2015 has been a very busy and successful year for Westbury Inner Wheel Club, writes Sheila Buckton, club correspondent.
We always try to plan a varied programme, including fund raising and social activities and events, as Inner Wheel worldwide is founded on friendship and personal service, and we spend a lot of our time raising funds for various charities both local, home and overseas.
Our year began with World Inner Wheel Day when we celebrated with the Rotarians a two-course meal at Bratton Jubilee Hall followed by a skittles match. All proceeds went to our International Charities.
March saw members outside the Co-op handing out literature and collecting donations for ‘Violence Against Women’. Everyone was most supportive and gave freely. In May we held a Car Boot Sale at Standerwick and at 7.00am on a cold morning members were busy setting up their stall.
In July we ran a cakes, puddings and pies stall at Bratton Village Fete. It was such a good day and so successful we had sold out within a few hours.
One of our main fund raising events was the Fashion Show – clothes by Roman Originals held in October at the Laverton in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
November has been extremely busy, we assisted Rotary with the ICE evening and ran a Tombola Stall and raffle at the Westbury Street Fair as well as hosting the Rotarians to one of their weekly meetings. Members have also held coffee mornings, lunches and afternoon tea parties in their own homes all in the good cause of fund raising.
This year we have raised money for the following:- BUST, White Horse Day Centre, Stepping Stones, SPLITZ, Alzheimers Support, School in a Bag and Wiltshire Air Ambulance (cheque to be presented in the New Year). We have supported three international disasters and the recent flooding in Cumbria.
We have had some interesting speakers at our monthly meetings, from Dementia Friends, Erlestoke Prison Service and Guide Dogs for the Blind. Our District Chairman also visited our Club and gave a talk on the Theadora Trust. We have also taken part in two Progressive lunches.
Members keep busy knitting jumpers, blankets, teddies etc. collecting ring pulls, used postage stamps, used computer cartridges and providing the usual Christmas shoe boxes and we still find time to play skittles.
Monthly lunches continue to be a time of refreshment, happy chit chat and some time to get to know your fellow member a little better.
In the New Year we plan on holding a joint evening with The Steeple Rock Choir in Westbury Church in May to raise money for SPLITZ, and hopefully our Amble for Alzheimers to take place also in the spring, and on the social side a short break to Cricket St Thomas and a visit to the Bristol Hippodrome to see the Show ‘Body Guard’.
On behalf of the Inner Wheel Club of Westbury may I take this opportunity to thank all the people who have supported us so generously in 2015.
