Didn't we have a lovely time in Leeds?

Last Saturday, 11 Circlers past and present from Radlett (and Nicola's mum, Kate, from Cheshire) ventured north to Leeds to attend the UK & Ireland Ladies' Circle 70th Charter Lunch along with 700 other Circlers from around the UK. We arrived to find a rose plant each as a present - a lovely but not terribly practical gift, given the number of us wearing tights! We also got an engraved champagne flute, choccies, sweeties and a bracelet with a pretty handbag pendant on it.

The food was good, the wine was excellent and the fun was even better. The guest speaker was the father of the Walton sextuplets who entertained us with tales of living with 7 women; astonishingly, his wife and he are still married and have all 6 daughters (now aged 22) living at home with them.

It was a great day spent in great company - here's to the next 70 years!

Minutes from 7th Sept Meeting

RADLETT & DISTRICT LADIES CIRCLE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AT SHENLEY TEA ROOMS
7 SEPTEMBER 2006

APOLOGIES: Catherine Baker, Pauline Walton, Shirley Taylor

ATTENDEES: Everyone else

GUESTS: Baby Rachel

Nicola Braden opened the meeting by presenting Helena with a bouquet of flowers and congratulating her on the birth of Rachel.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Nothing to report.

VICE CHAIR’S REPORT: Absent due to nits! (Archie’s not Shirley’s)

TREASURER: There are two outstanding subs still to be paid – the people concerned know who they are – please pay.

The address and details on bank accounts are being changed as Karina is now Treasurer.

AREA: Nothing to report.

ENTERTAINMENT: Lots to report.
J.R. is moving sometime in October so asked if she could organise a theatre trip for November instead.
N.B. will try to organise a trip to Walthamstow Dogs for October,
probably for Tuesday 3rd or Thursday 5th.
N.B. is organising a trip on Sunday 10th September to see Germaine Greer.
A.H. is holding a Virgin V evening at her house at 8pm on Tuesday 19th September – she will provide drinks but not food. Please let her know if you will be attending.
CHRISTMAS PARTY – M.F. has looked in to organising a group booking for an ‘Echoes of the Orient Christmas Party’ at Aldenham Counrty Park . As the dodgems and camel rodeo sounded so much fun it was decided that Michelle will book a table for about 12 of us for Tuedsay 12th December. The price is £29.95 per person plus VAT.
J.R. asked if anyone would like to accompany her to afternoon tea at the Ritz – she will try to make a booking for a Saturday sometime in the New Year and will book for about 1.30pm as the price is £35 per person it was felt the booking should cover lunch as well as tea and to arrive hungry in order to get value for money.
It was decided that we would try to go and see Helen Mirren’s new film The Queen one Wednesday so we can use the Orange Wednesday tickets.
Michelle has been busy and apart from sorting out a Christmas extravaganza for us has found information on renting a house with a swimming pool for a w/e in April/May – the cost would be about £100 per person for the house rental. M.F. will look in to this further.


The Secretary was busy eating so it was decided to proceed to AOB while she finished.

A.O.B. Julie and Amanda will go shopping for raffle prizes that we have agreed to donate to the ERL at the Hilton on the A41 on Saturday 3rd February. Please make a note of this date in your 2007 diaries. The total amount to be spent on the raffle prizes is £50 so it was agreed that we would all donate £1 at each meeting until we have raised this sum.

Charter lunch in Leeds – 11 going – 10 staying at the Jury Inn – being organised by Julie and Gill. Catherine Baker will only stay one night. Need to sort out getting to the station.

It was agreed that Michelle would drive the old folks on Thursday 19th October and that Amanda would drive on Thursday 30th November. Caroline and Suzanne would be on stand by should they be needed.

Julie is sorting out a fund raising quiz sheet which she will email to everyone. It will cost £1 per go to enter and the prize will be a £20 gift voucher for the Vue cinema chain. The money raised will go to the Leonard Cheshire Homes.

Nicole is going to get some more information about raising funds/awareness of vascular disease.

At the next meeting we will discuss a charity fund raising event for the spring.

Secretary A.H. read out some extremely interesting and informative items for discussion from the National Executive council meeting.
We decided that:-

1. The way in which travel claims for delegates to National meetings are charged should remain unchanged.
2. We should be able to hold positions at local and national level.
3. National Council should ‘read the paperwork’ so they know about important Regional dates.
4. We are happy to take part in Relay 4 Life and agree that it could give Circle a better profile than Race 4 life does BUT we have no desire to organise a Relay 4 Life ourselves. At this point baby Rachel made her one and only contribution to the meeting and lots of cooing occurred providing a welcome respite from discussions.
5. We will consider raising funds to support the Freedom through Education Project in India and to try to raise funds of £250 to fund toilets to encourage girls to go to school in India. A good excuse for fund raising based on British lavatorial humour.
6. The Circler Magazine is not worth the paper that it is printed on. We suggest an emailed newsletter and a much improved website for Circle information.


Next meeting will be on Wednesday 18th October – venue to be confirmed. Julie will find out if Darcys in St Albans is suitable and Karina offered her house as a venue.

Nicola Braden inducted Helena Woolfson and welcomed her to Circle.

Meeting closed.

We know what you did last summer....

...just a quick note to update on activities over the summer.

22nd June - Ladies' Day, Ascot. A fab day was had by all at Ladies' Day and we didn't lose too much money (but did drink too much Pimms!). Despite being personally sunburnt due to leaving suncream on the coach, it was a great day out and we hope to go again next year.

29th June - Area Rally, The Sun, Hitchin. This was an interesting evening with our new National President as speaker, talking about DEBRA (her chosen charity for the year). Good food and well organised by our hosts.

8-9th July - Camping, Hardwick Parks, Oxon. As usual, lots of outdoor fun for all the family. Despite the weather being a bit disappointing, we all had a great time with great food, great drink and great Ringos!

12th July - Circle Meeting, Pizza Express, Radlett - good venue, once we sorted music, air con etc! Minutes to follow shortly.

15th July - Safari Supper. Despite some last minute changes, this was a really successful evening. It was great to meet 41Club and Tangent members and thanks to Nic & Ray for hosting the end party. I'm glad to say that everyone got to the right venue for the right course and with the right host!