News

St Mary's Church was filled with Christmas trees once again from 2nd to 4th December 2011.  The theme for our tree was presents.  Members made and decorated little boxes and filled mini jam jars with small gifts.

 

An early start on Monday 17th October saw our party of 36, which included members, husbands and friends, climb aboard our coach to begin our Legal London trip.

Eager anticipation was rewarded at our first stop the Knights Templers Tavern for coffee.  This highly decorative former bank was just the beginning of our tour which then took in the grounds of Inner and Middle Temple, two of the Inns of Court, which were formed in the 14th century.

Our three course lunch was in the magnificent Elizabethan dining hall in Middle Temple.  The hall contains a treasure trove of furniture and paintings reflective of its sumptuous surroundings and extensive history, which included the first production of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' in 1602.

We all overindulged on the food during lunch which was superb and wondered how we would manage the afternoon activities.  Our guide however kept us busy with his knowledge and hidden gems of this area of London.

 

We ended our tour by visiting the Royal Courts of Justice with its gothic and imposing architecture which is often featured in the news. Although the press and cameras were waiting outside the court for the outcome of the Dale Farm appeal our visit was not recorded nationally.  It will however be remembered by all concerned as a splendid if exhausting day.

 

Ten members enjoyed a superb visit to Buckingham Palace on 8th September. 

 

With the help of audio guides, we were taken through the nineteen richly-decorated State Rooms, with their sumptuous furnishings and works of art.  The tour included a viewing of the Royal Fabergé Collection, a delightful exhibition of small artefacts crafted in precious and semi-precious metals and stones, and, the highlight, Princess Catherine's wonderful wedding dress and accessories, a replica of her bouquet, and the wedding cake.

The tour ended with a walk through the Palace gardens and the inevitable gift shop.

 

 

(Makes about 8)
225g (8oz) self-raising flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
38 g (1 1/2 oz) butter cubed
38g (1 1/2 oz) caster sugar
112g (4oz) frozen blackberries
About 100ml (3 1/2 fl oz) buttermilk or half fat milk
1 egg beaten

 

1.  Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Rub in the butter until
the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Stir in the sugar and frozen
blackberries.

2.  Stir in enough, milk to form firm dough.  Knead very lightly and roll out
on a flowered surface to 2.5 cm thick (1 inch).  Using a 6.5 cm (2 1/2 inch) cutter,
stamp into rounds being careful to avoid cutting through the blackberries. Knead and carefully re roll as necessary.

3.  Place scones on a greased baking sheet and brush with beaten egg.  Bake in oven at 220 c (425F) mark 7 gas for about 10 minutes until well-risen and golden brown.

 

For competition make 4 and place on a paper plate.
 

Starters

1. Vegetarian roasted butternut squash & cumin soup.
2. Oak smoked salmon roulade filled with cream cheese & chives with mixed leaves & lemon vinaigrette.
3. Chicken liver paté with Prested chutney & Melba toast.

 

 

1. Roast turkey with chestnut & cranberry stuffing, chipolata & rich roast gravy.

2. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding & rich roast gravy.
3. Baked salmon fillet with crushed new potatoes & creamed leeks.
4. Vegetarian wild mushroom, leek & tomato provencale tart with Madeira cream sauce & rocket salad. 

 

All main courses served with roast potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

 

Dessert

1.  Christmas pudding & brandy sauce.
2.  Fresh fruit salad with mint syrup.
3.  Dark chocolate roulade with Bailey’s & white chocolate cream filling & raspberry coulis.

 

Followed by tea, coffee & mince pies.

On Wednesday 31st August twelve members travelled by bus from Kelvedon to Dedham.  The weather was very overcast but after a reviving cup of coffee we walked to Flatford Mill where we had lunch.  After spending a most enjoyable day in the pretty village enjoying some of Constable's art we returned home in time for tea.

 

The garden was lovely, the evening bright.
When the W I ladies arrived that night.
Plied with drinks, they wandered around
Admiring the display of art work they'd found.
As soon as the ladies had taken a seat,
Out came the fish 'n' chips, Oh, what a treat.
Fresh fruit salad was next to be had.
Then came a game making everyone glad.
Tea, coffee, the raffle, then clearing away.
What an enjoyable end to the day.

by Daphne Mead.

 

Our coach left Kelvedon on a rather cool, grey morning and we pulled into the car park at Dunwich beach at exactly midday.  As soon as the coach had come to a halt, the owner of the beach café leapt aboard and having reeled off the day's menu, took our orders for fish and chips.  We filed into the café and found our seats.  The whole lunch service was operated like a military campaign and we were very soon tucking into our freshly fried delicious fish and chips.

Unfortunately it wasn't a day to linger on the beach, but after lunch we had an opportunity to visit the Dunwich Museum which told the story of how this important medieval port had been swallowed up by the sea in the early Middle Ages.  There was also an art exhibition in the village.

We then drove to Westleton Church.  The reason for the visit to the Flower Festival at the Church followed on from a visit to the Broderers 'Guild in Norwich Cathedral last autumn where a group of us had seen a new altar frontal being stitched for Westleton Church, which was due to be finished in time for the annual Wild Flower Festival.  St Peter's, Westleton is a simple 15th Century church with a plain white interior.  This stark setting was a wonderful background for the beautiful wild flower arrangements, with themes linked to passages from the Psalms.  Unfortunately we were disappointed to see that the altar frontal was not in place - although the embroidery had been completed, the frontal was still in Norwich awaiting final finishing touches.

A great day out, with a promise to visit Westleton Wild Flower Festival another year when the altar frontal will finally be in place.

 

 

 

Eighteen of us met at the United Reform Church on Thursday 3rd March 2011.  We had arrived, with great trepidation, to take part in a voice workshop led by singing teacher Angela Dennis.  We needn't have worried as Angela immediately put us at ease.  

 

After some stretching and breathing exercises, which relaxed us, we started to use our voices.  Although we did not have any musical accompaniment  with Angela's patient instruction we were soon singing away and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  Split into three groups of different voices, we managed to sing some rounds, ending by singing Let it be. 

 

Our two hours was over all too quickly - we felt that we would have liked to carry on for longer.  It was a wonderful way to spend a chilly March afternoon and we hope to invite Angela back for some more sessions.