Capesthorne & Siddington WI

09/12/2025

The Cheshire Federation have provided a summary of the Resolutions, which you might find heplful.

The Public Affairs team Cheshire Federation of WIs have prepared a short summary of each of the five Resolutions our Cheshire WI members are going to choose from. We have lots more in-depth information available, so please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

There will be a Resolutions Zoom at 7.30pm on the 5th January, your Secretary has the link or email me for the link. Join in the discussion!

1. Accessible public toilet facilities to promote dignity, health, and social inclusion

This resolution is a call for accessible, clean, free public toilets which are fundamental to inclusion and wellbeing.

What is the challenge? The UK has lost about 50% of its public toilets. This trend of closures is mainly due to cash strapped councils saving money, as they are not legally obliged to provide public toilets.

What should change? It would not be realistic to campaign for more council spend on toilets, they do not have the money. Instead, we could promote and support the excellent ‘community public toilet scheme’ that has been set up. This scheme partners local businesses with councils to allow the public to use their toilet facilities free of charge. Participating businesses display a sticker and receive a small payment from the council to cover maintenance and open their facilities, which can include wheelchair access and baby changing areas.

What can we do? WIs can work with local businesses, many of whom have no idea of the existence of this scheme. It would be a brilliant way to deliver their corporate social responsibility at almost no cost.

Why is this a female issue? Because we menstruate, we take care of small, barely continent children, and we suffer far more UDIs and bladder issues than men.

Who can we partner with? The British Toilet Association http://www.btaloos.co.uk/?page_id=7

11/09/2024

A few more photos from last night 💃🏻

11/09/2024

We had a fabulous evening last night - Holly Reynolds did not disappoint. Our WI crowd took a little time to warm up, but when they did, there was no stopping the singing and dancing (standing or chair).

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 8th October, when our guest speaker will be Rosie Lee - the Reluctant Shepherdess. We look forward to seeing you then!

10/09/2024

As a reminder to all ladies, at our group meeting this evening (Tues 10 Sept, 7:30PM) we will be delighted by Holly Reynolds and her vocal talents. Performing songs from the1950's and 1960's, it's sure to bring back memories and might even inspire folks to get up and have a boogie!

Rather than our usual tea and cake refreshments, this evening there will be interval canapes.

This event is open to all ladies (18 years +), and it a great opportunity to meet new people and make some friends. You never know, you might even fancy attending more regularly and become a member.

05/09/2024

On Monday, a group of our lovely ladies were treated to a private tour of Capesthorne Hall by Lady Bromley-Davenport. She recalled her visits to Capesthorne as a child and shared stories of the house and its evolution over the years. Being the artist that she is, she talked passionately about some of the artwork on display in the house.

27/08/2024

For those ladies who did not pick up a copy / or did not make it to the August meeting, the quarterly group meetings for Autumn 2024 are available. Spare copies will be available at the meeting in September (10th).

13/08/2024

What a wonderful evening we had tonight. Our guest speaker was Gina Brennand and she spoke fondly of her early years, after leaving school, and embarking on a career as an RSPCA Inspector (becoming the youngest in the country). It was through that role she occasionally worked with the police. By happy accident, she joined GMP in 1995 when she was in her mid 20's and has enjoyed a varied career from a stint in the mounted police division to the major crime team. With retirement looming, this DCI has lots of options available to her and we very much enjoyed her visit.

We rounded up the evening with the usual tea and cakes (courtesy of Jackie Seymour and Barbara Smart).

Next month, we will be welcoming Holly Reynolds to our group meeting (Tuesday 10 September). Holly is a vocalist and will be performing some of the very best music from the 1950s and 1960s.

30/07/2024

We've had a great summer so far: June kicked off with a visit to Biddulph Old Hall, followed by our group 'summer social' and in July we were joined by Sonia (from our neighbouring Swettenham WI) who gave us an insight into her interesting life and he love of crafting. We enjoyed a successful day in the WI produce tent at this year's Redesmere Fete. For our next meeting (Tues 13 August), we will be joined by Gina from the Serious Crime Squad at GMP - who will talk to us about her time with the force.

11/04/2024

We welcomed Grace from Root To Flower to our meeting on Tuesday. She brought us a selection of home-made vegan cheeses, crackers and chutneys to sample. Cheeses included a vegan cheddar, feta, a herby creamed cheese and ricotta. There seemed to be a firm favourite in the herby creamed cheese - and the seeded crackers were a triumph!

Congratulations to member Liv Brewster, who came joint 3rd in the Cheshire Federation of WIs writing completion. Liv gave a recital of her piece: a fictional WI press release. We all wanted to be a WI Secret Agent by the end of it.

At our next meeting (Tuesday 14th May), we will be joined by Eddie Tarry. Eddie, a former prison guard, worked at HMP Styal and will share stories if his time there.