Jane Bennett at Atherstone Inner Wheel Club receiving a cheque for Canine Partners from President Sue Smalley. Chico Jane's faithful companion gave a wonderful display of some of his talents as he helps Jane live a full life. He could  pick up a dropped 5 pence coin and keys from the floor after showing us his skills in taking tins from the shelf and bringing the telephone. With his help Jane enjoys a full and busy life volunteering at a local school and church as well as giving talks to raise the awareness of Canine Partners. 

April’s meeting was a visit from Glynis Gayton updating the club on her recent visit to Nunthama in Malawi (pronounced Unparna). She visits twice a year and collects blankets, toiletries, clothes, any baby items, nappies, fabric, school books, pens, pencils - the list goes on and on.

Sewing machines taken out have provided work for the young men; they make bags to sell in the local market and old jewellery has been recycled by the girls - all making money for the orphanage.

Last year the complete workings of her family bakery were transported to Nunthama and it should be up and running very soon, they are just waiting for the electricity to be installed. Glynis hopes the men will take up the running of the bakery and the ladies will work in the shop.

We gave her many bags of items plus a cheque to help with the good cause and are looking forward to her next update. A very inspiring lady.

At our recent Club Meeting we enjoyed our 60's speaker and we also had a visit from the Atherstone Ball Game Committee and members were able to sign the new  2018 ball.

Money is raised for local charities by the Committee, one of our members is the Treasurer. Atherstone Ball Game is a "Medieval Football" game played annually on Shrove Tuesday in Long Street Atherstone. The 2 hour game usually starts at 3pm by a local celebrity, it has few rules and a winner is declared at 5pm to the person in possession of the ball. Before the game sweets and pennies are thrown from the windows of a local bank to local children, some of which are lucky enough to have a half day holiday from school.

Chairman Sue inducted a new member on Inner Wheel Day to our club. We had a Christmas cracker quiz followed by an interesting talk by Michael Enscot about his life as a Music Lecturer.

Atherstone's Toy Tombola was held last Saturday as part of the Dickens Day Event

After the mammoth toy wrapping morning we sold out of all our toys in 3 hours raising funds for Canine Partners.

Wendy in her car stuffed full of over 350 toys and members manning the stall on a very cold day, we had had snow early that morning but it cleared away leaving a crisp sunny but chilly afternoon. We thought we had put the toys out in number order to make finding them easier but as we got busy it was chaos, the smiles on the faces of the children as we gave out the toys was wonderful, we give a prize every time .

Decorating the Ansley church Christmas tree is next then an evening with the Rotary Club celebrating their 50th Anniversary, then I think we can put our feet up for a while!

Atherstone Inner Wheel Members running the cake stall at the Mary Ann Hospice in Nuneaton

Atherstone Inner Wheel  members at the home of a member wrapping over 350 soft toys for the Dickens Day Event on Saturday 21st November, we are raising money for Canine Partners, our President Sue's Charity this year. The work was topped off with a lovely lunch!

Atherstone IW and Rotary joined together for a South African Braai in the garden of members recently.

Great food and fellowship were the main ingredients resulting in a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Founder member Sheila Onions was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the village in Fillongley.

Since moving to the village in1980 she has been heavily involved in village life, being instrumental in the development of the village hall, serving on the Local History Group as Treasurer and Chairman, founding the Fillongley Golden Years club as well as being a Parish Councillor for numerous years

Sheila says "It was an amazing surprise to receive notice of the award and I feel very honoured to have been nominated for it. I hope that I will be able to continue with my many activities for many more years to come."

The club's decorated Christmas Tree in Ansley Church in memory of John Paul

Alwynne Walton (founder President) pictured at the Lyons Melbourne Cup Day where she picked the winning horse!  Alwynne has moved to New Zealand following her husband Philip's death.  She used to always say Grace at her club meetings and in October she carried on the tradition by utilising Skype!

Wrapping 600 bottles of water and 100 bottles of wine for Rotary's "Water and Wine" stall, followed by a bring and share supper and a few classes of wine!

Club members setting up their tombola and raffle stall at the Dickens event in Atherstone in aid of their charity "First Responders"

Our President Wendy's chosen charity for this year is "First Responders" and we were given a very interesting and informative talk by Sam about her volunteer role as a First Responder

President Wendy with founder President Alwyne Walton and her daughter Kim. Alwyne will be travelling to New Zealand to live with her daughter following the death of her husband Philip a few months ago.  We will be very sad to see her go.

Beverly Attwood came to Atherstone Inner Wheel Club as a Honorary Member in 1991 and has stayed on and off since then. When the rules of membership changed, she became a full member and has taken  every position within the club.

When she moved to Nuneaton over 40 years ago she quickly became involved with Nuneaton Festival of Arts, first as a helper, then running the Speech and Drama Section and finally taking the chair for the last 20 years.

The Festival is one of the largest and most diverse in the country encouraging both old and young of varying abilities in all forms of art.

She received a Community Award from the Mayor of Nuneaton in recognition of her outstanding community work.

Atherstone Inner Wheel held a Coffee Morning recently for School in a Bag which proved to be a very successful fund-raising event.

Atherstone have had a busy time knitting teddies for School in a Bag! They were also delighted with the cheque given to the Warwickshire and Northampton Air Ambulance representative, Melanie Smith, recently.

Atherstone Coffee Morning

Association President Trish Douglas has been encouraging Clubs to hold a coffee morning or other event to raise money for her chosen charity, Parkinsons UK.

The ladies in Atherstone recently had their event and were delighted with the fund-raising they were able to do for Parkinsons UK.

The Christmas tree in Ansley Church, decorated by members of Atherstone Inner Wheel Club

President Sue showing her expertise at Glass Blowing at our Christmas meal

Club members and Rotarians watching the glass blowing demonstration