Abbey Gates WI [Ravenshead] and the WI Centenary Baton Handover, June 2014
As a precursor to the centenary of the WI in 2015 a WI Centenary Baton is being passed between every WI in the country, in June it made it to Nottinghamshire and having already travelled some distance around the county it arrived in the village of Ravenshead on Sunday 15th June 2014.
Our WI unanimously decided that the most appropriate place for Abbey Gates WI to receive the baton from Ravenshead WI [our fellow WI in the village] would naturally be across the road at the gates of Newstead Abbey, once home to Lord Byron. This was duly done with the baton handed over by Marjorie Eyre, Ravenshead's oldest member and appropriately a dual member with Abbey Gates. The baton was received by Abbey Gates WI's longest standing member, Margaret Bingham and its newest member, Kate Richmond.
After posing for photographs at the gate everyone quickly got into their cars and drove into Newstead Abbey to reassemble at the car park. It had been suggested that Abbey Gates WI processed in all its splendour from the entrance gates to the Abbey front lawns where we were due to hand the baton over to Newstead WI. However for those of you who don't know its a fair distance between the gates and the car park so very sensibly we decided to drive [we certainly didn't want to arrive hot and sweaty for our photo shoot with Newstead did we!]. We did have a "mini" procession from the car park which was fun and then handed the baton over to Newstead WI outside the original façade of the Abbey.
Afterwards we celebrated with a "bit of a drink" in the sunshine and wished the baton well on its continuing journey.
Our WI unanimously decided that the most appropriate place for Abbey Gates WI to receive the baton from Ravenshead WI [our fellow WI in the village] would naturally be across the road at the gates of Newstead Abbey, once home to Lord Byron. This was duly done with the baton handed over by Marjorie Eyre, Ravenshead's oldest member and appropriately a dual member with Abbey Gates. The baton was received by Abbey Gates WI's longest standing member, Margaret Bingham and its newest member, Kate Richmond.
After posing for photographs at the gate everyone quickly got into their cars and drove into Newstead Abbey to reassemble at the car park. It had been suggested that Abbey Gates WI processed in all its splendour from the entrance gates to the Abbey front lawns where we were due to hand the baton over to Newstead WI. However for those of you who don't know its a fair distance between the gates and the car park so very sensibly we decided to drive [we certainly didn't want to arrive hot and sweaty for our photo shoot with Newstead did we!]. We did have a "mini" procession from the car park which was fun and then handed the baton over to Newstead WI outside the original façade of the Abbey.
Afterwards we celebrated with a "bit of a drink" in the sunshine and wished the baton well on its continuing journey.
Abbey Gates WI [Ravenshead] supports the Nottinghamshire County Show
May 10th 2014
Pam Stoddart, a member of Abbey Gates WI was very heavily involved in the 2014 Nottinghamshire County Show, it would be hard for her not to be as she is now the Chair of the Nottinghamshire Federation Ag Show Committee! However several other members also volunteered their services and Abbey Gates "did them proud" doing whatever was needed with gusto and cleaning the café tables until they virtually shone. It was hard work but great fun plus there was also the chance to look around the show when stints of duty were finished.
Abbey Gates WI [Ravenshead] celebrates it's 66th Birthday
May 6th 2014
Yes Abbey Gates has reached the ripe age of 66yrs and as we are now being told that 60 is the new 40 we are clearly still in our prime! to celebrate our birthday Linda Blackledge, programme organiser arranged a three course lunch in the fine dining restaurant at West Notts College. The students who prepared and served the meal certainly rose to the occasion, the food was delicious, the service was excellent and the company was good. Thanks Linda.
