The Parish Ladies
The Parish Ladies
The Parish Ladies originally started as “The Homemakers” by Mrs Manktelow, wife of the vicar of St John’s church at that time. Membership of the group has gradually expanded to include ladies from Holy Trinity and Goldsborough as well as from St. John’s, and so at the Annual General Meeting in 2002 a change of title was agreed upon and The Homemakers became The Parish Ladies. The current membership is 26.
The Group meets on the second Wednesday every month (excluding August) at St. John's Church Hall at 7:30pm, including a Christmas Party and an annual outing in June. At the other meetings there are speakers on a wide variety of subjects, including illustrated and fascinating travels from the Rockies to New Zealand, as well as in this country. (On our own doorstep – Allerton Castle, but not many had been there!). Healthcare has been touched upon with Homeopathy, Bach Flower Remedies and acupuncture; also people with interesting jobs, past (Florence Nightingale) and present (a John Tiller girl – now retired but still with a good high kick!). A most interesting speaker was the former Cook to the Queen, who later opened the Balmoral Hotel in Harrogate, with her permissions to call it by that name. He now helps provide some of the beautiful meals at St. Michael’s Hospice.
Some of our speakers are chosen with a view mainly for entertainment and a good laugh.
Needless to say, all our meetings include cups of tea and cake (homemade if we are lucky). A treat in store later in the year is a talk by a lady who has been to Oberammergau, as 2010 is a year for a live performance.
There have also been open meetings for fund raising. Recently we have supported the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and the Great North Air Ambulance. At one of our own meetings in November we were able to give a substantial donation to the British Skin Foundation.
The Annual Outing in June has, for last three years, been bedeviled by rain and there is talk of changing the month, but that is for the future. So long as we have a “House” to visit and a good tea things have not been too bad.
We are an independent organization and decisions for change, if needed, can be taken at any time (Occasionally at the Annual General Meeting!) and our meetings rarely include much “Business”.
Membership costs £10.00 per year, or single visits for £1.50.
Hon. Secretary: Mona Lunn: Tel. 01423 864662.
PARISH LADIES SUMMER OUTING IN SKIPTON, JUNE 2010
Grey the sky and damp the air. Yes – it was the day of the Parish Ladies Summer Outing. (A wit suggested we try November next time!). Our trip was to Skipton for a cruise on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal with lunch. We left Knaresborough at 10.00 a.m.,and reached Skipton in good time to board the “Dalesman” at 11.30 a.m. I t was just a pity that the drizzly weather made it difficult to see from the windows, although they were steamed up with the “hot air” inside! We went in the direction of Leeds, as far as Farnhill Woods, where a basin had been dug out for the Boat to turn round; and were escorted much of the way by a graceful heron, who flew ahead and then stood until the boat approached and then flew ahead again, as though assuring us that it was O.K. to continue.
 A stewardess brought drinks from the bar and then lunch was served. This was a generous salad with coleslaw and potato salad with one of five choices fromTuna mayonnaise to vegetarian quiche; dessert was a syllabub and this was followed by tea and coffee.
This was a delightful way to travel (if you were not in a hurry) as the boat glided smoothly along through pleasant coutryside. When we returned there was a cold blustery wind blowing around Skipton so we decided to return home immediately. When planning the Outing there always has to be insurance, in the way of refuge should it rain, and in this case even had the sun been shining we could not have gone on the top, but it would have been nice to have been able to open the windows. If any-one did not enjoy it they were keeping remarkably quiet about it!!!
Fred Trueman (cricketing legend) Statue in Skipton The next meeting is the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 7th July at St. John’s Church Hall at 7.30 p.m. when we will have a shared supper, also a raffle. There is no meeting in August. Our 2010 – 2011 season opens on Wednesday, 8th September, at St. John’s Hall at 7.30p.m. with “Oberammergau – A Dream Come True”. Mona Lunn. |
