News
Stanton WI Monthly Report
We were pleased to welcome Ruddi Webbe to our meeting in September, to talk about his journey from Soldier to Stitcher. He moved to England as a child, from Nevis in the Caribbean and spent many years in a successful career in the army. He shared his memories of meeting the late queen, with examples of her famous sense of humour. After leaving the army he came to Bury St Edmunds as the proprietor of The Cosy Cabin, at Risby, which specialises in patchwork and quilting. He explained just how he came to be involved, following a visit to the Duxford Quilt Show with a colleague who was trying to convince him that there was a future in cutting up perfectly good fabric then sewing it back together. (Funny - my husband says that!) Quite a few of the audience were quilters, who were keen to browse the fabrics that came with him for purchase. Our competition for a piece of needlework was won by Shirley.
The October evening meeting was a fascinating talk entitled Blood, Sweat and Fears by Mary Newton, a forensic scientist whose career lasted for forty years. Contrary to our expectations of a male dominated profession, she assured us that women are well represented in forensic science because of their tenacious and meticulous personalities. She explained about the awfulness of complete PPE, whatever the weather. Imagine it in this most recent summer!
Her career involved the forensic investigations of many murders and rapes. Her enthusiasm for the information to be gained from blood spatter patterns was infectious and we could all imagine the way the hammer would throw out droplets! We were given the background to a number of very familiar and high profile murders from recent years which Mary worked on, providing the police with the necessary information to get convictions of the perpetrators. There were the ones who got away too.
The success of the evening was marked by the informed questions at the end, the buzz of conversation afterwards and the feeling that none of us will ever look at a large cooking pot in the same way again. Watch out for a return visit in future and come and join us.
The competition for an arrangement in a glass was won by Jane, with Pauline, Stephanie and Shirley close behind.
The next meeting will be a craft afternoon on November 9th at 2pm in the Village Hall, creating a Christmas decoration. All materials will be provided but please bring a stapler and a glue gun if you have them.
Craft and Chat afternoons now take place on the 2nd and 4th Monday afternoons in the Church Room. These get-togethers are open to all, including non-members, so if you would like to come along, you will be very welcome. Just bring your knitting, sewing, painting etc. It only costs £2 for tea or coffee and cake.
We are a very friendly group and if you would like to join us, please feel free to come along for a ‘taster’ session. If you contact us first we will look out for you.
Maureen Johnson (President) Tel. 250739.