I hope you all have your tickets for our exciting pre- Christmas event. A little bird told me that Yvonne has volunteered to model. It’s going to be a great get together.

Elaine Campin chaired our October meeting. As our area representative on the District International Committee, it was Elaine who organised the evening inviting the speaker and Lynda Wallace the District International Chairman as our guests.

Marion Tasker gave us a lovely presentation showing what happened to all those items that we prepare on our Working Day. Baby Bundles, Joy Bags and Toy Bags. It was great to hear her first hand account of the people she met whilst accompanying the convoy and to see photos of the delighted recipients.

Elaine also had the pleasurable duty of inducting our new member, Claire Parsons. Claire knows us quite well as her mum Veronica has been a very active member for years. After accepting her membership badge and telling us a little about herself, she was promptly put to work selling tickets!!

In January 2024 we will celebrate 100 years since the foundation of the first Inner Wheel Club in GB&I. As part of the celebrations The Inner Wheel Club of Mansfield are going to do lots of activities incorporating ‘100 for 100’

Keeping Fit – at our recent Summer Lunch members began the challenge of 100 skips for 100 days.

Some years ago Inner Wheel International introduced the project of baby bundles joy bags toy bags and roy bags. These bags are filled with “Goodies” for mums, children and dads when a new baby is born and a baby bundle is presented in order to encourage the mum to attend antenatal classes and get the baby immunised. At Mansfield Inner Wheel we work with the National Police Aid Charity which takes our goods to wherever needed in these times of war and natural disasters. We know our items will be safely delivered and enjoyed by many destitute families.

Yvonne Neville had a busy time chairing our September meeting. First of all she was delighted to induct Marie Hollingworth as a new member of Inner Wheel and then Mary Hind, this year’s District Chairperson was introduced to the Club.

Marie has become a familiar face at meetings in the last few months and we’re all very pleased with her decision to join as a full member.

DC Mary told us about herself and life before Inner Wheel and also her hopes for the continuing future of Inner Wheel as an organisation relevant in the 21st Century.

This year Sue Stoakes opened her garden to help us to raise Club funds for our chosen charities. It was a gorgeous venue to enjoy a delicious lunch and catch up with friends.

Rosemary and David Wilson put together lots of lawn games and competitions that were a great success thanks to the beautiful weather. Lorna had a go at ‘Splatting the Rat’ and we even had a visitor all the way from Skaskatchewan in Canada – Barbara Dixon’s cousin -to join in the fun.

In January 2024 we will celebrate 100 years since the foundation of the first Inner Wheel Club in GB and I. As part of the celebrations we are asked as a club to do ‘100 for 100’, Dain has many ideas!
At our recent Summer Lunch, which was a great success, 10 members attempted to complete 10 skips each amidst much laughter making our first ‘100.’

And here’s our lovely Madam President Margaret working quietly in the background. We all wish her a happy year filled with friendship and fun.

 Lynda Wallace, District 22 International Chairman, organised a Summer Garden Lunch at Elaine Campin’s home on July 9th.  Henry Thomas cooked all the ham, turkey, salmon and new potatoes for the lunch, whilst Margaret Thomas, Elaine and several other Mansfield IW members made the quiches, salads and served the lunch to everyone.

Inner Wheel was well supported by Members of Rotary and family members which all made it a really special day.

The Induction Day was held at Eastwood Hall on Monday July 24th.  10 Mansfield IW members attended the event, which was an enjoyable occasion with the friendship of Inner Wheel members.  Lunch was served at 12 noon and the formal meeting commenced at 2.00pm.

Olivia Harding attended Samworth Church Academy School and was chosen to apply for a scholarship and bursary to attend Gordonstoun School in Scotland for 2 years in the Sixth Form.  Both Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, and King Charles 111 went to Gordonstoun School.  Olivia was very happy at Gordonstoun and really enjoyed having her own room, playing sport and making friends with other students.  She will be going to Leeds’ University in September. She spoke incredibly well and we were very impressed with her talk.

Members may be interested to know that Nick Linney, one of our previous speakers, was a pupil at Gordonstoun in his youth.

President Kathy ended her most successful year and couldn’t believe how quickly the time had gone by since the garden AGM at Rosemary’s last June.

One last very pleasant task was to donate a cheque on behalf of the Club to one of our local chosen charities – The Bellamy Road Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

Veronica hands over a cheque to Lesley Salmon which will boost funds for the Bellamy Road summer outing. Also in the photo President Kathy stands next to Sandra Alvey from Fare Share, the region’s largest food distribution charity.

And so on to the next Inner Wheel Year. Kathy inducted Margaret Ceney president of the Inner Wheel Club of Mansfield for the year 2023 to 2024. Margaret thanked Kathy for all she had done and presented her with a gift and flower arrangement from the Club.

It has been a landmark year with the death of the Queen and the coronation of the new King. Kathy has steered us through the year in her calm and efficient manner, with cheerfulness, good humour and a positive outlook at all times. Thank you from us all.

We celebrated our 77th Charter Anniversary at the Hostess Restaurant in Sookholme in a warm and joyous atmosphere. President Kathy welcomed guests from Inner Wheel Clubs around the district and a number of members of the District 22 Executive Committee. Many guests were accompanied by their partners We were treated to some excellent entertainment from Martin Perry who played the guitar and sang, in between recounting childhood memories of becoming immersed in rock and roll music.

Ann Pradhan decorated our Inner Wheel emblem with the Inner Wheel colours of blue and yellow.

Kathy seated between Member of Council Di Hylton and this year’s District Chairman Elaine Hopkins.

Kathy and Club secretary Anne Lyons. Next year Anne will still be our Club secretary but will also take on the role of Member of Council on the District Executive. The lovely top table arrangements were made by Jennifer Brackenbury. On each of the other dining tables Rosemary Wilson produced pretty arrangements also in blue and yellow. At the end of the evening President Kathy said these could be claimed by the person on each table whose birthday was nearest to the 18th February – Kathy’s birthday.

Elaine Campin who is one of District 22’s international service coordinators with a guest from the Ravenshead Club, Liz Teale

Whoops – Mary Hind, the incoming Chairman of District 22 and her partner seemed to be missing a name place . But they enjoyed the evening just the same.

Kathy thanks Martin Perry for a wonderful selection of songs presented in such a relaxed and humorous style.

The evening was a great success and Kathy has received lots of good reports particularly from the District Officers.