Oakapple Women's Institute (From Worcester News)

Oakapple Women's Institute

10:30am Tuesday 10th November 2009

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OCTOBER was our annual meeting but it was also the target date we had set for knitting 100 woollen hats. Rev Tony Price, of Port of Bristol Seafarers Centre, had come to receive these and talk about this subject.

Rev Price is a retired Methodist minister who was persuaded to become chaplain of this centre despite having no previous sea connection. The main docks are now at Portbury and more than 90 per cent of imports and exports are transported by ship. We had to imagine leaving friends and relations for months at a time with strangers of many nationalities as our only companions. Life at sea is still poorly paid and conditions hard.

Sailors can face rough seas, shipwrecks and possibly pirates but the worst is fire as they have to deal with it themselvess. The mission provides a haven when they are docked at Portbury, with TV, pool table, non alcoholic bar, telephone and web cam. It is open to all. The hats are given out free and the sailors are always grateful. He finished his talk with the sailor’s version of the 23rd psalm which begins: “The Lord is my captain”.

Rosemary thanked him, telling us that we had made 169 hats.

There is a group shopping trip to Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and the carol service in Kidderminster in December. We have also been invited to St Peter’s Christmas meeting in December. We now have eight on our committee, Rosemary Willmore being our new member. The president, secretary and treasurer remain the same. The winner of the monthly competitions was Janet Allbutt. Rosemary thanked everyone for her diamond wedding gift. We meet every third Tuesday at Whittington Village Hall at 7.30pm and at our next meeting, on November 17, some members are demonstrating crafts with a Christmas theme. All are welcome.

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