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THE INNER WHEEL CLUB OF WELLINGBOROUGH
YEAR 2005-2006 ACTIVITIES

The Inner Wheel Club of Wellingborough meet the third Monday of the month at 7.00pm at Wellingborough Golf Club. The Club received its Charter in 1944 and currently has 37 members.

Wellingborough is a market town which stands on a hill where the River Ise joins the Nene. The town was rebuilt in 1738 after a large fire destroyed part of the town centre. The present industry is linked to the boot and shoe trade but in the 1700s and 1800s Wellingborough traded extensively in pillow lace. The town is also known for its five wells, the most famous being ‘Red Well’ which was once famous for possessing water of medicinal virtues. Charles I and his queen visited Wellingborough in 1626 to sample the waters.

PRESIDENT JEAN TALBUT

Our year started on 4th July 2005 with our new President Jean Talbutt taking office from Janet Bell.

After a short meeting and changeover of officers, Rotarian President Joan Barrett joined us to bring congratulations from the Rotary Club of Wellingborough and presented bouquets of flowers to both ladies.

Rotary President Joan had taken over her own office earlier in the day and was following the footsteps of her late husband Peter. She thanked Inner Wheel for all the help they had given in the past and was looking forward to working with us in the future for the good of Rotary and Inner Wheel. President Jean then presided over the meal and a wonderful evening was had by all.

VISIT TO HIGHGROVE HOUSE

Soon after, on the 21st July, 20 of our members and 5 guests went on a trip to the Gardens of Highgrove House, home their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall. Just before we arrived, we had to wait for a short while nearby and had time to take a photo of the group, just for the record. Our photographer had very unsteady hands and so the picture was a little out of focus. However it serves as a memory of a very hot but most enjoyable day.

As we arrived, we were required to show passports (which everyone had fortunately remembered to take) and waited whilst our bus was thoroughly searched by some very pleasant policemen.

There are 29 gardens in all, each with its own characteristics. The gardens are designed to have interest and colour all the year round, but visitors at different times will see walks of tulip blooms, wild flower gardens, thyme walks and yew tress cut to a series of geometric shapes. Beautiful pots abound, as do water features, differing shaped seats in a variety of colours, statues and hidey-holes to sit in and a lovely cool woodland garden.

There is a statue of Diana, the Goddess of Hunting, and a memorial plaque to Tigga, a much loved Jack Russell terrior that once belonged to Prince Charles.

After seeing a garden of box hedging, an arboretum with a bronze of the three daughters of Odessa and a sanctuary made of natural materials, we were allowed to see the garden of the house. There is so much more to see, but we ended our visit with tea in the Orchard Room with Duchy of Cornwall biscuits and selected gifts from the shop to bring home as mementos of our visit. All the staff were extremely helpful and kind, and we had a day that will last in our memories for many years to come.

61ST CHARTER LUNCH

Our Charter Lunch this year was celebrated at Wellingborough Golf Club: and due to a maximum number of members and husbands, it was regrettable that we were not able to invite members for other clubs.

Member of Council Jean Harrington, representing the District Chairman, brought greetings from the District and President Joan Barrett brought greetings from Wellingborough Rotary Club. Rtn President Joan delighted us all with the tale of how her late husband Peter, when he was Rotary President, nearly set fire to the Inner Wheel tablecloth by spreading a newspaper over the lighted candles. In readiness for a similar event, Joan presented us with a small fire extinguisher!

Out guest speaker was Mr Mick Boyce who gave us an account of the history of Rockingham Castle and the Watsons.

The afternoon was complete with the usual high standard of meal and concluded with a large boquet of flowers being presented to President Jean

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARION!

The summer brought success for one of our long serving members Marion Swannell. On the 5th June, Lord Lewis of Newnham presented her with a silver badge at Robinson Collete, Cambridge, for 25 years of service to The Royal Lifeboat Institute

Marion has also been a golfer for many years, and on the 13th June she won the Wells Cup at Wellingborough Golf Club: on the 9th July Marion’s Ladies Team had taken first place at the Wellingborough Rotary 2005 competition.

Well done on your success Marion!

PARTY FOR THE BLIND

October saw the Club helping at the Party for Blind which has been given annually for 35 years by Wellingborough Rotary Club.

Our ladies came up with the usual goodies of sandwiches, cakes, chocolates and prizes for the guests

SKITTLES

Ten members once again enjoyed a skittles match which we unfortunately lost to Kempston: but a most enjoyable evening was had by all at The Horseshoe at Lavendon. We look forward to next year, when we might do just a little better.

KATHLEEN RHIND

It was with sadness that we heard of the passing of Kathleen Rhind in the autumn of 2005. Kathleen had spent many happy hours with our Inner Wheel Club before emigrating to live in Queensland, Australia some years ago. Whilst with Wellingborough Inner Wheel she attended the International Conference at the Palais de Congress in Paris, bust before being inducted as our President in 1982-83

Kathleen was photographed on her 83rd birthday: she is remembered with great fondness by the older members of our Club.

OUR EVENING WITH MAY PARKER: PRESIDENT OF THE INNER WHEEL CLUB OF LEOMENSTER

May brought greetings from her club in District 10. She had brought some examples of flowers and other items made from different types of icings for cakes, and then proceeded to issue all the members with marzipan. We then spent a happy and creative 40 minutes making marzipan snowmen.
Those of us with lesser artistic talents did our best, but the competitive spirit of our other members came into play and we ended up with the most wonderful display of snowmen. All were placed on display and President Jean declared Pat Tompkins the winner: she was presented with a lovely white rose, with pink edges – made of icing, of course. This was our November meeting and a good fore-runner of the Christmas festivities.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

December saw us enjoying our Christmas Party along with guests. This was held at Wellingborough Golf Club where we had our traditional Christmas dinner with entertainment of readings and carols to follow.

President Jean and Marion Swannell (in very stylish hat), stand on the landing near the tree which Marion decorates each year and which stands on the landing.

INNER WHEEL DAY WITH PHAB

We celebrated Inner Wheel Day by paying our usual visit to PHAB. This year we had a special guest visit by Andrew Storey, who came to accompany us on the keyboard whilst we enjoyed a new ‘sing-a-long’ with our friends. He also played some special pieces to entertain us. We had music for us all to dance to and finished with the Hokey Cokey and Auld Lang Syne. Supper was provided by all the ladies of the Club and everyone left in buoyant mood. This was the 12th year we have visited our friends at PHAB, and we hope we shall be invited to attend on many more occasions.

MARILYN

Marilyn joined the Club in 1994 and was President in 200-2001. During her time with us she held the posts of Secretary, Treasurer twice and Speaker Finder. But I guess she was most prominent for her vivacious character, entering into every aspect of Inner Wheel.

She as always ready to enter into the spirit of events, particularly where he cooking skills were required (her mouth-watering meringues and puddings were always favourites). She entered into the sponsored walking events (with their lovely dog Rosie) and never failed to raise money for charities whenever and wherever she could.

We will always remember the wonderful ‘Bridge Days’ when her house and kitchen swarmed with workers to make the events such a success: and the July of 2000 when she was made President of the Club at her home. Many other charities and associations benefited greatly from Marilyn’s talents and enthusiasm, and their loss will be as great as ours.

Our heartfelt condolences go to John and all her family. We shall all remember her in very many differing ways, but after the initial sadness had faded, her cheerful, willing and wonderful personality will always remain with us and all our lives will be the richer for having known her.

PATE AND PUDDINGS

12TH May saw most of our members and friends enjoying a Pate and Puddings. The pates were just unbelievably scrumptious and so were the wonderful variety of puddings. The evening was a great success, even though we all had to scamper indoors when the rain poured down just 20 minutes after we arrived.

NONEGENARIANS

By the end of August, we shall have seen three members of our club enjoy their 90th birthdays in 2006.

All these ladies have been very hard working, dedicated members of Wellingborough Club for many, many years and we are delighted to see them all looking so happy and youthful. We wish them all a very happy and healthy birthday, and hope we shall see them around to celebrate many more

NEW ZEALAND Two of our members went on the New Zealand ‘Experience’ this year and will delight and entertain us with this exploits at the July meeting. We can’t wait!!!

SOCIAL EVENTS IN JUNE To round off our most successful, interesting and entertaining year our Social Committee organised to other events. Firstly a Coffee Morning with ‘Bring and Buy’ was supported by members and friends at the home of the chairman (whose garden was absolutely ‘weed free’.

Secondly a visit to Stevington Gardens at Bedford was enjoyed by members and friends. The weather held and allowed everyone to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake before the rain fell. Kathy Brown is the sole gardener of this 5 acre garden which is in various stages of development, parts of which had an underlying artistic theme.

KNITTING GROUP Our knitting group has once again been very busy this year: meeting together once a mnth they have completed 47 blankets, 60 cardigans/jumpers and other items of clothing, and 42 cuddly toys. They have distributed monies to very worthy overseas causes and donated 1 knitting machine and 1 sewing machine to ‘Tools with a Mission’. Well done ladies – keep clicking, and thanks to our Overseas Organiser for continuing this enterprise.

THEATRE VISITS Once again, members have attended visits to the Milton Keynes Theatre during the year. Shows include the ballets Romeo and Juliet and La Traviata. plays Marrying the Mistress and A Man for all Seasons, and musicals The Rat Pack and Anything Goes.
Our thanks go once again to Sheila, our theatre organiser for taking the time and trouble to organise these social events.

JUNE will see our President Jean hand over the chain of office to our new President Eve McCarthy. Jean has done a wonderful job this year and as we congratulate her on her success, we offer Eve our best wishes and hopes that her dream of a happy presidential year will materialise.