WE welcomed Jan Seager back as president after a break of four years. She, in turn, welcomed all those members and two visitors who had bravely made their way to the cricket club, despite the torrential rain. She opened the meeting with a witty poem
entitled “Whose job” which did not particularly allude to our institute this year with its large and willing committee, and she hoped that we would enjoy another successful and interesting 12 months.
A group of members will go to Stockwell Lodge on December 7 to sing Christmas carols to the residents. The clean-up campaign at Aspin pond will continue through the year when volunteers from the institute will check the pond and surrounds on a monthly basis. The pond is of particular interest, being one of three in the area which were fished by the monks from Knaresborough Abbey.
The November walk yesterday was set to be in the Ripley area, with lunch at the tearooms afterwards.
Over the past few months, members have been knitting multi-coloured squares to make into blankets. On show were 12 blankets, each containing 48 squares. These will be sent to Ethiopia for the use and comfort of women leaving hospital after treatment for problems associated with female circumcision.
The RHS at Harlow Carr was the subject of our speaker, Angela Henson. She gave us a brief history of the gardens which were started almost 60 years ago by the Northern Horticultural Society on land owned by Harrogate Borough Council. In 2001, the NHS joined forces with the Royal Horticultural Society and already alterations have been made together with ambitious plans for the future.
A new Learning Centre and Library are planned to replace the outgrown old premises. A wooded area to the rear of the planned building will be known as “Geoffrey’s Wood” in memory of Geoffrey Smith, who died earlier this year. Angela enhanced her talk with beautiful slides of the gardens over the years and through the seasons.
The competition for a dried and pressed leaf was won by Bronwen Griffiths.
Our December meeting will be the Christmas party when we will be entertained by the “Songbirds.” A fuddle supper is planned and the competition will be a handmade party hat. New members are always welcome, so feel free to join the party.
