roadshows listed in County News. There have been several resolutions on dental health submitted in the past, the first in 1926 when it was thought scant attention was paid to the state of children’s teeth.
There is a very inspiring and thought provoking article about farming in the current County News. Many WI members are farmers or farmers’ wives and the sentiments expressed will resonate with them. Many who live in Cornwall are unaware what a high price is paid by the farming community to live, nurture and work on the land making this such an exceptional county.
There is also a plea from our farming friends across the waves. Thirty years ago the first Fairtrade products hit the shelves in the UK. By choosing those products, we have been part of decades of positive change driven by farmers receiving a fairer price for their hard work. Thirty years on, banana and cocoa farmers in particular still face huge challenges but, by combining support and farmers’ expertise, there are huge opportunities to make Fairtrade successful and tackle climate change, with a vital emphasis on confronting deforestation.
Friday 10 May (10am-12 noon) is the day of the County Chair’s Coffee Morning, this year held at the Shire House Suite in Bodmin. This is always such a cheery event with plenty to buy, plenty to eat and drink and, of course, plenty to talk about. This vital fundraiser is essential to help with the costs of the CFWI marquee at the Royal Cornwall Show, one of our red letter days of the year. Coaches have been organised to take members from the west and north of the county with a visit to Padstow in the afternoon.
There is more good news on the horizon. There is discussion on reforming WI Groups. For many years group meetings were highly anticipated and enjoyed, when we had the privilege to hear speakers from further a field and collaborated with neighbouring WIs for an absorbing evening.