WHAT'S ON: Whiston

PARISH CHURCH: Holy Communion is held each Wednesday 10.30am. For information about Lent groups, contact Dhoe 01709 364430.

WI (AFTERNOON GROUP): President Rona Hudson opened the meeting and welcomed four visitors. She asked for three volunteers to join the committee. The Lunch Club is meeting on Tuesday at the Woodman Inn in Woodlaithes Village. With regards to the resolutions, members favoured “avoiding food waste”. Summer Lunch is to be held on August 18 at Hassop Hall and the Christmas lunch on December 7 at Sitwell Golf Club. The Walking Group is meeting on Wednesday, Flowers on Monday, Craft on February 22. Chantry Group is having its Spring Coffee Morning on Thursday at St Cuthbert’s Church. Mention was made of a possible excursion to Denman College in October. International Day is at Armthorpe on April 25 with an Italian theme. Subs are due. A cheque for £50 had been received from Chantry Group. The planned outing to the Harrogate Flower Show in April will cost £26. The speaker’s theme was the Life of Lady Jennie Randolph Church (Winston’s mother). The competition was won by Margaret Keay, 2nd Anne Clarke, 3rd Angela Jackson.  The next meeting on March 3 will be the AGM.

HERITAGE SOCIETY: February meeting – three recent enquiries via the website had been answered: a family that moved to Canklow and eventually took residence on Harpur Street in town, the second concerning Broom Farm (now the Homestead), the third (from America) about George Machen who lived in Whiston in the 1840s and 1850s (the enquirer being descended from one of his sons who moved to America). He was buried in Whiston Cemetery but efforts to locate his gravestone have not been successful. Consideration was given to the Clay family, one time residents of Whiston Hall Farm. During Edwin and his family’s time this was a flourishing farm with food and milk production. Among other items mentioned, the family played cricket and shot foxes. A ledger was kept during World War Two which contained notes. This revealed that Edwin was a prominent figure in the locality who was in contact with local dignitaries such as Earl Fitzwilliam, he was a member of the Invasion Committee and the regional contact for the NFU. Mr Savage read out a series of extracts from the book. Mr Hopps gave a report on the website and mentioned a new feature (Picture of the Month) which aims to get readers sending in information about the featured picture. A special event to mark the Queen’s birthday is being organised by the church and the society has been invited to take part. The next meeting is on the first Tuesday in April.

MEET YOUR COUNCILLORS: Julie Turner and Allen Cowles at Broom Lane Methodist Church on first and third Mondays 6-7pm and at Whiston Parish Hall on second and fourth Mondays 6-7pm. No appointments necessary.