Our AGM was held on Zoom this year – a first for our Club. Joint Club Presidents Paula and Andrea finished the second of their 2 years in office and handed over to new President Ann.

Secretary Yvette continues to send out daily "smiles" which certainly make us chuckle and sometimes even laugh out loud.

8^th May 1945 was VE Day – celebrations of the 75^th anniversary of VE Day were not as originally planned – anywhere! Club members sent in photos of their celebrations at home and also Secretary Yvette compiled a very interesting newsletter containing memories of the big day itself from some of our more senior members.

Banbury Cake for VE Day?
 
One of our members found this "flourless cake" recipe written during the War in the back of an old recipe book – one for our flour free cake collection?

Banbury Cake
½ lb Margarine
4oz sugar
3 tablespoons Warm water
1 teasp vanilla essence
2 tbsp cocoa
2 tbsp dried egg
1 tbsp dried milk
1lb broken biscuits

1.     Warm marg and sugar (beat to a cream) add egg and cocoa.
2.     Stir well and add warm water. Then add broken biscuits.
        Do not crush, then stir well.
3.     Put in a cake tin not greased or lined.
4.     Place greaseproof paper on top, then plate and weight.
5.     Leave in cool place for 24 hours no cooking

Daily news reports of the increasing numbers of infections and very sadly numbers of deaths not only in the UK, but also across Europe, is very sobering. We must all try to do what we can to reduce the risk of infection spreading to all of those who we come into contact with. Never before has our Inner Wheel objective of promoting true friendship been so important in these exceptionally difficult times.

This month our secretary Yvette did a cracking job of compiling reports from members on what they have been up to at home. Here are some of the things we have been doing:
•     Working as usual and from home
•     Crafting (including knitting "fish and chip baby" jumpers and hats and other items for charity)
•     Gardening and growing vegetables
•     Doing Jigsaws
•     Baking (if we can get flour and eggs)
•     Online shopping for everything (if we can get delivery slots)
•     Learning how to Zoom and WhatsApp with our families and friends
•     Walking from home for exercise
•     Having medical treatment
•     Decorating at home – both inside and outside
•     Playing garden darts and boules
•     Enjoying Facetime dinners with friends
•     Exercising via Zoom

Our NHS has been doing amazing work and we thank each and every NHS worker, for the huge effort that they continue to make to help those who are ill, especially our members who are on the front line fighting Covid-19. We also thank all key workers for keeping our shops stocked. Every Thursday we stand at our front doors and clap and make noise to say "thank you" to our NHS.

On Monday 23^rd March, Boris Johnson announced to the country that from Tuesday 24^th March 2020 we would be in "lockdown" due to the spreading Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 and the measures which we have all had to take to reduce the risk of infection have impacted on everyone's life in the UK. The initial lockdown was for 3 weeks, to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Our Inner Wheel Club was unable to meet for some time due to Government restrictions. None of us really knew just how long the restrictions would last, but there was an expectation that things would be "back to normal" by the summer – how wrong we were! Supermarket shelves were stripped of tinned tomatoes, pasta, rice, eggs, flour, bread and toilet paper, despite reassurances that there was plenty to go round if folks would just shop as normal. We never thought we would see so many empty shelves.

The speaker at our February meeting was Ruth Riches, who is a member of the District 22 Membership Committee. Ruth gave us a brief personal history, which included how she met her husband when she was in the Territorial Army. She joined Warsop Inner Wheel in 2014.

Our Inner Wheel aims and objectives are:
1.     To promote true friendship
2.     To encourage the ideals of personal service
3.     To foster international understanding.

Ruth reminded us that as part of having fun, and enjoying the friendship which Inner Wheel offers, we can learn new skills and put them to good use, especially when participating in charitable events. She challenged us all to think about what is unique to our Club. We have a specific "bring a friend" night in September, but if you would like to come along to any meeting, please do get in touch – new ladies are always given a warm welcome.

Little did we realise that this was to be our last meeting for some time – something very unpleasant was lurking round the corner . . .

We started the new decade with a coffee morning to raise funds for Inner Wheel International in January – part of the money raised will be donated to charities working to eradicate malaria.

Members are busy knitting garments and squares to be made up into blankets to be shipped abroad to those in need.

At the January meeting Kerry Collyer from the Padley Centre told us about the work they do to provide services to vulnerable people who are experiencing homelessness, social isolation and insecurity. Whilst there are currently no hostel provisions for women, the Padley Centre has just received funding from the "Tampon Tax" which will be used to improve support for homeless women in Derby.

Club members donated food, clothes and toiletries towards supporting the Padley Day Centre, which provides:
•     somewhere warm, dry and safe for vulnerable men and women;
•     use of a WC and shower;
•     nutritious cheap/free meals;
•     a change of clothes or facilities to wash their own clothes;
•     access to various services including health and dental care; potential housing providers; drug and alcohol services and when ready, support to make positive life changes.

The Padley Centre sees over 120 people on some days. It costs around £100 per hour to open the day centre with enough staff to provide support to those needing it, 365 days a year.

Kerry certainly helped us to appreciate what we have . . .

The Christmas party at the Queen's Head in Ockbrook took place early in December – members wore their Christmas jumpers – luckily no two designs were the same. There was a challenging Christmas quiz to tackle, with a few of those elusive answers which are on the tip of your tongue. A good evening was had by all and "secret Santa" gifts were handed out from Santa's sack before Club members headed home.

We also enjoyed a very sociable evening at the Rotary Christmas Party – a good opportunity to put on our party frocks!

Our District Chairman Anne Lyons came along to the November meeting and she gave Club members an interesting insight into her life and career in teaching. Little did she realise that she was shortly to be challenged with glue and lots of tiny novelty items to put into oversize baubles at our Christmas craft evening. Some Club members definitely got "stuck" into their crafting and one group could not stop laughing. Amazingly the finished designs looked very presentable – despite glue and fake snow getting everywhere!

In October our guest Donna came to talk to us about how running has helped her conquer mental health issues and anxiety caused by the loss of her mum to cancer then her sister to meningitis. This year she is raising money for the Meningitis Research Foundation – a donation was made to this charity by the club.

Church Wilne Inner Wheel Club supported the Rotary Charity Horse Ride in September by running the Refreshment Tent for riders and their supporters. Our club members sold hot rolls and drinks to raise funds for the nominated charities Meningitis Now and The Island Project (a "not for profit" company now based in Borrowash, offering alternative education for learners who thrive better in a calm and less rigid learning space than the traditional classroom, using animal assisted projects and non-classroom based sessions).

Many thanks go to the large supermarkets and local businesses that kindly sponsored us by donating materials for the refreshments – the success of the refreshment tent relies very much on their generosity.

In September Ali from the Island Project explained in detail how they help children take control of their lives. Our Club Presidents presented her with a cheque from the refreshment tent proceeds. A cheque was also sent to Meningitis Now, our other nominated charity.

We had a lucky break with the weather in August for the prosecco afternoon tea held at President Andrea's home. It stayed dry all afternoon and only started to rain as the event was drawing to a close. Much fun was had by all!

At our July meeting, Claire Johnston, who is a local Pilates instructor, gave us a lively and interesting talk about Pilates. She told us about the history of Pilates and how it was invented by German-born Joseph Pilates in 1883 to improve his own health. He went on to develop the exercises for the benefit of other people and that's how the Pilates we know today came about. Pilates benefits posture, balance, muscle tone, and improves flexibility and relaxation and increases body awareness. Claire showed us some of the equipment she uses in her sessions. Several of our members showed interest in attending one of her taster sessions.

Presentations were also made to Ann A for her special wedding anniversary, and to Margaret A and Margaret S for their special birthdays.

A Hog Roast and Ceilidh event was held at Risley Memorial Hall to celebrate the start of the second year for our Inner Wheel and Rotary Presidents. It's amazing how difficult some of those dances can be – Jane M could hardly dance at all at one point because she was laughing so much!

Our AGM was held at the June meeting. It was agreed at the business meeting that an amount from the Presidents Charity Fund be used to purchase sleeping bags to support homeless people in Derby.

The AGM business was followed by a brief ceremony to mark the 32nd Charter of the Inner Wheel Club of Church Wilne. President Andrea lit the Candle to all current and past members, Cathy lit the Candle for International Inner Wheel and Yvette read a message from District 22 Chairman Linda Elkin. This was followed by Andrea cutting the beautiful cake which had been made for the occasion by Jane P.

Amy Cartwright, with the support of Inner Wheel, ran a Body Shop event to raise money for DARE, raising a fabulous £235. The club also made a donation to the DARE project. The money raised will be used to purchase materials in the UK to be sent to Tanzania for reusable sanitary products to be made locally. The club feels that this is an appropriate charity to support as it is helping girls and women who may otherwise miss education or work due to period poverty.

On Monday 3 June eight ladies enjoyed being pampered, rounded off by a lovely afternoon tea. Two ladies still have this treat to come.

Several members of the Church Wilne Inner Wheel Club had a busy morning on Saturday 11th May baking fruit, cherry and plain scones for the Rotary senior citizens tea party. You just can't beat a freshly baked scone and the guests at the tea party certainly enjoyed the fruits of the Club's labours!

Club members helped to serve the cream tea and afterwards members enjoyed dancing with their guests to live music.

At the May club meeting Inner Wheel Joint President Andrea and Rotary Joint President Andy gave a presentation about their climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. They explained the challenges they faced and told us how marvellous the team of local men were who helped them to achieve this amazing feat. They showed us the t-shirts which they wore on summit day.

Inner Wheel club members also brought in "Toy Bags" which were sent on for distribution to children in deprived areas of the world. "Toy Bags" include items such as puzzles, colouring books, crayons and pens, toys, and essential toiletries.

Members are looking forward to a spa day in Long Eaton in June.

Due to Easter being so late this year there was no formal meeting in April, however, we had a lovely visit to Treetops Hospice Gardens instead, followed by a meal at a local hostelry. It was rather chilly as we were guided round the gardens in the early evening, and we admired the beautiful spring flowers as we walked around the site. Our guide pointed out the many different varieties of daffodils that they grow. The gardens are maintained by volunteers who do an amazing job to ensure that there are continual blooms throughout the year for patients and visitors to admire.

We also visited our "mother club" – Long Eaton Inner Wheel. We enjoyed a delicious buffet provided by the club and had fun doing the quiz which contained various little known facts about Long Eaton club members.

We ran the raffle at each performance of Buddy at the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton. Proceeds from this were donated to the Oesophageal Patient Association.

At our club meeting we all heartily congratulated President Andrea on her achievement of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February. We all agreed that a donation from the club should be made to Andrea's charity fund.

We also celebrated a special birthday.

District Chairwoman Linda Elkin spoke to us after the meal. She explained why the DC's chain of office has a "V" at the bottom and also passed the chain around for members to look at – it was really heavy. She told us how she had worked as a coach station manager for National Express and spoke of her considerable knowledge of "Men's Urinals". Her coach station even won an award for "Loo of the Year"! She told us that an Eddie Stobart truck is named after her. She also spoke of her thoughts about Inner Wheel and the future, wondering why all Clubs and Districts, have trouble finding officers, despite the great satisfaction that she has experienced from performing these roles.

Paul Barlow from Derby Mountain Rescue gave us a fascinating presentation at our February meeting. He highlighted the various ways that the Mountain Rescue team provides assistance in often challenging circumstances. All members of Mountain Rescue are trained volunteers, and are on 24-hour call-out, 365 days of the year. The Mountain Rescue Service receives no public funding, so donations are essential to keep it going.

On 23 February our brave President Andrea, along with Rotary President Andy, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – Click HERE to read an extract from Andrea's diary of the expedition.

In late February, Inner Wheel President Andrea and Rotary President Andy are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for charity. The plan to climb Kili first came about to celebrate Andy's 40^th birthday, and Andrea volunteered to join in. They will be climbing the 19,340 ft Kilimanjaro Mountain by the Shira Route, stopping at Outward Bound Camp (15,585 ft), to acclimatise before summiting at Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft). Amongst the challenges they will face are: extreme weather conditions (rain, wind, hot and cold temperatures all in one week); high UV levels from the sun; and extreme altitude (no-one knows how their bodies will react until they reach such an altitude and any physical activity will become very taxing).

All donations will be split between three charities: Derby Mountain Rescue; Breast Cancer Care and the NSPCC. Andrea and Andy have paid for the experience themselves, so all monies raised will go to charity.

Our Inner Wheel club held a 70s evening in February - wow what a great night! In addition to the fantastic outfits, a quiz got everyone scratching their heads and a disco saw some cool moves on the dance floor. 1970s themed food was served ranging from Chicken and Chips in a Basket to Black Forest Gateau, Sherry Trifle and Pineapple Upside Down Cake. A good sum of money was raised for local charities.

Late January saw President Paula host a cheese and wine evening to celebrate Inner Wheel day and raise funds for overseas charities.

A group of members went to see "The Full Monty" in Nottingham – what a fantastic funny play, and true to the film. Another week saw Inner Wheel host a 10-pin bowling night – competition was fierce and we all enjoyed competing for the prizes – the best of which was presented for the lowest score!

As I write this article, Inner Wheel President Andrea and Rotary President Andy are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for charity. We wait with baited breath to hear how they are getting on – news will filter through when they get back in signal . . .

Sunday 9^th December saw members of Inner Wheel alongside Rotary members marshalling at the Santa fun run at Elvaston Castle in aid of Rainbows Hospice.

Wednesday 12^th December was our Inner Wheel Christmas meal at Erewash Golf Club, where we enjoyed an evening of good food and lots of laughter. We did a Christmas quiz, followed by the left/right game (passing presents round, ensuring nobody ended up with their own Secret Santa) - boy did some us get in a mess!
We donated toys to the Salvation Army and also collected luxury food items for the Hope Help Centre. Some members chose to make donations in lieu of cards, which were also used to purchase items for the Hope Centre.

In the second half of December, we helped on the Rotary Santa float, collecting for local charities.

On Thursday 6^th December some Inner Wheel and Rotary members met at St Chad's Church to decorate the Christmas tree, ready for the Rotary and Inner Wheel carol service which took place on 15^th December. Despite the terrible weather the service was well attended, and the mince pies and mulled wine provided warmed us up.

At our January meeting of Inner Wheel, Rotary Presidents Chris and Andy gave us a very amusing portrait of themselves, highlighted with photos of their families and various activities including scuba diving and kayaking. What a sporty pair they are!

In February, Inner Wheel President Andrea and Rotary President Andy are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for charity – watch this space . . .

At our November meeting of Inner Wheel, we had a craft evening decorating Christmas baubles. A splendid array of adornments was available for us to choose from and our efforts resulted in a glorious set of baubles ready for our Christmas trees at home.

We had a safari supper this month, enjoying starters and superb home-cooked meals in the first locations followed by desserts and cheese and biscuits at President Andrea's house later in the evening. Thanks to our various members who hosted a lovely evening of friendship and laughter.

On 3^rd November, Rotary organised a guided walk round the National Memorial Arboretum, joined by Inner Wheel Members. We visited the Inner Wheel Association Plot. In 2012, to celebrate our 25th Charter, Rotary had donated a tree and plaque to us and it was great to revisit the site, admire the tree and give our plaque a shine!

Last but not least, eleven of us went to see Bohemian Rhapsody – a wonderful film giving an informed insight into Queen and, in particular, Freddie Mercury.

At our October meeting, John Gregory of Church Wilne Rotary Club came to tell us about Aquabox - a Rotary charity run by Wirksworth Rotary Club.

In the wake of both man-made and natural disasters, Aquabox provides a rapid response provision of safe drinking water and welfare aid items. It provides an inexpensive, easily transportable and simple method of restoring safe drinking water from disease-ridden dirty water. Since 1992 Aquabox has packed thousands of Aquaboxes, capable of producing millions of litres of clean water, as well as providing materials to allow victims of natural disasters to build temporary shelters and sustain themselves. Recently Aquaboxes have been shipped to Kerala in India and Palu on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Major disasters always bring in a surge of cash, but in leaner times it is hard to fund the everyday, less newsworthy, but still desperate situations around the world and the charity continually seeks donations for its work.

In response to the latest disaster, our club decided to donate a cheque for an Aquabox. Individual members also made contributions.

After the meal, we had a very lively beetle drive. It was the first time some of us had taken part in a beetle drive and we realised just how competitive some of our members are!

Earlier in the month, President Andrea and 4 other club members hit the road to Birmingham to the Grand Designs Show at the NEC. They thoroughly enjoyed their day and came away with a few design ideas.

9^th September arrived and it was time for the Rotary Charity Horse Ride. Inner Wheel supports this event by providing the catering and refreshments. We are supported by many businesses who donate food and other items: thanks for your ongoing support to Asda, Bluebells Ice-creams, the Co-op, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Tesco and Warburtons. We raised just under £600 - a tremendous amount. A huge thank you to all those who helped.

10^th September was the delivery date to International, for items which we have collected over the last few months. The items donated will go to deserving families overseas.

Another sunny day on the 12^th September saw our first pub lunch and walk. Ten of us had lunch at the Malt Shovel in Aston-on-Trent and then six went for a walk along the canal accompanied by 2 dogs. It was a lovely relaxing walk.

Our speaker at the monthly meeting was The Reverend Gary Dundas, who is well known to most of us as a Rotary member, but also he is an associate minister at St. Chad's, Church Wilne. Gary shared with us some of his experiences when he worked as a chaplain at the Derby Royal Infirmary on London Road in Derby. The variety of work was one of the most rewarding parts of this role, as he never knew what he was going to be faced with next. There were a lot of very serious matters which Gary became involved with, and Gary stressed that it was a privilege to help people at key points in their lives and sometimes, deaths.

President Paula presented Gary with a cheque from charity funds raised through the Horse Ride refreshment tent. The funds will help pay towards the re-ordering of the ashes plot at St. Chad's in Church Wilne.

On 12^th July, 9 ladies went to the BBC Nottingham studios where they had a very enjoyable, interesting and informative visit. Much to our surprise one of our ladies was interviewed live on air!

Sunday 15 July brought us together with Rotary for our annual "Meet the Presidents" event. Thank you to all the ladies who provided desserts and for all the other help that was given. What a lovely day it was and with the weather being so sunny we were able to sit outside and make the most of it.

We enjoyed a coffee morning held on 17^th July, hosted by President Paula - it was most enjoyable with lots of tea, coffee, cake and chatter.

A trip to the cinema in July to see "Mamma Mia Here We Go Again" was a lovely evening and a few tears were shed.

On the 7^th August, a small group of us went along to Highclere Castle, where the famous Downton Abbey was filmed. The weather was superb as it has been for most of the summer and we all had a great time. Some came home a little dustier than others!

Later in August, on another sunny Saturday afternoon, 20 people attended the prosecco afternoon tea held at Andrea's house. We were lucky with the weather as the rain held off until 6pm. It was great to hear the chatter and laughter, and all seemed to have a relaxing time.