Thank you so much to Kathy Winson for organising our accommodation and meals at the Marriott Hotel, ideally located in the centre of Cardiff near to the Motorpoint Arena, where the 95th Inner Wheel Association Conference was held this year. The ten of us also appreciated travelling together to Cardiff in a smart minibus, hired by Veronica Malkowski.

The Conference opened with a welcoming celebration of service and friendship led by Reverend Kate Bottley, an inspirational priest at Barnby Moor Church in North Nottinghamshire, who currently presents Good Morning Sunday on BBC Radio 2 and often appears on other Radio & TV shows. The service was accompanied by the Melgriffith Brass Band and Inner Wheel District 4 Choir. A collection was taken for Hope & Homes for Children.

Association President Ann Acaster from District 4 (York Vikings) gave her opening remarks with her motto, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Rev. Kate Bottley was the first guest speaker, who showed her passion for stories of faith along with her sense of humour. Unfortunately guest speaker Esther Rantzen had been taken ill.

In the afternoon, Lesley Schatzberger was presented with a cheque for Jessie’s Fund, which she founded after her 9 year old daughter died from a brain tumour. A professional musician, Lesley realised that music could help sick children to communicate. Our final speaker, Ed Pratt at the age of 19, decided to ride a unicycle round the world alone, returning home 31/2 years later, having raised over £300,000 for the charity School in a Bag. What an amazing achievement! Cor Y Cwm, a children’s choir, which had won the “Youth Choir” competition at the National Eisteddfod last year, completed an impressive afternoon.

After a buffet style 3 course evening meal together in the hotel, with plenty of choice to suit everyone, we returned to the Conference Centre to be entertained and enthralled by Andrew Grisewood’s beautiful floral arrangements.

Instead of attending the AGM on Wednesday morning, a few of us decided to explore Cardiff Bay with a tour round the new Welsh Assembly and a visit to the Norwegian Church before catching a ferry to Cardiff Castle. We met a large number of Cardiff University students in the adjacent park, who had come to play in a rugby match against Swansea University. After coffee and a light lunch in the old town, we walked back to the Conference Centre for the afternoon session.

Rudhiya Budden, Global Ambassador for Hope & Homes for Children, gave a heart rendering talk about eradicating orphanages and supporting children into loving, stable families instead. She was presented with a cheque for this very worthwhile charity. Rainer Hersch drew the Conference to an end with his amusing, musical talent.

Dain Pinder kindly hosted a pre-dinner drinks and nibbles party, as we all “dressed in our best!” in black with a hint of pink! We danced the evening away to the sound of the “Amazing Blues Brothers and the Amazing Soul Revue”!

It certainly was a brilliant Inner Wheel Conference, organised and presented by President Ann Ancaster, who selected excellent speakers and musical entertainers, in true Inner Wheel fun & friendship.

Margaret Thomas

Club Correspondent