WELL it’s the end of the year and Eckington WI have been celebrating another successful year. We started December with a Christmas Lunch at Whistlers in Pershore with 24 members attending, good food and company enjoyed by all. Then we had our meeting where we held a Christmas Fuddle; members bringing food to share, whilst enjoying a good chat. Entertainment provided with games of Handbag Bingo and a Christmas Bingo and finishing with a raffle of various hampers. At the beginning of the meeting though we had a special presentation. Our nominated charity for 2016 was Eckington Under 5s and throughout the year, monies have been raised with our monthly raffles. We have been able to fund the purchase of a tablet for Eckington Under5s as well as a subscription to TAPESTRY; an easy-to-use online learning journal, Tapestry helps educators and parents to record, track and celebrate children's progress in early years education. So whilst enjoying our Christmas Fuddle, we welcomed visitors from the Eckington Under 5s to receive the tablet and along with a hamper of goodies for their own Christmas Party.

Our support for the village has also prompted us to volunteer our services to the Parish Council. With funding from the Parish Council, Eckington WI have taken over responsibility for the flower boxes that are positioned on the Tewkesbury Road entrances to the village. These have now been tidied up and replanted, hopefully to be enjoyed by villagers and visitors alike.

More good news on the Skittles competition. We have won our second match! Currently unbeaten, can we continue our winning streak into the next 2 matches? You will have to wait and see as our next matches are not until the end of January but keep those fingers crossed for us!

Our next meeting will be Wednesday January 4, 2017 (7:30pm at Eckington Village Hall) where we will be ….”Starting the year with a Song”. Come along and give us a try; visitors welcome £4 but subscribe for the year at a cost of only £39 which gives you free entry to all our meetings with refreshments provided, subscription of WI Life magazine as well as Worcestershire WI Newsletter; all this and very good company …. what more could you ask for?

For more information, have a look at our Facebook page and our website at eckingtonwi.weebly.com.

BARBARA EVANS