This year’s CFWI’s Autumn meeting was at The Storyhouse, Chester. It took many months of planning, speaker changes and worries about footfall and venue availability but as a Federation we were delighted that the event went off so beautifully. This was a social event and on this occasion no business was set, however, our Federation Chair, Selina Prescot welcomed members to such a wonderful venue.
We were delighted to have three inspiring women to talk to us – .Karin Snape, a Cheshire WI member, who told us about her walk from John O’Groats’s to Land’s End raising over £27,000 for Guide Dogs. She told of the many people who supported her along the way from a cup of tea to bed and breakfast, but she found everyone to be kind and generous particularly the many WI members from across the country. Our second morning speaker was Debra Drake, finalist on BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee. Her story surely inspired members to not give up and follow dreams at whatever age. Debra is clearly enjoying her new adventure teaching sewing in North Wales. We were able to see some of her successes and failures from the
Our guests meet in the Garrett Room for lunch.
programme and she gave us a marvellous insight into the background of the programme from recruitment, models and of course the two judges. After a lunch break when many members tasted the delights offered in Chester we welcomed Philippa Forrester, TV presenter, writer, director and producer of many programmes including Tomorrows World and numerous nature programmes. She talked about her time living in Yellowstone National Park and her fascination with wolves and their re-introduction into the park and other animals which she has adopted over the years including two otters, street dogs and birds of prey.
Message from Philippa
Following the interest in my new book ‘Wild Woman’ at the event on Tuesday, I spoke to Sarah Head at marketing at Bloomsbury and she has done us a wonderful favour. We can offer 20% off if they would like to pre order it. They just need to enter WOMENSINSTITUTE at the checkout of the Bloomsbury website when ordering the book.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/wild-woman-9781399400879/
We had a wonderful raffle generously supported by our members and the results of the 2023 Summer Photographic Competition. It was just a wonderful day.
A full write up will appear in November’s Cheshire News.
