Northallerton WI 2025 News

MARCH - LITTER PICKERS

Well done to our volunteer litter pickers! On a cold and blustery day our ladies joined other volunteers and the Wombles of Hambleton and gathered up 21 bags of litter in under 3 hours! That's a wonderful achievement but it's such a shame that so many people just dump their rubbish instead of using the rubbish bins. Well done again everyone!

Litter Pickers Rubbish

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APRIL - FUNDRAISER FOR THE GREAT NORTH AIR AMBJLANCE SERVICE

On Wednesday lunchtime members of our W.I. attended a fund raising event for the Great North Air Ambulance Service at Romanby Golf Club. Also there were ladies from Thornton Le Bean and Welbury W.I. groups. A light lunch was served followed by an informative talk by Mr David Banks from the National Trust who explained how the Skell Valley Project and the National Trust is helping to combat climate change at Fountains Abbey. Measures being taken to help to stop flooding at the Abbey involved installing 20 leaky dams (using logs) and flooding has reduced since these were installed. It was an excellent talk and all money raised from the lunch and raffle is going towards the wonderful work of the Great North Air Ambulance.

Supporting the Yorkshire Air Ambulance 2025

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JUNE 2025 - AFTERNOON TEA ON THE TEESSIDE PRINCESS

We set off on our nautical odyssey on a balmy (barmy) afternoon at the end of June. We set sail in a taxi at 12.00noon and arrived in a state of panic due to roadworks. After being piped aboard, by the crew, we weigh anchor with the Captain threatening 10 lashes for missing the tide. The quay gently slipped away and things calmed into a pleasant routine of sight-seeing along the beautiful Tees valley, sipping Pimm’s and cocktails in straw-hats. At 8 bells afternoon tea was called and after the chief petty (very petty) officer refused to serve more tea there was mumbling of mutiny!! Sane head prevailed and the rest of the afternoon was enjoyed drifting along the lazy river and soaking up the approaching sunset. A joyous afternoon was rounded off by a rousing chorus of we are sailing and the wheels on the bus in the taxi on the way home.

A cracking day!

Drinks on the deck Afternoon Tea Happy days Cooking up something Not wanting the day to end

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JUNE 2025 - FUND RAISER

Our annual fundraiser took place at the 1940s Homefront Event with a bottle tombola and were stationed in the 1904's Flea market in the Town Hall. All prizes were kindly donated by our members, their family and friends for which were greatly appreciated. This not only raised funds for our WI but also for Herriot Hospice. There was a great display of 1940's fashions as well as a classic car display.

Already Serving customers

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JULY 2025 - GARDEN PARTY 110^TH ANNIVERSAY OF THE W.I.

The party was opened by the Town Crier appearing on the ROOF! Blasting out a fanfare on his “hunting horn” to announce the festivities. The occasion had various stalls as you would expect at any self-respecting W.I. event – tea, cakes, tombola, plus well stocked plants, crafts, book stalls and a cryptic photo quiz leading our quests around the garden’s quirky and sometime bazar points of interest. The event also featured a display of art accompanied by a slideshow of our greatest moments to the melody of Jerusalem and the judging of the basket competition which was won by Sandie Gray. The party was well attended by 11 separately Mowbray Group WIs. It was a gloriously social afternoon weaving together our different groups in a relaxed informal setting and catching up with old friends without time pressures of our usual gatherings. Laughter and fun being the order of the day.

Opening of the garden party Miss Northallerton 1st prize Tombola already

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SEPTEMBER 2025 - NORTHALLERTON WI's SECOND ANNIVERSARY AGM Members On Wednesday 27th September Northallerton W.I. celebrated its second anniversary.

During the last 2 years under the guidance and leadership of President Victoria McEvoy and Secretary Dawn Holmes and the rest of the Committee the membership has grown to 45! We’ve seen the Supper Club grow from an initial 5 members to the last outing when 20 attended! The Gardening Club has also had a great year celebrating the 110th Anniversary of the W.I. with a garden party which featured a Town Crier blasting out a fanfare on his ‘hunting horn’. We also have a Walking Group, Book Club and a Culture Club all of which are well attended and enjoyed.

After the general AGM meeting everyone celebrated with tea and birthday cake! Thank you to everyone who helps to make our meetings and events possible and here’s to celebrating our 3rd anniversary next year!

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SEPTEMBER - TRIP TO THE HIMALAYAN SCULPTURE GARDENS

3 of our ladies enjoyed an autumn outing exploring the views at the Himalayan Sculpture Gardens including a scrumptious lunch. Afterwards they continued strolling around the gardens arriving at the pagoda at the end of the gardens, an ideal spot to pause and contemplate when suddenly the tranquillity was interrupted by a commotion. A mobility scooter ascending a grassy bank went off piste, both the driver and the scooter tumbled back down coming to rest in a heap with the machine on top.

Our heroes quickly flew into action, Annie, with superhuman strength, lifted the scooter off him, Shirley became the first responder and Maisie asked all the right questions and kept talking.

The garden staff arrived, got the gentleman back on his feet, the scooter which belongs to the gardens had to be shot at the scene.

The gentleman and his wife were very thankful and with order restored our heroes returned to the pagoda and continued their visit in a calmer fashion. It was, in every aspect, a caper to remember – for autumn colours, the fine lunch and the unexpected rescue effort that showed once again the resourcefulness and spirit of Northallerton.W.I.

Super Heroes

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY at ALL SAINTS CHURCH, NORTHALLERTON

On Remembrance Sunday, Victoria and Tess proudly represented Northallerton W.I. and presented a wreath of poppies on our behalf at the memorial. They are pictured with the wreath and also beside the tree which Northallerton W.I. ladies decorated with poppies knitted by our members. Well done to everyone who was involved!

Victoria & Tess Remembrance Sunday