Our book last month was ‘She’s leaving home’ by Joan Bakewell. 

Preview available on –

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/She_s_Leaving_Home.html?id=O5p6g5v1M0oC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

We were all looking forward to this read, knowing the author as a journalist, television presenter and Labour Party Peer, and also as an author and playwright, who has been awarded Humanist of the year for services to humanism – according to Wikipedia!

However, we were all disappointed! The story was superficial and the style of writing we felt was almost child-like. This prompted us to check the date of publishing, expecting it to be an early work – but it was published in 2011! Though it was not necessarily written that year of course.

We met in Honora’s log cabin and shared our opinions, followed by a sociable chat, whilst being supplied with refreshments galore. The sweetie tray was well received! Thanks Honora.

This month’s book is ‘The keeper of Forgotten Things’ by Ruth Hogan, so we are all hoping for a good read to take on our holidays. We meet on the third Thursday of April to review it.

Well done to all the ladies – and Max – who braved the awful weather this Saturday (16th March) to pick up litter from around Kew roundabout in the year the WI is re launching its Keep Britain Tidy campaign. 
As well as all the litter we also found a £10 note in the bushes which has been donated to a plastic clean up charity.
We’ll let you know when the next event is and hope to see you there. Thanks to Sue, Lis and Carole for spreading the word – we are so glad you told us about this community group.

Daphne Richardson of Freshfield Fitness teaches Tai Chi and QiGong exercise classes in and around Formby. We learned the history of these arts as she explained it’s literal meaning was ‘Life’s Energy’ an holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing and meditation used for the purposes of spiritual health and the basis of martial arts. We then moved onto an introduction beginners class. This was a low impact exercise class and incorporated stretch and balance work. We learnt Tai Chi moves as as Cloud Hands, Yang Style Tai Chi Walking and Stroking the Horses Mane as well as some QiGong exercises.

A handful of Scarlet attended a one day Zen embroidery course held at Leyland. They came away full of tea, biscuits and cake and mastered their chain stitch, back stitch, stem stitch and lazy daisy stitch.

In October 2017, we were given the use of an allotment with the proviso that some of the produce had to be given to charity. Some members of the gardening club volunteered to take it on and we are enjoying it very much.
The plot was extremely overgrown and neglected and we spent the winter clearing and having bonfires. We grew a variety of crops, joined in with the Allotment society annual show and Scarecrow competition and donated jars of jam to the Southport Foodbank.
We are in the process of erecting a greenhouse and digging beds for the coming season.
Anybody is very welcome to come and lend a hand or even just to have a look. We meet there every Tuesday (weather permitting) at 10 am. 

Great turn out for this worthy fundraiser. Southport Hesketh’s Round Table annual Mad Dog 10k competitors goodie bag pack and we were amongst the volunteers 3500 plus bags done. Well done everyone.

12 Scarlets had a bit of fun on Tuesday night thrashing the odd bowling ball around. I have to say some of us were much better at it than others. It was Team Janet that ran away with a high score, leaving Team Pauline somewhat in the gutter. Nonetheless we had a laugh and a few aching limbs over a gin afterwards.

Southport Scarlets regard our membes as important and comply with the principles of the current and changing Data Protection legislation. This policy provides an overview of what data may be collected, how it is retained, and your rights.

What information do we collect about you?
The personal data we hold about you is your name and address. This is the minimum information required by the NFWI. Southport Scarlets may also have an email address and telephone number for you.

How will this information be used?
This information is used to enable you to be an active member of the WI and Southport Scarlets.
The information will be used by Southport Scarlets to contact you regarding meetings, events and sub-groups.
The information held by NFWI is so they can send you your copy of WI Life.

Sharing your Information
Your information is stored on a secure data base and also by the secretary of Southport Scarlets. This information will not be passed on to any parties outside the WI and will be destroyed once it is no longer required.

How long will we store this information?
This information will be stored for as long as it is needed for legal purposes.

GDPR Consent
You have the right to withdraw your consent for us to use your information at any time, however if you with draw your consent to hold your email address and phone number this will mean you will not be able to be informed of any meetings, events or subgroups, and if you withdraw your consent to hold your name and address this will cancel your membership contract with the WI and your membership will be terminated.

If you have any questions about this policy please contact a member of the committee.

25th May 2018

January kicks off in style with the Southport Central WI changing its name to Southport Scarlets WI. We’re currently looking for a logo that ties it together. All suggestions are welcome.

We are moving venue and from Thursday 11th January will meet in the Almond Room at the Family Life Centre at the junction of Cemetery and Southbank Roads, PR8 6JH. The Centre has  car parking and can offer special assistance, access and facilities for clients with disabilities.

I’ve updated the How to Find Us section of this website but here is the map for ease of reference. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 11th 7.30 – 9.30.

Happy Birthday to us. Next week marks the third year since the Southport Central WI branch was inaugurated. We’ll be holding our third Annual General Meeting on Thursday 13th October at Waterside Lodge, 7.30 pm. New members are welcome and we’d love to see you there.