Undaunted by the pandemic we have been able to give some help locally.

During November members who were able made a ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ by adding items of tins or packets to a box each day for the local Food Bank.  Early in December the boxes were gathered in and the car load of boxes were gratefully received at the Nuneaton Food Bank Warehouse.

In lieu of sending Christmas cards to each other we gave a donation to the Nuneaton Community Christmas Lunch Group who provide Christmas Day lunches for people on their own or in need.  This year the meals were delivered in boxes.

The charity fund was boosted by our crafty Treasurer Sylvia making Christmas novelties for us to buy and another member made jars of seasonal produce.

As with other clubs we have remained in contact with each other by phone, weekly zooming and newsletters.

It was a pleasure to welcome District 6 Chairman Claire to our March business meeting and we were delighted that she could induct a new member to our Club.  We wish her many happy years of fun and friendship within Inner Wheel but what a shame our meetings have been curtailed as soon as she has joined!

We have continued to keep in touch with each other by the monthly newsletter, Zoom, phone calls and socially distant chatting while out on ‘exercise’ walks.  Knitting needles have been in overdrive.  Material has  been collected for making scrubs and one member has swapped her talents for making curtains to making masks. 

We are now looking forward to having small groups meeting together in gardens while keeping at a safe distance from each other.

A spokesman for the local Mercia Therapy Unit for Multiple Sclerosis was pleased to receive a donation from our President.  This was one of the charities to benefit from our annual Fashion Show.

International Inner Wheel day was celebrated by an ‘in house catered’ enjoyable meal of soup and puddings.  This was followed by a captivating talk  ‘The Status of Women in India’ given by one of our own members.  She compared the role of women from her mother and grandmother’s time to the present.  Profit raised from the meal cost will support the District 6 International Service projects.

Interesting speakers have entertained us at Club meetings.  One gentleman dressed as Winton Churchill, complete with cigar and glasses and with perfected voice and mannerisms, gave us an insight into Churchill’s life and character.

The annual Fashion Show held at Coton Sports and Social Club was an opportunity for members and their friends to replenish their wardrobes at very reasonable prices and an excuse to get rid of items not worn for ages.  All the clothes were brands from major High Street stores.

They were expertly modelled by Club members plus friends and the clothes which came in all sizes and for all occasions and were available to buy on the night.  Not only did the audience enjoy a fun filled evening but happily three charities benefitted from the proceeds: Marie Curie, Mercia Therapy Unit for Multiple Sclerosis and Guide dogs for the Blind Association.

Arbury Inner Wheel are pleased to  be able to support the Association President's  Charity this year, Riding for the Disabled, by giving a donation to the local Equestrian Centre for the Disabled.

The funds were raised by holding a Coffee Morning in a Methodist Church Hall where townsfolk could drop in for refreshments and a chat while out shopping!

Arbury members celebrated their 40th anniversary with a lovely dinner attended by members and other  IW Clubs from across the District. The speaker was Rosie Goodwin, an author of 36 books with an international following, many of them written in the local area. Rosie talked about how her writing career had begun and signed copies of her books for members inspired to buy a copy.

Atherstone members at the national IW Conference with guest speaker Ed Pratt who raised over £300,000 for charity cycling round the world on a unicycle

A Donkey Derby was organised to raise funds for the D6 International Service Charity 'Chinthowa Development Trust'

Members, friends and family had a fun time urging the donkeys to compete in the races and a welcome break for a fish & chip lunch was enjoyed by the 'jockeys'. It was a winning day, both financially and socially.