| His talk was entitled "Sex, Bishops, Money and the Tower of London", and covered every century since the tower was built. Leaving out Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard (subjects of another talk), he told us about many people imprisoned in the Tower and also how many nursery rhymes were written on the basis of naughty or saucy goings-on associated with the title of his talk. He spent a while after his talk answering questions about his life, how he became a Beefeater and some amusing anecdotes on life at the Tower of London. He is on the speakers’ list and can be highly recommended as a speaker
Laughter echoed around the Melksham Assembly Rooms as 250 WI members, husbands and friends listened to Phillip Serrel’s tales of "An Auctioneer’s Lot". He trained at Loughborough College with Sebastian Coe – but was always a lap behind!! And when he started his first teaching job in Sport and Geography and couldn’t answer any of the ‘A’ level students questions he thought he ought to leave. He fared slightly better at an Estate Agents until he was sent to help out at the cattle market, and his stories of encounters with cattle don’t bear repeating. After a break for refreshments Phillip answered questions about antiques and valued several items, with advice for all. It was altogether a very amusing and informative evening. We had another event in April to celebrate St George’s Day in style. We took four coaches from various points in the county to visit Kew Gardens and the newly renovated Kew Palace. Kew Palace was the “small house” George III and his family escaped to when the pressures of being King became too great for him. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the house. The gardens around the house were full of beautiful spring bulbs, and of course there was the fantastic exotic plants in the greenhouses to be admired.
On Thursday 11 September we are returning to the Assembly Rooms in Melksham for a very full day of Food, Fashion and Flowers, so keep your diary clear for that day. More information in the weeks to come.
TEAS AND LUNCHES
Are you planning to visit Wiltshire? The following WIs are willing to provide teas (and in some cases lunches) for parties visiting our County.
Amesbury
Chirton & District
Deverill Valley & Crockerton
Dilton Marsh
Kington St Michael
Limpley Stoke
Mere
Quidhampton
Westwood
You can contact these WIs through Steffy Pawling, Federation Secretary.
|