Congratulations to the winners of our January 200+ Club draw!
1st prize – £35
Stanwell WI
2nd prize – £20
Dianne Butler, Stanwell
3rd prize – £15
Sunbury-on-Thames WI
Centenary Banner
Our centenary banner is nearing completion: here’s a work in progress image from the MFWI office where the Craft team has been laying out the contributions from WIs.
And—shhhh—You’ve not sent yours in yet? We look forward to receiving it as every WI is an important part of Middlesex Federation!
Farewell and Thank you, Lorraine
From left: Julia Lewis, Sarah Endersby, Lorraine Reed-Wenman, Emma Watson, Alison Fremantle, Heather McIntyre.
From Emma Watson, Middlesex News editor
The March 2022 issue of Middlesex News marks the 33rd issue since I took over production of our monthly newsletter from Lorraine in May 2019. I couldn’t believe Lorraine would be editing the newsletter while carrying out the duties of Chair—so raised my hand to help out. It’s been a journey!
Whilst you see Lorraine’s Chair’s Chat each month, she is there behind each issue with ideas, checking and proofreading, and most of all providing much-appreciated moral support without fail, when we’ve both been busy with other commitments or occasional flagging energy at deadline time.
Thank you so much Lorraine for your support, friendship and (never-ending!) humour as we piece together this l’il archive of activities of our Federation. It’s been a joy to work with you on it and whilst I will miss our little team, I feel certain you will enjoy a break from this aspect of your MFWI role. Thank you, and best wishes Lorraine!
From Sarah Endersby, MFWI Treasurer
When the 2018 MFWI Annual Council meeting finished, and the Board of Trustees met to vote in a new chair, little did we know what a challenging role Lorraine would be taking on.
During her tenure as chair, a new technology, Microsoft 365, has been introduced, to make our roles more streamlined, new trustees encouraged to join our Board and we’ve had two years of uncertainty with enforced lockdowns with no Federation Secretary in place. Lorraine has continued without faltering to be responsive to all of our members, has promoted MFWI at every opportunity and most importantly has been incredibly supportive to her fellow Board members.
I know Lorraine will welcome the time to spend with her family, without having to deal with WI issues at short notice however, I am positive she will miss the network of colleagues and friends she has frequent contact with, but not as much as we will miss her.
On a personal note – thank you Lorraine for not only being our chair for an amazing four-year rollercoaster but for being a true friend.
Chair’s Chat – March 2022
Hello everyone and from me, a sad farewell. This is my last Chair’s Chat before I stand down at the March 2022 Annual Council Meeting following a four-year term of office.
The past year has been a disappointing time as we have not been able to take you through a planned celebratory milestone of our centenary year due to one restriction or another.
I wish all the very best to whoever is appointed your new Chair. The decision will be made after the ACM on the 9th of March, by the Board of Trustees (without me present) as per the constitution, so I cannot let you know who that will be.
I had no intention or aspiration for the role of Chair and my first year was a very steep learning curve as can happen when starting a new job, and there was a lot on the ‘to do’ list, so I hit the road running. To be honest, I had no idea how I was going to fit everything in, given my existing commitments, and was surprised at my nomination. I need not have worried as I had a very supportive team in both Sarah Endersby as Treasurer and Jules Hall as Vice-Chair.
I cannot thank them enough for helping us to move MFWI into the 21st century, making us more eco along the way, and a lot more efficient across the Federation and within WIs. Digitally, there are very few WIs which do not use their officer emails and SharePoint now. For those still floundering, it is beneficial and is a great help, especially as new officers are voted in.
I have not been flavour of the month at times and I have had to wear many hats along the way as covid and other circumstances within MFWI dictated, Federation Secretary being one of them. This made for some very long hours, but if you care about what you do, none of that matters. It is also about doing what is best overall.
I am looking forward to getting back to a lifestyle which is my ‘normal’ and to get back to more crafting. Thank you to all for making the past four years memorable in more ways than one.
Take care, keep well and see you at some point in the future.
Lorraine x
Middlesex News – March 2022
Here’s our newsletter for March 2022, and its a special one. It’s Lorraine’s final newsletter as Chair, just ahead of our 2022 ACM. Lorraine and I (Emma) have worked on 33 newsletters together, and I’ll miss our monthly messages as the MXN is compiled, as well as Lorraine’s eagle eye—she’s a great Chair but also a very good proofreader!
Thank you for all your support with the newsletter, and best wishes Lorraine as you enjoy a bit more free time… or will that be crafting time, maybe…?
200+ Club – December 2021 Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our December 200+ Club draw!
1st prize – £35
Southbourne WI
2nd prize – £20
Penny Shervill, Hayes Town
3rd prize – £15
Mary Fraser, Halliford
Middlesex News – February 2022
Happy Birthday – February 2022
Happy Birthday to our WIs celebrating in February
Iver Evening 8 February 1962
Hillingdon 19 February 1919
London West End 21 February 2006
Stroud Green update
We marked our 10th birthday with a wonderful evening of Cake and Cocktails–delicious homemade cake from Norma and Ruth H and a cocktail showcase courtesy of Ben, our favourite cocktail maestro and well known to the Cake Club!
We reminisced with a selection of photos of what we got up to over the last 10 years and noted how grateful we are that we’ve been able to continue meeting over Zoom all through the lockdowns and are now able to resume gathering in person.
We want to acknowledge our gratitude to Gill and Yvette, our two remaining SGWI founder members, for their part in establishing SGWI and for still being with us!
We had two collections – many thanks to all who brought warm coats for WrapUp London, as organised by Gill, and pictured are our donations together with those from local St Aidan’s Primary School and out of sight a third sack which was filling up fast. And there was a generous collection of toiletries and children’s toys for Solace Women’s Aid (organised by Michele) as our contribution to mark Action For No More Violence: 16 Days of Action: Against Gender-Based Violence.
Fancy a cocktail?
A big thanks to Ben for sharing the details of what he made for us:
I served Long Manhattans: Whisky (Bourbon is good for sweeter or classic rye for dryer), 50ml (or 25ml for a school night), Sweet Vermouth, 25ml and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. Mix all over ice and add soda or tonic as preferred and a slice of orange or grapefruit.
You can add Campari to that and take out the soda, bitters and just keep all the ingredients the same measurement ie 25ml x 3 and that will be a Negroni. Just mix all over ice in a glass and add orange zest or drink long by topping up with soda.
Over Christmas, take Campari and sweet vermouth in equal measures and top with champagne or prosecco making a Spagliato. Swapping out the vermouth for port or sherry makes interesting drinks too.
I also served dry/Bianco vermouth with gin and tonic or soda. This is like a long martini. You can start out with 50ml gin, 15ml dry vermouth, and mix over ice and strain into a martini glass or you can just pour it over ice and top up to enjoy for longer.
There are now also plenty of no alcohol alternatives in the supermarkets to swap out for. Garnish with olives, lemon or even herbs such as rosemary or thyme. You can replace vermouth with white wine or use dry sherry.
Happy Birthday – January 2022
Happy birthday to the WIs celebrating in January
Harrow-on-the-Hill 7 January 2013
Sunbury Village 23 January 2012