Journalist and writer Sally Smith was guest speaker at the April meeting of West Buckland WI.
Here is the full report from Cheryl Bailey, Secretary …
Following a warm welcome to the meeting by President Christine and singing Jerusalem, our guest speaker was introduced.
Sally said that we had all heard about Francis Drake, Captain Cook and Ferdinand Magellan, – men who went around the world and are our history. But what about the women?
Her book The Women Who Went Round the World sets the record straight with stories of ten pioneering women and their extraordinary journeys around the world.
Sally spoke about Jeanne Baret, born in 1740 near Paris who dressed as a man, cut her hair, and became the first women to sail around the world.
Ida Pfeiffer, an Austrian explorer, travelled around the world both ways at the age of 45 and was horrified when arriving in China in the 1840s to see the tradition of girls’ feet bound tightly to make them smaller.
A sophisticated and wealthy lady, Annette Meakin, whose ambition was to be a writer, travelled to Japan in the 1890s by the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest railway in the world, to gain inspiration for a book.
The first women to circumnavigate the globe by car was Harriet White Fisher. Her travelling companions were a maid, a mechanic and handyman, amassing two dogs and a monkey on the way!
Lady Grace Drummond-Hay was the first women to fly in a Zeppelin airship, while Valentina Tereshkova was the first ever women to voyage in space.
Sally gave a fascinating insight into the adventures of these and other incredible pioneering women of their time.
Members were thanked for donating items for our Tabletop Sale in aid of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance to be held on Saturday, May 9th (10am–12.30pm) at The Scout Hall, Fore Street, Wellington (with home-made cakes).
Several additional activities have been arranged to celebrate West Buckland’s 90th anniversary year (1936-2026) including a visit to a spring garden at West Bagborough in May, a day trip to Sidmouth in June and a Garden Party afternoon tea in August.
Volunteers are still required to help and bake cakes for the Somerset Federation WI refreshment stand at the Bath & West three-day show in May.
The monthly raffle was drawn and the winners for our monthly competition in the colour of the month were chosen.
Members then had time to socialise with tea/coffee and biscuits, provided by the Hostess of the month and her team.
Visitors are very welcome to come along to our monthly meetings, which are held on the second Tuesday in the month, 7pm for 7.30pm, at West Buckland Village Hall, TA21 9NA
Our next open meeting is on Tuesday, June 9th, when our speaker will be Jo Jeffrey (the May meeting is the AGM for members only).
If you would like to join us at West Buckland WI, please come along or contact Christine on 01823 652863 or 07736 712273, email cmwombwell@gmail.com, or visit Somerset Federation of WIs for details of WIs in your area.