Milwich & District Produce Guild
In May, there will be a visit to two gardens in St John’s Road, Stafford at the earlier time of 7pm. For further information, please contact Mike Baggaley on 01889 270161 or m_baggaley@btinternet.com
Our meetings are usually held on the fourth Thursday of the month, at All Saints’ Village Hall, starting at 8pm, visitors very welcome.
Pre-School Newsletter
Firstly on behalf of all the staff, can we say a big thank you for all the Easter gifts we received, we were overwhelmed by the generosity.
The Easter celebrations were well supported and everybody had fun decorating and hunting eggs as well as showing off some extremely impressive bonnets. Thank you to the W.I ladies who had the difficult task of judging the bonnets.
We are continuing with our “under the sea” theme this half term, and we have lots of activities planned from making bottle jelly fish, to finding sea creatures that will be hiding in the sea bed. As the weather starts to improve all the children will be helping to get our garden and flowerbeds ready for the summer, we have lots of weeding, planting and tidying up to do, we are also hoping to get a sensory garden area for the children to be interactive with, and a wildlife area to attract the birds We are also starting to think of our graduation and making the transition from preschool to big school seamless.
Preschool is offering the 30 hours funding (subject to criteria) we are also signed up to the tax free child care scheme, please see a member of staff for more information.
Preschool runs Monday-Friday, sessions are 9.00am-1.30pm or 9.00am-3.00pm. Lollipops wraparound care sessions are 7.30am-9.00am and/or 3.00pm-5.45pm (term time only) for any further information please contact 07974719522
Milwich W I Report April 2018
Would you like to be a Ladies Maid in 1898?
Jo Golby described the role of not only the Ladies Maid but also the Ladies. Jo has worked for the National Trust for many years at Warwick Castle, Keddleston House and Cork Abbey.
Firstly, she described Mary Curzon who became Lady Warwick. She was born in America with a large family fortune, her main ambition was to come to England to find a titled husband – these ladies were called Million Dollar Heiresses. She stayed at several aristocratic homes and eventually met her husband George Nathanial Curzon, who was about to go on the Grand Tour for five years. Before leaving she made him promise that they would marry on his return. As she was single she did not have the means for a ladies’ maid so asked her father to finance one. The Americans were not as fashionable as the English ladies therefore Mary Curzon set out to find a dress maker of her own, despite having suggestions from other ladies. She met Violet in a back street who made her very elegant dresses and who was later engaged to be her hairdresser. Violet, coming from a poor area, spoke with a strong accent, so Mary sent her to a finishing school where she learnt to speak and behave properly. Violet then became Mary’s ladies’ maid when the Curzon’s married. (George came back to England after three years!) Ladies maids were paid well, had their own bedroom, a tea allowance and had a pudding once a week on Sunday. She would have half a day off once a month on a Sunday, but she would have to be up an hour before her Lady awoke and go to bed an hour after her Lady. Violet would oversee the laundry and sewing therefore being allowed bees wax candles. Violet stayed with Mary, Lady Warwick for the rest of Mary’s life – she died in her 30’s due to the smog in London having had three daughters. Violet was given her own cottage and allowed to find a new business or to marry.
Jo was an excellent speaker bringing with her many objects and photographs of the era. She also encouraged Mary Allen, one of our members, to try on corsets (staves) over some voluminous under ware for which she was congratulated.
Next month is the Annual Meeting when there will be Bring and Share refreshments and a sales table – May 9th Milwich Village Hall. Visitors are always welcome to very happy and interesting meetings held on the second Wednesday of the month. For further information please ring Sue Lloyd on 01889 505470 or May Yates on 01889 505518
COFFEE SHOP
Opening Friday 11th May
from 10.30 – 11.30am
Hot drinks always available
Garden produce, Plants and Crafts when available
Change your library books at the Mobile Library 11 – 11.40am
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