Constantine Cornwall

Well what a Summer! Hopefully you are all getting accustomed to the ever changing guidelines regarding lockdown, the gradual easing of lockdown, when and where to wear masks and what we all can and cannot do.

Sadly many of the WI activities have been, shall we say, ’postponed’ rather than cancelled. The WI have been active in a number of areas though.

Well what a Summer! Hopefully you are all getting accustomed to the ever changing guidelines regarding lockdown, the gradual easing of lockdown, when and where to wear masks and what we all can and cannot do.

Sadly many of the WI activities have been, shall we say, ’postponed’ rather than cancelled. The WI have been active in a number of areas though.

Some members have been sending letters to care home residents, almost like one way penpal letters. This activity has continued throughout lockdown and feedback received suggests the letters have been warmly received in these unsettling times.

Members have been staying in touch via chain emails, sharing funny stories, very crea- tive poems and stories about where they’ve managed to visit and other activities. Like a lot of the country many have been using the down time to do a lot of walking and gardening.

One of our WI members, Shelly, runs a local flower farm Jam Pot Flower Co and has very kindly been delivering beautiful arrangements to members picked from a hat. They have been very much appreciated.

The expected easing of restrictions prompted members to plan this year’s Summer Lunch and many members were looking forward to visiting Trenarth Manor. Sadly at the the eleventh hour, a halt was put on the lockdown easing and this was another event postponed for the time being.

Guidance received on the use of the WI hall suggest there will be no WI meetings until the New Year unless the guidance changes.

Patricia Wilson

Our last meeting before lockdown was on 9th March. Our guest speaker was Lynn Kentish (pictured here) and she showed us how to make a willow heart. It was a good fun evening with something to show for it, at the end.

Our last meeting before lockdown was on 9th March. Our guest speaker was Lynn Kentish and she showed us how to make a willow heart. It was a good fun evening with something to show for it, at the end.

The W.I. was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation’s aims have broadened and the W.I is now the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK. The W.I. plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. Constantine W.I. was formed in 1951.

Constantine W.I. puts community at its heart. We run Soup and Pud meals from September to April on the last Monday of the month, which is very well attended by the village. We have a village craft and chat Club every week. Our knitters are in the Primary school teaching the children to knit. There are currently on-line craft and art classes and some of our ladies are making face masks.

Apart from the monthly meetings, when we have a wide range of speakers, from the Dynamics of DNA to gin production (that was a good evening – many samples). We organise monthly walks, lunches in different pubs and cafes, and outings. For example, last year a river Fal trip with pasty supper and The Christmas lights tour with a meal at the Meadery in Penzance. Friends and husbands were invited.

We help at charity and fund raising events collaborating with other organisations in the village, like the Bosahan Woods path project which several members supported with shovels and rakes. Most of all we have really lovely ladies, who soon become friends, who are willing to help and support each other and those in Constantine. During this lockdown, we have kept in touch almost daily sending group emails with jokes, videos, poem, news and messages to those in need of some support. Those not on email, get cards, letters and phone calls. A number of the W.I. ladies have been paired up with people in the care homes in the district, who we write to as a friend. I personally have been allocated two ladies and am on my 10th letters to them.

This is a very difficult time for us all, as almost all our activities have been sus- pended, but being part of the Constantine W.I. has certainly helped us all through and will do, until we see the light at the end of the tunnel and can meet up again.

New members are always welcome. In the past year we have welcomed 10 new members and were growing nicely. Until the lockdown we were looking forward to an exciting year full of events and fun!

Barbara Willoughby

Considering the very rough weather our Annual Meeting on 10 February was very well attended. Thanks were given to all and our Secretary’s report reminded all members of the very varied meetings throughout the year, with outings, luncheons, walks etc – something to suit all tastes.

Barbara Willoughby

Considering the very rough weather our Annual Meeting on 10 February was very well attended. Thanks were given to all and our Secretary’s report reminded all members of the very varied meetings throughout the year, with outings, luncheons, walks etc – something to suit all tastes. Gifts and thanks were given to several retiring Committee members and helpers and three new Committee members were welcomed. Our President Liz Pearce was unanimously voted on for her second year.

Our new programme for this year was to be very varied, from making Willow Hearts to Chocolate Making with Cornish Gigs in between, but is now suspended. Business was concluded and was followed by a fun hour with a “Beetle Drive”. All members very competitively throwing the dice to try to be the first to make a “whole beetle”, the winners on each table moving on to start the next “beetle”. A fun and hectic time enjoyed by all.

In the March meeting Lynn Kentish from Lynn’s Willows gave a brief talk and demonstration on willow crafts. It was a fun evening with members enjoying the opportunity to make their own willow hearts. The hearts make lovely gifts or can be used as decorations in the home and garden.

Lynn was thanked for her time and coaching by Dominique.

Sadly because of concerns regarding Covid 19 virus (Coronavirus) it has become necessary to cancel all W.I. meetings and Soup and Pud events until further notice.