Dilton Marsh Village Day on Saturday 13th June once again saw the WI producing numerous lunches for the many who crowded into the Memorial Hall.
Salads were also delivered to the many stall holders in Holy Trinity church yard, resulting in the best year yet for the hardworking ladies.
Dilton Marsh WI also contributed to the Flower Festival held in the church and the display was a celebration of the WI centenary year.
June meeting
‘It shouldn’t happen to a writer’ was the title of the talk given by successful author, script writer, song writer and film extra Michael Malaghan.
From the first moment that Michael addressed his audience laughter filled the hall.
The first memory was his writing a story at school under the watchful eye of teacher Mr James who encouraged young Michael’s creativity. Then came the beginning of his career as a journalist on the Skegness Standard where headlines ranged from ‘Town Hall Gets A New Coat of Paint’ to ‘Seaweed Found On The Beach’.
He soon embarked on a career writing short stories for women’s magazines, his first published being ‘Rough Justice’ in BEST. He was soon approached by Granada Studios to contribute to a new show about a human piano teacher with unusual friends which led to the ‘Mouldy Mole song’, before continuing working with the Chuckle Brothers and joining an agency as an extra in ‘Elizabeth the Golden Age’ with Cate Blanchett.
Two successful books followed ‘Greek Ransom’ and ‘Lost Prophecies.’ This culminated in being listed along with JK Rowling and Jacqueline Wilson as a great writer of teenage fiction.
This tall, slim, bearded man captivated the ladies of Dilton Marsh with his humour, charm and wit which resulted in tumultuous applause.
Treasurer Sara Honor who was sent as delegate to the NFWI AGM at the Royal Albert Hall gave her report to members and expressed how wonderful her visit had been. Following the welcoming of the Royal guests HM Queen Elizabeth, HRH Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex the centenary baton which had been travelling around England and Wales for the last 18 months was presented to the Queen. The Queen then officially opened the meeting saying in her speech how much change there had been for women in the past 100 years.
The Chair’s address thanked the royal guests for attending and they were presented with posies by three granddaughters of WI members. There then followed the other speakers, Lucy Worsley, Curator of Royal Palaces and history television presenter.
Then Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson spoke of her Paralympian triumphs and how she came to be a peer in the House of Lords. Finishing up with Helena Morrisey a CEO of a FTSE 100 company in spite of having nine children, who explained whilst men and women do work and think differently, both have valuable skills.
Following a fashion show from the Kingston project the meeting ended with a singing of Jerusalem and Land of my Fathers in Welsh. Next month’s meeting is the annual Garden Party.
Liz Lee
