Clubs and Societies

PROBUS LADIES OF WESTON: At the annual meeting on March 20 our new president, Val Davis, received the chain of office from the outgoing president Janice Horlick.

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The club is for women who are partly or fully retired and we meet fortnightly and have regular speakers throughout the year.

WESTON FILM SOCIETY: The next showing for the society is on Tuesday at The Playhouse.

Performances are at 2.30 and 7.30pm. Free entry to film society members and usual Playhouse charges for non-members.

The film is Jane Eyre - A new adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s classic romance starring Mia Wassikowska, Judi Dench and Jamie Bell.

THE NOTABLE CLUB (NOT ABLE): Members enjoyed an outing to Cadbury Garden Centre. The following week it was skittles in the hall.

Volunteer helper David Elsey was welcomed and gave an interesting presentation of his experiences on a very tightly controlled tour of North Korea where the politics are akin to a religion - censorship on photography on the way to the Chinese border on the train – country very beautiful, poverty seen albeit the army was well fed.

The Notable Club is a weekly, socially active lunchtime club for physically disabled people aged 16 to 60 years. Contact Dina on 07845 220349.

WEST WOODSPRING ROTARY CLUB: It was reported that Baytree School had been given £1,000 towards the purchase of equipment and another £1,000 was given to the Castle Kids’ Club to enable it to continue its good work.

Together with the £300 raised at the B&Q collection, a further £540 is due to be given to the Castle Kids’ Club.

In addition Sainsbury’s had offered matching donations towards the purchase of Water Aid Boxes that are sent to areas where, after a natural disaster, they provide clean water and items to assist families to exist in straitened circumstances.

The Weston club had given £250 and it was agreed that our club should do the same. Melany Stephenson, our president, reported on her work with Contact the Elderly, taking elderly folk out for a drive, followed by tea. John Horne reported on his participation in a sponsored carriage drive, in relays, from John O’Groats to Land’s End in aid of Teenage Cancer Care.

Members agreed to grant £200 towards this project. If anyone would like to help us in our projects please contact Dick Richards on 01934 844214.

WORLEWIND BAND: You are promised a ‘salute to stage, screen, swing and song’ if you join us on April 21, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Yatton.

It will be a night to remember. The programme is set and will ensure you are entertained with many familiar tunes and songs from the shows.

Everyone will be tapping their feet before the end of the show!

Tickets are £8 (half price for children and students) and available from St Mary’s Church Office.

For more information about WorleWind Band please see our website www.worlewindband.co.uk

WEST MENDIP GROUP OF WIs: The group meeting on April 4 at Castlebatch Community Centre was hosted by Worle WI.

There was a talk from Libby Lockyer about the work of Associated County Women of the World (ACWW) helping to empower women all over the world.

Refreshments had an Easter theme with sandwiches being accompanied by hot cross buns and Easter eggs.

Entertainment was provided by Terry Merrett-Smith with a talk on ‘Movie musical magic’.

It brought back many happy memories of times at the cinema.

The Easter theme continued with a competition for a decorated egg won by Lynda Craner of Worle WI.

CONGRESBURY OVER 60’S CLUB: Members enjoyed an afternoon from entertainer Jimi Rizzo who also had members laughing at his jokes.

He gave an outstanding performance when he sang songs from different performers such as Cliff Richard, Pat Boone, Dean Martin, Perry Como and Johnny Tillotson and many others, finishing with two songs made popular by Engelbert Humperdinck and it was agreed that it has been an excellent afternoon’s entertainment.

There are only a couple of places left on outing to Ottery St Mary on April 24.

The speaker on Tuesday will be Chris Cudlipp who will give a talk on ‘Bees and bee-keeping’, and there are just a few vacancies available for new members.

WESTON CHESS CLUB: Weston finished their division two season with a resounding 5.5-0.5 win over bottom of the table Wellington.

Malcolm Dinham retained his position as the league’s leading scorer with a quick win on bottom board. Wins were also recorded by Peter Chaplin, Pavel Madry, Rob Will and David Gough.

The whitewash was avoided when Stan Guziewicz agreed a draw with the time control approaching.

The outcome of the league now depends on Yeovil’s final two games.

The odds are in their favour as they have yet to play Wellington and, even if the final scores are tied, the result would depend on the outcome of the league games between the two sides.

The first match was drawn but the second game went Yeovil’s way so it is hoped that Wellington can pull off a shock result against a much stronger team.

WESTON WOOD TURNING CIRCLE: We are a friendly and welcoming club and would like to encourage people young and old to come and join us for an evening of woodturning.

Our next meeting will incorporate our annual meeting and will take place on April 19 commencing at 7pm at Weston Football Club in Winterstoke Road, Weston.

During the evening we will be demonstrating how to sharpen tools efficiently.

In addition some of our members will be working on a spinning wheel which is our club project for a charity yet to be nominated.

Invitations to our open evening on May 17 commencing at 7pm have been forwarded to various youth clubs, scouting organisations and local schools in an effort to attract younger people into our club.

For further information telephone John 01934 510862.

MARK FRIENDSHIP CLUB: There was a definite air of spring as members arrived carrying their Easter bonnets ready for judging in the competition.

Members are visiting Cardiff today (Thurs) and a letter had been received from former members Margaret and Ray Durston, now living in Ilminster, wishing everyone a happy Easter.

Isabel Lillico agreed to judge the Easter bonnets, but before announcing the winners, she congratulated everyone on a wide variety, with special praise for Frank Sheppard’s entry depicting the true meaning of Easter.

Winners were: first, Joan Goodman; second, Eileen Goundry and third, Doris Coleman.

Easter eggs were presented to the winners, and small Easter eggs given to each member.

WRINGTON FRIENDSHIP CLUB: At our annual meeting all of the previous committee members agreed to continue, the election of officers was quick and easy.

Again, it was pointed out the necessity to reach out for new members to keep us viable.

We are blessed with lovely people and we welcome any lady or gent who may be living quite lonely lives to come along to one of our meetings without any obligation, to witness for themselves our claim that we are the friendliest club around.

Our next few meetings are on April 27, May 18 and June 15.

As members are booked on a short break to Bournemouth and will be returning on that day the committee has cancelled the meeting due for June 1.

RAFA CONCERT BAND (BLAKEHAY RESIDENT BAND): Don’t forget our Titanic Jubilee Concert on April 21, tickets on sale now at the Blakehay Box Office (01934 645493) - truly ‘A Night to Remember’.

We still have a few vacancies for competent players on brass and woodwind especially on oboe and trombone.

Visit our website www.rafaswconcertband.org.uk or ring 01934 820205 for details.

Future engagements include: April 21, A Titanic, Jubilee Concert – A Night to Remember in the Blakehay; May 31, Ensemble for Dinner in Bristol; June 2, Queen’s Jubilee Concert in Bleadon; June 8, Charity Dinner at the Webbington and June 15, National Memorial Arboretum-Arlewas.

WEST WOODSPRING INNER WHEEL: A packed Easter meeting received a variety of reports from members.

Jeanette Thacker, who had that day returned from the district conference in Bournemouth, gave an insight of the discussions which took place amongst the 2,200 Inner Wheelers who attended.

The five representatives, who had been there from West Woodspring Club, agreed the speakers had all been excellent and marvelled at the church service, where over £8,000 was collected for charitable causes.

Dr George Papworth then entertained us with his reminiscences as an old Weston GP, from his arrival in the town in 1971 to his retirement.

Extolling the virtue of living life to the full, he reminded us that there is no cure for birth or death, stressing that we should enjoy the bit in between.

AVON FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTES: Stunning creations were on show at Cleeve Nursery recently, when the Avon Federation of Women’s Institutes paraded in their Easter bonnets. Fluffy chicks, ribbons and raffia adorned the heads of the enthusiastic group of WI ladies who set off from Cleeve Nursery to walk through the village and then back for lunch. Judging the Easter bonnet competition, Felicity Down, owner of Cleeve Nursery, said: “This is a really traditional way to celebrate Easter and many of the hats could easily be worn at Ascot!”

Organiser Felicity James was delighted with the turnout which will be repeated next year.