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

International Service Organiser, Veronica Malkowski, worked very hard to organise a splendid Sandwich Lunch in St. Philip Neri’s Church on 16th April 2019 to raise money for international charities. 

Rotarian Adrian Brewer from the Isle of Wight gave us an enlightening, illustrative talk, entitled “Roll out the Barrels!”, about the abject poverty and lack of clean water available in South Africa.  Women in Kenya often walked 10 miles and children for 2 hours to fetch clean water for drinking and sanitation.  Water barrels have now enabled children to be educated in school.

Veronica made all the cakes herself and Margaret and Rosemary sold lots of raffle tickets

A good time was had by all!

Many thanks go to Cate Hunt for coming to speak to us at our March meeting.  Very few of us knew about the importance of the Clipstone area in history or all the royal links that occurred from time to time.

Dee Bailey gave the vote of thanks and President Anne presented Cate  with a flower arrangement made by Rosemary.

On Saturday 9th March 2019 Mansfield Rotary & Inner Wheel Clubs held a splendid Irish Evening at Ravenshead Village Hall to raise money for International Charities.

Veronica & Ray Malkowski, with the help of Kelvin & Lynn Bowman, Henry & Margaret Thomas and members, organised this highly successful event,  which was attended by around 100 members and friends. There was a warm, friendly atmosphere, as we were enthralled by the performance of the talented, young Irish Dancers, before sampling our tasty plateau of starters, followed by a wholesome Irish Stew with sourdough bread.

We really enjoyed being entertained by the excellent Irish Band, before choosing from a variety of delicious desserts:- whisky bread & butter pudding, brandy cheesecake or fruit salads, all served with whisky or vanilla ice cream and followed by cheese and biscuits. The raffle raised an amazing £339 and, due to the generosity of members, the grand total of just over £1,500 was raised.  Many thanks to everyone, who contributed to this memorable Irish Evening.

Mansfield Inner Wheel Club invited Rotary members and friends to join them at Portland College for a meal and a quiz at their January Meeting.  President Anne’s husband, Rotarian Phil Lyons, kindly organised the quiz for the evening.

Elaine Campin brought her beautiful hand made cards and Vivienne Brown brought books for sale.

 

Joan Smith wins a raffle prize.

Jennifer presents Barbara Dixon with her raffle prize.

Nottinghamshire Independent Domestic Abuse Services

Veronica Malkowski made two beautiful Christmas cakes, which were won by Kathy Winson & Carol Hyde Barker in the raffle at the Christmas Party.  The proceeds of the raffle were donated to this very worthwhile charity.

Veronica and President Anne Lyons presented a cheque for £135 to Sue Ready, the Director of Service Delivery & Development and other volunteers at NIDAS.  We were greeted very warmly by the friendly volunteers, who were delighted with our donation.

Many thanks to Veronica Malkowski, with the help of Jennifer Brackenbury & Sara Statham, for organising our Christmas Afternoon Tea Party at Morton’s Farm Tea Rooms in Papplewick.

We appreciated Ray Malkowski’s technical skills which enabled us to communicate with both rooms and enjoy Sara’s Christmas quiz and playing the games, which Rosemary had kindly organised.

Pat Shepperson and Ann Pradhan won prizes in the Christmas bingo.

It was a very enjoyable occasion with lots of laughter, fun and friendship.  The afternoon tea was really delicious with plenty of variety to suit everyone.

Veronica also made and iced beautifully two Christmas cakes, which Kathy Winson & Carol Hyde Barker were lucky to win in the raffle.  The proceeds from the raffle will be sent to the charity NIDAS.

Mansfield Inner Wheel Club’s President, Anne Lyons, made a great start to the Christmas festivities by organising a Flower Demonstration Charity Event at Ravenshead Village Hall. Beverley Artis, a very experienced and professional flower demonstrator, kept us all enthralled with her amusing anecdotes, whilst producing beautifully designed, stunning floral arrangements.

Jennifer Brackenbury made the attractive table arrangements and matching corsages for the waitresses and hostesses.  

 We certainly appreciated all the hard work Veronica Malkowski put in, with her team of helpers, to make and ice attractively so many cup cakes and meringues etc. for the afternoon tea.

Congratulations to President Anne for organising a most enjoyable and successful Charity Fundraising Event, which was attended by just over 100 members and guests, and raised over £1,000 for Rainbows Children’s Hospice!