Thursday 18 December 2014

Coffee mornings

There is a new 'tearoom' in Winchcombe, the Boutique Cafe. We decided to try it out and maybe make it our new coffee morning home. Sadly it isn't really for us. The teacakes were burnt, and the whole place a little chaotic with a basic seating area. We will probably stick with the Lion for now..

Tuesday 16 December 2014

Christmas Party

The last meeting in 2014..Linda had done the catering and provided mince pies and shortbreads, the tables were decorated, Adeline had bought crackers, and we had a pianist to lead the carols after tea..lots of raffle prizes, and all in all a good afternoon..

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Christmas Lunch at Buckland Manor Hotel

A coach was booked to get us to the hotel in time for our lunch..so..24 of us set out into the country for a delicious meal at the hotel






The dining room was set with 3 tables and the food started to arrive. It was a variety of turkey and pud. but innovatively cooked and served so it appeared to be very different. Each course was varied and interesting, the wait staff friendly and helpful, all together a lovely experience





Then it was time to go, leisurely finding our coats and back on the coach for the country ride back to Winchcombe




Wednesday 3 December 2014

The last lunch in 2014!

Eight of us met at the Plaisterers for lunch. They made us so welcome with crackers and a fire in the hearth. We all got in the festive mood with a lot of laughter. The food was varied and excellent as usual, the service is always friendly..it was a really good introduction to the Christmas season!

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Stratford!

The day was cold and raw with a hint of fog and rain. Not daunted 12 of us went in a mini coach to Stratford for a day of shopping and education. Stratford has very different shops to Cheltenham, which we enjoyed. The new visitor centre for Shakespeare's birthplace is huge, obviously very busy in the summer. Six of us found a great place for lunch, good food and fast service. Then back through the murk to Winchcombe!

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Tuesday November 18th

This afternoon was the annual meeting where the change in the committee is announced and a time to vote in new committee members. The years' accounts are also approved..

There was no speaker, so we had time to talk to each other..

Wednesday 5 November 2014

November's lunch

The lunch group is growing in popularity, 14 had signed up for the lunch at the Corner Cupboard, though there were only 12 of us. Lily had brought some Christmas cards she had made in aid of our charity..she will need to make more for the next meeting!

Tuesday 21 October 2014

October Meeting

Last meeting before the AM next month. The speaker was Joy Thacker on the Whiteway Colony. She gave a history of the growth of the 'colony' illustrated with slides

Saturday 11 October 2014

Lunch and a Theatre Trip

The tickets were for 'She Stoops to Conquer' at the Everyman in Cheltenham. We went in on the bus and convened at the Bella Italia on the Prom. Then round the corner to the play. It was well acted and a lot of fun, very enjoyable! Back to Winchcombe by car..a fun day out..

Wednesday 1 October 2014

October 1st lunch

We met at the Wesley Bistro again where the food is always interesting and the tapas plate varied. We do find the bench along the back wall difficult to manage, and the steps a challenge for some. We requested a handrail up the steps which would be a good help!

Tuesday 16 September 2014

September Meeting

Angela Panrucker gave a very interesting slide tour through Gloucestershire. Her slides were amazing with an excellent narrative. There were also all different cakes to have with our tea.

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Lunch out..again!

We were back at the Lady Jane tearooms today. As always very good food at an excellent price! We are sad Nicky is selling up and hope the people who buy it will continue the tradition of excellence..

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Another Cream Tea!

Lords of the Manor Hotel, Upper Slaughter


Cream teas are very popular with Winchcombe WI members! We book a coach and a tea at a lovely local country hotel and off we go!
24 of us headed off to 'The Lords of the Manor' in Upper Slaughter. We got a bit lost round the small hamlets, but eventually got there.
The scones were delicious, [we are now grading each place we go to], and sitting round a very large square table was different and interesting.
After tea we had time to wander round the lovely gardens before heading back to Winchcombe

Wednesday 6 August 2014

August lunch meeting..

Back to the Lion, this popular lunch activity saw 12 of us sitting round a table chatting. We had 1 visitor and 2 new members, all very welcome. The food was good, hot and varied, the fish and chips was put on just for us by popular demand! Another successful lunch...

Tuesday 15 July 2014

July Meeting

The talk today was by Alex Stanbrook on the History of Hats. She had brought a number of hats with her to illustrate the talk. It was really enjoyed by members who requested that she return next year..

Wednesday 2 July 2014

July's Lunch

After the fun of yesterday, 9 of us met up at the Plaisterers for lunch. Another great meal eaten outside as it was such a lovely day. We all enjoy eating out together and getting to know each other a little better..

Tuesday 1 July 2014

The 95th Celebrations

The knot garden at Sudeley
We are celebrating the 95th anniversary of our WI. Officially in November we decided to celebrate in the summer, and where better than at Sudeley Castle as Marion Dent Brocklehurst from Sudeley started our WI in 1919

The sun shone for our event, starting with a coach ride to the Castle. We were greeted by coffee/tea and a talk by Jean Bray on Emma Dent. Then we had time to tour the Castle before lunch.

The lunch was very good, hot and tasty, and the dessert was a celebration in itself. On to look at the gardens before a short service of thanksgiving in St Mary's Church, taken by Julia Hook, vicar at St Peter's, Winchcombe.

Then time to wander back to the coach and time to indulge in a little retail therapy. An excellent day of celebration...

Tuesday 17 June 2014

June's Monthly Meeting

Lots to do, outings, cream teas and our day at Sudeley..the speaker this month was Pete Ralph on 'The History of the Royal Forest of Dean'. This writer didn't think he was as good as others we had had. His topic was interesting but badly delivered....

Thursday 12 June 2014

Lunch and a Play

Eight of us met at the Everyman to see Agatha Christie's 'Black Coffee' after 7 of us had enjoyed a meal together at Bella Italia on the Prom.
The play was excellent, great cast playing a really good suspense play with amusing sidelines.
We had to rush to the bus afterwards but managed to get the 4.30pm bus back to Winchcombe

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Lunch at the Corner Cupboard

 It was a really wet day when we met for lunch at The Corner Cupboard. As usual lots of conversation and some chat about the local bus company changing hands. While the new bus company was welcome there was some concern about the news that Budgens was taking over the Castleways site, mainly about traffic and parking. It is all due to start on August 1st, so we will have to 'wait and see' with crossed fingers. It certainly would be good to get another grocery store to be in competition with the Co-op.

Tuesday 20 May 2014

May Monthly Meeting!

We all romped 'Barefoot to Buckingham Palace' with an amazing raconteur, Susan Marshfield who had indeed ended at a Garden Party 'sans shoes'. She is an excellent speaker and the afternoon was such fun....

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Lunch at Wesley Bistro

It was such a fun lunch today. The Bistro was busy, but we were served quickly and the tapas food was so good, plentiful and varied. Of course a bunch of us had to have a dessert as well as the 2 course tapas set lunch! Well recommended for a return visit

Thursday 10 April 2014

Winchcombe WI at the theatre!

This afternoon ten of us had tickets to The Mousetrap at The Everyman in Cheltenham. We went in on the bus and to the Bella Italia for lunch. Then the play. It was excellent, well acted, good acoustics, we would recommend it.
The 4.30pm bus back to Winchcombe after a successful outing..

Wednesday 2 April 2014

The Lunch Group

We had an excellent lunch at Lady Jane's Tearooms. Wednesday is roast day with a choice of roast pork or chicken. Fish is also on the menu for those who don't want a roast meal. Desserts are plentiful, juice tea or coffee all come in the very reasonable price of £9.00. Our two 93 year olds enjoy eating out with others from our WI..

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Monthly Meeting, March 18th

Fiona Warin was back to speak to us on 'Land Girls'. She is an excellent speaker and kept us entertained with stories of all the various jobs the girls undertook in the war.
Doreen informed the meeting about the early plans for us to celebrate our 95th anniversary.The committee was meeting a representative from Sudeley Castle to set up a day out there.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Lunch at the Lion.

It was the turn of the Lion today. A very good turnout as 12 of us sat down to eat. The food was varied and good and we all enjoyed the ambience and company. A lovely leisurely lunch break!

Tuesday 18 February 2014

February's Monthly Meeting!

It was a lively and varied meeting this month. The Denman Draw was drawn and 2 of our members, Pat and Linda, won a free bursary to attend a day at Denman. We celebrated Nancie's 93rd birthday by singing 'Happy Birthday' and blowing out the candle on the cake made by Adeline. The speaker was David O'Conner on 'Witness to History'. He had brought 2 Union Jacks with him and discussed the 2nd World War.

Wednesday 5 February 2014

February Lunch Club

This month 9 of us met at the Plaisterers for lunch. It was a very wet and windy day, but it was lovely to meet and sit near the fire for a great lunch. This pub is a favourite of all of us..

Tuesday 28 January 2014

Cream Tea at Buckland Manor Hotel



In the heart of the Cotswolds in a small hamlet is Buckland Manor Hotel. We had hired a coach to take us for our tea, so 25 of us set out in good spirits on what had been a very wet day.

The welcome we got was wonderful. the dining room beautifully appointed with views over the countryside!

The scones were delicious, probably the best we had ever had, lots of cream and jam. Biscuits were also served, but we hardly needed them.

We voted this the best ever and booked to go back for our Christmas lunch!

Tuesday 21 January 2014

January 21st 2014

Our first meeting in January was well attended with many of our ladies rejoining, so we look forward to a vibrant year, our 95th!!

The speaker was Mike Lovatt on the river Isbourne. Mike had slides and an interesting talk on the river from its start at the top of Cleeve Hill to Evesham. It was of particular interest as it is local, and the writer had just enjoyed a walk down from the top of Cleeve Hill to Winchcombe on Christmas Eve....