WHAT'S ON: Whiston

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.

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (AFTERNOON GROUP): Members were welcomed by president Rona Hudson, including three new members and a visitor. A minute’s silence was held for Reta Sumner, one of the founder members who had passed away since the last meeting. That meeting was the Christmas party. The committee was thanked for its efforts in organising the party. The Christmas lunch at the Sitwell Golf Club was well attended. News and views were then looked at with the forthcoming international day at Armthorpe Community on April 25 being mentioned and the Federation spring meeting at the Earl of Doncaster hotel on March 19 where member Meg Sewell will be speaking about her visit to Buckingham Palace to receive the MBE.  Reports from the groups followed. Flowers will be meeting next Monday, the Walking group met on January 13, Craft is on January 25. The spring coffee morning of the Chantry group will be at St Cuthbert’s church hall and will feature a green and yellow themed stall. Speaker Dennis Ashton gave a talk on the Iditarod, the 1,000 mile sled dog race across Alaska, which he and his wife have seen on several occasions. The meeting closed with the announcement that the summer lunch will be at Hassop Hall on August 18 and the Christmas lunch at the Golf Club on December 7. The competition was won by Julie Hawthorne, 2nd Barbara Turner, 3rd Margaret Keay.  The next meeting is on Feburary 4 when speaker Pat Osborne will talk about Lady Churchill (Winston's mother) and the competition will be a smoking-related object.