Lisnagarvey area WI holds annual meeting

THE 28th Annual Meeting of the Lisnagarvey Area was held in Christ Church Halls.

Area Chairperson Heather Adair Killutagh WI opened the meeting by welcoming members and the guest speaker, Baroness May Blood MBE.

Executive member, Helen Dunlop gave the Federation and Homecraft reports. Other Sub Committee reports were given by Dorothy Andrews for Magazine and Leisure Marie Darrah for Home and Garden, Barbara Craig for Balmoral and Noelle Hayes for The Arts.

Baroness Blood gave a brief insight into her life’s work, leaving school, at a young age and working in the linen mill for 38 years until it closed.

During this time she was an active member of the trade union and a shop steward promoting equality for women at work.

She was much involved in the community which also included cross community work as she found that women on both sides of the peace wall had the same social concerns ie housing, suicides, education and mental health issues.

May was given her MBE by the Queen in 1995 and in 1999 she received her life peerage becoming Baroness Blood of Blackwatertown in the County of Armagh,

She was the first woman in Northern Ireland to be given a life peerage.

The Baroness still works tirelessly in the House of Lords for the people of Northern Ireland and also with the community.

The Baroness received a standing ovation after an inspirational talk and Olive Campbell of Killutagh thanked her for taking the time to come and speak to us.

After a delicious supper members had an opportunity to view the excellent craft items and competition entries on display.

Mrs Helen Dunlop then presented the annual awards: Area Quiz Shield, Caroline Price, Rhonda Minford and Jean McCord of Glenavy WI; Area Bowls Shield, May Best, Killutagh WI; Anna Wilson Cup for Cookery, Ina Watson, Maghaberry WI; Masie Law Slaver for Craft, Shirley Dew, Maghaberry; Ann Henning Salver for Craft Ribbons, Sally Chapman, Maghaberry WI, who also received her gold spinning wheel.

Silver Spinning Wheels were also presented to Gillian Beattie, Maghaberry WI, Margaret Leckey and Eleanor Sufferin, Maze Brookfield WI.

A special tribute was given to Julie Uprichard, Maghaberry, in achieving The Full Circle, in which a high standard has to be attained in 55 different crafts and the first one to be won by a member of Lisnagarvey Area.

Pauline High, Glenavy WI, gave a vote of thanks to all the institutes, for making the evening successful and a special thanks to Helen Dunlop Executive Member, for all the work she does on the WI’s behalf through out the year.