DROITWICH-based SPArkles WI elected its new president at its AGM last Thursday (May 5).
Helen Starks stepped down from the president’s role in the group which was set up in December 2012.
She was succeeded by Karen Philpott who has been the secretary of SPArkles for the last year.
Creative Karen presented the annual report of the group’s activities in the form of a poem which gave members a pleasant reminder of all they had achieved and done in the last year, from the book club and knit and natter to yarn bombing, food tasting and Morris dancing.
Karen said: “WIs have, for the last 100 years, inspired women to showcase and celebrate their skills and have even given them a voice at Government level – we have changed things which touch people’s everyday lives.
“And there is a new draft of WIs sweeping the country which are breathing life into this stalwart institution and building on the last century’s hard work .
“SPArkles is one of them and I am proud to take the helm of this group which has done so much in the last year for the town’s women and its communities.”
Check out the story at www.droitwichstandard.co.uk to read Karen’s poem detailing everything the group has done in the last 12 months.
SPArkles members meet at 7.30pm on the first Thursday of the month at The Old Library with tea and a chat from 7.05am.
Search for SPArkles WI on Facebook for more information on the group.
Here is the poem penned by Karen –
SPArkles WI – Committee Annual Report
Annual reports can be quite boring
And cause you all to snooze
So I’ll whizz through this quite quickly
So you can all enjoy the booze.
Lyn and Nicky have planned our meetings
Like self defence with Terry
And how to write a production script
For ‘Doctors’ off the telly.
We’ve hear about the WI
And 100 years of history
The magistrate set up a court
So law is not a mystery.
Our village fete was popular
With a summer ‘Heatwave’ theme
And dancing with the Morris Men
Was really quite a scream!
We’ve done fabric skills and Easter hats
And Meg’s pumpkin carving tips
And who can forget those snowmen
Made from chocolate walnut whips!
Our many groups are popular
Like Book Group at Sue T’s
And the Supper Club with Ann-Marie
Tried Thai and Greek and cheese.
Belinda’s Knit and Natter
Have been making stuff for folk
Like hats and ducks and blankets
And twiddle muffs to stroke.
At Sue Cook’s there is the Crumb Club
A most productive group
Who cook sausage rolls and flans and tarts
And cake and pies and soup.
Margaret runs the skittles team
We’re not too bad, I’m told
I’m sure we’d bowl much better
If the Legion was not so cold!
Cheryl is artistic
She runs a fun Craft Club
Making chimes and cards and bags and tags
In the back room of the pub!
Our newest one is Bucket Club
Where every wish is made
And Alison, I think I’d like
A date with Daniel Craig!
Members have been to workshops
On art and crochet and much more
And spoken out with confidence
And loved their pelvic floor!
We’ve entered quizzes and competitions
And solved murder mystery plays
We’ve sung along with Joseph
And been on space themed days.
Four went off to Tea and Tents
For a camp with all things arty
And Jan put on her poshest hat
For the Royal Garden Party.
Helen Starks went to the National
As our delegate in June
And we walked to pubs in Droitwich
For the Mission to the Moon.
We’re well known now around these parts
And we help out where we can
With remembrance wreaths and Christmas trees
School fetes and judging jam.
We’ve yarn bombed statues in the town
With knitted hats and scarves
For Saltfest, ducks and pom-poms
We don’t do things by halves!
My thanks to the old Committee
Who have been amazing to the last
I can’t believe we’ve done so much
In the year that has just passed.
So SPArkles ladies, be assured
We shall do the best we can
To continue making SPArkles
More than ‘Jerusalem and Jam’!
