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President: Pat Maslen

GREETINGS FROM OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT

From a very warm conservatory looking out on the lovely colours of summer flowers in the garden I am reminded of the lovely second year I have had the privilege of serving as your President. Thank you to each of you for continuing within Dursley’s very active club programme to “Give Hope Through Service “ I hope, as myself, you have enjoyed the Fun, Fellowship, along with Friendship within our service together. As I return to the District Executive as International Service Officer, with Sue Allen as Member Of Council, I am so grateful for the pledged support I have received from members. Sue, many congratulations upon your appointment from all of us, you will have our full support. I would wish Pam, and the Club, every success and happiness, assuring my continued service in the coming year under her leadership. Now onwards and upwards as the Wheel turns for the 2015/16 year Yours In Inner Wheel Friendship

Pat.

CONFERENCE 2015

On Monday 20th April Sarah & I set off for our Conference destination. It was a lovely day, sunny and warm, and we made good progress arriving in Bournemouth at lunch time. After checking into our hotel and meeting up with

our Inner Wheel friends from Dursley, we walked through the lovely gardens where we had a leisurely lunch while watching 100's of Blue and Yellow balloons being paraded through the gardens. It was quite a spectacular sight. On Tuesday the Conference started in earnest with a celebration of friendship service

INNER WHEEL CLUB OF DURSLEY

NEWSROUND - JUNE 2015

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conducted by the Reverend Diane Weaver, accompanied by the Salvation Army Fellowship Band and District 4 Choir. We all sang some lovely hymns which we all enjoyed. It helped to get us into the Conference mood. Thelma Pascoo, Association President, introduced the President of International Inner Wheel Abha Gupta, who gave us an inspiring talk. Thelma then introduced our first guest speaker, Prue Leith, CBE, who entertained us all with snippets from her life and tales of her books, which most of us had read and enjoyed. After lunch we all assembled for the second Conference session which was both inspiring and humbling. Canine Partners had most of us ooing and ahing over lovely and intelligent dogs who were such an asset to their owners and gave them some independence. It was truly amazing to see. Second guest speaker was Dr Paul Whittaker, OBE, who has been profoundly deaf since the age of eight. He is an organist and pianist and travels all over the world entertaining and helping deaf people. It was a stunning insight to us all between our laughter and tears. It was sad, but memorable. In the evening we were entertained by 'Masquerade' with classic hits from the West End, Hollywood and Broadway. They were very entertaining and enjoyed by everyone. On Wednesday the AGM started at 9.30 with an introduction of the Platform Party, with reports from the Association Committee. Association and Editors' Home Service Report raising a minimum of £1,222,099

given to charities. Association International Report with 343 charities sharing £74,785.93. This is only a very brief mention of some of the activities reported on, but in general it was very interesting, and truly amazing the amount of money that is raised by Inner Wheel Clubs in GB&I. The third guest speaker was Ann Widdecombe who entertained us all

with her antics and tales of her time on Strictly (am am sure you will all remember) and all the escapades she has been involved in. She is a truly great entertainer and we had many laughs with her. Thelma Pascoo, Association President, gave us a rousing and inspiring talk. She had us all enthralled with what she has achieved throughout her year. What a woman She then declared the 2015 Conference closed. Our final entertainment was The New Forest Choir with children as young as four years, enchanting us with their songs and humour from the conductor, who was amazing with them.

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Wednesday evening entertainment was Glitz & Glamour with dance band 'Old Dogz New Trix' with everyone dressed up and dancing to sixties and seventies music which most of us remembered.

Great Night. In conclusion, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed my first Conference. Every minute was filled with admiration for all the Committee Members who do so much work behind the scenes, not forgetting all the Inner Wheel members who contribute in their own way for many charities. I can thoroughly recommend the next Conference in Glasgow. I am already looking forward to it.

Shirley Smith

Gill Potter

Sue Hawkins

Menna Wellings

Hazel Harris

Jenny Chappell & Cynthia Jones

4th June

5th June

5th June

16th June

17th June

CLUB OUTING TO HIDCOTE MANOR GARDENS

On a rather damp morning last month twenty two members and friends set off by coach to visit the gardens at Hidcote. On arrival everyone made for the restaurant where we enjoyed tea, coffee and, for some of us, cake! Despite the drizzle the gardens looked fresh and lovely, all beautifully landscaped with some interesting twists and turns. Unfortunately the rain got heavier so we retreated to the restaurant, this time for lunch. We were to have visited Chipping Campden in the afternoon but everyone was in agreement that we abandon that part of the day out and enjoy a scenic ride home through the Cotswolds.

It turned out to be a wise decision as the rain continued to fall and although the villages and countryside didn't look quite so lovely as on a perfect sunny day, there was still much to see and admire. Thank you Maeve for having the idea and organising the visit. We all enjoyed it and remember, the one thing one can't organise is THE WEATHER !

Midie Macdonald

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16TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - 5TH-9TH May 2015

Sue Allen & Gill Davis (together with their husbands) attended the International Convention held in Copenhagen, Denmark and Gill has

written the following: ******************

We stayed at The Palace Hotel in the centre of Copenhagen which was built in 1910 and whilst it has been modernised it keeps many of it’s original features. Proceedings commenced on the Wednesday and the welcome Reception and Banner Exchange was held at the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Centre that evening when I think most of the 2190 delegates from 55 countries attended. Wine flowed with delicious canapés both savoury and sweet. We met a number of delegates and handed out our leaflets. The Opening Ceremony on Thursday was brought forward to a 9.00 am start. The Chief Steward made a surprise announcement which was that HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark was about to arrive (we wondered why they were laying red carpet outside the hotel). She had come primarily to name and baptize with champagne a new pink rose, called ‘INNER WHEEL FOREVER’. The sales of the rose will support the important work of the Inner Wheel organization, and be available worldwide from Autumn 2015/Spring 2016. We have a leaflet if anyone is interested, or it can be looked up on the growers website: www.roses-forever.com. The Flag Ceremony followed, and a Welcome by President, Abha Gupta, she then lit the Candle of Friendship and announced the 16th Convention open. We were taken by coach to Docken for the Hospitality Evening to a warehouse type of building where 900+ sat down for a meal. I sat next to the Association President of Australia who was very much looking forward to the next day’s announcement of the next Convention as Australia had applied for it to be in Melbourne. The other delegates were taken to four other venues. It was a long day only buffered by the Gala Dinner that evening which took place in a unique hall in the old Cattle Market in the centre of Copenhagen. It was a sparkling evening with the delegates in evening dress or national costumes and the men in black tie. I sat next to a super lady from Reunion Island. I had never heard of the Island which she told me it is south of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It is French speaking, although her English was excellent, and they had 16 delegates attending the convention. The final day being a Saturday kept everyone busy as the business needed to be completed from the previous day before lunch. The Closing Ceremony started at 2.00 pm with the arrival of the Executive Board Directors an IIW President. Abha Gupta presented five Young Generation Inner Wheel speakers. Abha Gupta then announced that the New International social project for 2015-2018 would continue with ‘Happier Futures for Better Lives’ and also announced that the next Convention would be held in Melbourne, Australia and the auditorium exploded with applause.

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We were then entertained firstly by a choir formed from members from the Danish Inner Wheel Clubs all dressed in red and white (except one). Practices had taken place in various parts of Demark and this was the first time they had actually all sung together. Actors dressed in Indian Costumes and then children between the ages of 4 and 7 dressed in red and white polka-dot dresses danced in formation. The choir came back on stage to sing the Farewell song.

Gill Davis

Gill pictured with IIWP Abha Gupta and also with the President of the Manchester Founding Club wearing her marvellous regalia - Convention gives all delegates the opportunity to meet and speak with the 'highest' and 'lowest' of members.

???? DO YOU REMEMBER ?????

Many thanks to Margaret for this photo. I don't know which

year it was taken, but I am sure one of you will let me know !! -

You lovely ladies don't seem to have changed that much

Editor

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QUIZ NIGHT WITH THE LIONESSES, TANGENT & LADIES PROBUS

Another successful evening was spent at the Community Centre on

Wednesday 17th June with members from Dursley Lionesses, The

Ladies Probus Club, Dursley Tangent and several of our

members. The Lionesses have already booked the 15th June 2016

for the event they will organise which bodes well for this fellowship

continuing between our organisations.

The photographs show the winning team with Maggie Butterfield,

President of Tangent, who organised the evening this year and the

team winning the wooden spoon who were more than happy.

Gill Davis

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IMPORTANT

7th July OPEN DOOR BBQ

Frampton on Severn Sailing Club

8th July District Summer Rally - Penyard House HR9 7YH

2 Course Lunch with Tea or Coffee

12 noon for 12.30 pm

£19 pp

20th July

District Meeting & Assembly The Gables, Falfield

Dinner including tea or coffee - £12.50 - 6.00 pm followed by District Meeting at 7.00 pm

5.00 pm for group sessions

21st July Club Business Meeting

The Prince of Wales Hotel Berkeley Road

5.45 pm for 6.15 pm

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INTERCLUBS INTERCLUBS INTERCLUBS

12th August Stroud Interclub, Whitminster Village Hall Speaker Paul Moir - Ricocco Gardens, Painswick

Two course buffet lunch with tea or coffee

12 noon for 12.30 pm

£16.50 pp

Editor: Sarah Crumpton - sarah@crumptononline.co.uk www.innerwheel-dursley.org.uk

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