Our activities in 2024
We started 2024 with our post Christmas lunch at Rutland Water Golf Club. Some of us then walked our meal off by walking to Egleton. At our meeting we heard from Paul Dadford about the Oakham Green corridor.
In February we took part in a treasure trail at Wymondham followed by lunch at the Berkeley Arms. there was also a visit to the Corby Cube to see the best of Franki Valli. There was also a social six and a floristry workshop where members produced some lovely displays... At our meeting we learned about Victorian tea etiquette from Baroness Bolsover and concluded a busy month with a visit to Growers Row to learn how to make hardwood cuttings.
In March Jackie led a group in making bead bracelets. Christina and Jackie attended the Federation's annual council meeting and at our monthly meeting we heard about the Rutland sea dragon
In April social sixes were held so that members could meet for a chat over coffee. Jackie led a craft session making Kusudams flowers and at the end of the month there was a bluebell walk at Barnsdale woods.
In May there was a walk from Wardley to Alexton on a beautiful sunny day. We were advised about the benefits of making an LPA and our speaker taught us about the production of handwoven bags in the Philippines.
June saw Jackie representing us at the NFWI meeting at the Albert Hall. The month was busy with a visit to Tolethorpe to see the recruiting officer, a session at growers row taking cuttings, a visit to Easton Walled Garden and a lovely sunny walk at Ridlington.
In July four members walked at Illston followed by coffee at Buttercups cafe. We hosted the federation quiz with one of our teams being overall winners. We again visited Fernleys for crazy golf on a lovely sunny day. Our Summer outing was to Deene Park with an impressive tour and a chance to explore the gardens. At the end of the month a small group enjoyed a visit to Tolethorpe to see the youth production and have a picnic lunch in the grounds
August was a quieter month with just two walks in addition to our monthly meeting; the ever popular canal walk and also a walk at Launde. In addition the history group had lunch and a really interesting tour at Southwick Hall - see the history group page for more details.
September by contast was very busy. We held our second annual Petanque competition at the Wheatsheaf. We managed to get a few ends in before rain stopped play but then enjoyed lunch. There was also a bat walk by the canal with kingfishers spotted, a visit to Grimsthorpe Castle, a treasure trail and lunch at Noth Luffenham and a walk from Picks Barn. Not only that, we also enjoyed hearing from Roxanne at our monthly meeting about her life as a belly dancer, snake charmer and fire eater.
In October members enjoyed a lovely sunny walk on quiet roads to Gaulby as well as a shorter walk along the shores of Rutland Water at Edith Weston followed by lunch. There were a number of social sixes as well as a craft session making decoupage flower pots
In November members enjoyed a very informative session learning about dementia run by Dementia Friends and hosted by Oakham Grange Care Home. A walk was held at Exton followed by coffee at Barnsdale Gardens cafe. Once again we were very lucky with the weather and whilst cold, it was sunny and dry.
As well as the many events above, the book club and the history group continue to meet regularly.