HERE'S your WI and YCA reports from Ryedale.

WI REPORTS

Marton & Normanby - The autumn season will start with a meeting in Marton Mission Room on Wednesday, September 7 at 7pm when Cath Featherstone will demonstrate the art of beadwork. Thanks are due to Claire for arranging the visit to the birds of prey centre at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, in July which was followed by a picnic. Thanks are also due to Wendy for organising the annual August trip first to Lealholm for lunch and then onto The Little Esk Theatre in Glaisdale to see Eduating Rita. Visitors are welcome to join the branch but just turning up at a meeting which are held on the first Wednesday in the month.

Welburn & Bulmer - The president welcomed members from Sand Hutton and other WIs to the August meeting. The secretary read the minutes and all members were asked to make sure they had signed the card to celebrate the branch’s 90th anniverary. Attention was drawn to the autumn council meeting at Easingwold. A talk was then given by Jean Harrod, a long-time member of the diplomatic service, who has just written her second book based on her life experiences. She outlined her varied career and mentioned some of the numerous postings in different parts of the world. She spoke of her involvement with British citizens who required consular help in various situations in which they found themselves, such as lost passports and imprisonment. In retirement she began to write books based on her experiences and members were able to buy a copy of her latest book, Deadly Deceit. Joyce Goodwill thanked her for a most interesting talk. At the next meeting on Wednesday, September 14, Hazel Ward will talk on bookbinding.

YCA REPORT

Thirteen members were present at the August meeting of Rillington and District YCA held in the village hall. After dinner speaker and floral artist Tony Cleaver and his friend, Peter, gave a presentation on the Squares and Gardens of London. Many of these are open for just one weekend in the year, others all the time but often missed by visitors. A number of private gardens are on roof tops and one in particular contained mature trees growing in just inches of earth. Sue Butler thanked Tony and Peter. Tony judged the competition for a colourful photograph of flowers or a garden and awarded first prize to Heather Thornes, second was Eileen Myers and third Babs Buckley. The August newsletter had been circulated to all members and a number of items highlighted at the meeting. The evening’s hostesses were Marjorie Grice and Mollie Tindall. Marjorie sold tickets for the raffle. Tracey Ireland has recently taken part in and completed the Marie Curie London to Paris cycle ride and members were invited to sponsor Tracey. A member of Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue will talk about its work at the September meeting.