Kirkby on Bain and Roughton Cameo Club
January 2023
Crafty Items with Debs
From Jill Russell
We welcomed a fine group of members, including new folk, braving a cold winter’s night, on Tuesday 17th Jan, for our first meet of the year!
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Our intrepid speaker was Debs Davis who runs a sewing shop, ‘Also met by Debs’, in Horncastle. She came to give us a demonstration of different forms of printing on to material and paper. She was so enthusiastic for her craft and encouraged us to just ‘have a go’ if we got inspired by her talk. She demonstrated three sorts of printing on to calico material: Block, Thermofax and Gel.
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She began with a block printing demonstration using Indian blocks. She used acrylic paint and dabbed with a sponge sparingly on the block, then pressed it down on to the calico square which was placed on a towel for ‘give’. She used baby wipes to clean the block quickly before it dried on. She then added a second colour to the design and left the print to dry. She suggested prints could be put on card or added to bags, sewing on or adding extra embroidery.
She then showed us how to use thermofax screens which could be sent off for from the company which could also print your own pictures. She recommended screens with frames for more stability. She squeezed the paint on top of the picture screen and dragged it down with a plastic card. She advised cleaning the screens with plain water.
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She then went on to show us gel plates made out of gelatin, which could be made up with the recipe. Apparently these lasted a long time as long as they were dry wiped! She put two small dabs of paint and rolled it out with a floc wallpaper roller. She put a leaf on the square and then the material on top. With a clean roller she then rolled over the cloth. When the cloth was taken off it revealed the leaf shape with the colour behind. She took the leaf off and put another cloth on to produce another effect. Debs made it clear that it was all about experimentation and different effects could be made with bubble wrap, feathers etc.
Also combining the different printing techniques and using different size gel plates. All these techniques on to material or card can be copied using an ink jet printer. Calico covered by freezer paper then put on to the printer for copying. Debs told us she does workshops and she is doing a combined workshop with Sinclair Ashman making a collage plus in September in Horncastle. She uses Marg Arts on Instagram to get ideas. Basically you can ‘do your own thing’ and make your own fabric and put all sorts of lovely designs on material to add to bags etc as presents.
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Debs sells all sorts of items for sewing in her shop and admitted she would spend all her time making up prints as she has such a passion for the art. Our group then gathered round to ask her questions and look more closely at her work. We then thanked her for a very interesting and informative talk.
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Coffee, tea and biscuits followed with the raffle and 50/50 draw.
Chair, Louise, finished with feedback about the Table Top sale last December. which made £270 for the club which enabled £250 to be donated to last year’s charity, The Air Ambulance. Members were asked to think about which charity we should support this year.
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Social get together Wed 25th Jan 1.30pm-3.30pm. Roughton Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday 21st Feb 7.30pm Roughton Hall with a talk by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
New members welcome.
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Reporter Jill Russell
February 2023
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
From Louise Roberts
Our meeting on Tuesday 21st February we invited Kevin James from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to come and talk to us about RAF Woodhall Spa which has been turned into a Nature Reserve by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust after being most recently a sand and gravel quarry.
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Woodhall Spa Airfield was constructed on former farmland as a satellite station to RAF Coningsby and opened in February 1942. During World War Two it was home to a number of RAF squadrons including the famous 617 “Dambusters” squadron. Other squadrons at RAF Woodhall Spa included 97 Squadron and 619 Squadron, which were heavily involved in the early operations of the Avro Lancaster bomber.
Another squadron based at RAF Woodhall Spa was 627, which crucially developed a method of low level target marking that proved to be extremely successful. All in all 458 men lost their lives out of RAF Woodhall Spa.
Kevin then went onto explain that the trust is taking Joseph Burtt Davy a Victorian entomologist’s vision to turn it into a very dry heathland, when they purchased the base in 2016. As a nature reserve it is a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful atmosphere of this former airfield. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is hoping to preserve as much as possible of the form RAF Site. There is a mosaic of different habitats on the site, which are known as Lumpy Field, Lake Field, Cottage Field, Ostler’s Field and of course the runway which was cleared in 2016. There is now new fencing all along the runway to enable it to be preserved. There is a bird hide in the middle of the runway and 2 new viewpoints – which have been slightly elevated to enable a better view. No plants have been planted on the site it is all natural regeneration.
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Whilst Kevin and his volunteers were clearing the site they came across an unexploded bomb. Bomb squad was called in and blew it up safely of course. Kevin didn’t want to scrap the bomb so he decided to rebuild it and now it can be seen it in all its glory.
On the Nature Reserve, they have got 70 Pedigree Red Cattle, 180 Hebridean Sheep and Highland Ponies (brown) and a Pair of Cranes. All the land on the reserve is managed by animals and not tractors. On the airfield they have recorded various animals turning up: Marbled Veal, American Widgen, Water Voles, Great White Egret. There were at least 15 thousand starlings turning up last year and Kevin said their murmuration was an absolutely beautiful sight to see. In the reed beds they have found, bearded tits, grass snakes, common frogs and harriers overhead. The haybarn has been built on site to look after the cattle and give them some shelter and on 20th February they welcomed twin calves. No chemicals are used on nature reserve, they are also part of the Green Tractor Scheme and also have Red Tractor Certified Beef Certificate.
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The Future – Kevin is extremely passionate about the future of this site and explained what he would like to see going forward. The old Farmhouse on the site he would like renovated and turned into a training centre for 4 students. Also, he talked about the ability to connect the Old Airbase, to Ostler’s Plantation which would then create an 8 mile circular walk for visitors to enjoy. He is a great believer that Nature Reserves should be bigger for mental health and a good educational resource.
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Kevin finished off with explaining how to get into the reserve. There is a Carpark suitable for 10 cars, no dogs are allowed only guide dogs. The reserve has a locked pedestrian gate for security. You will need an access code to enter the reserve. Please contact them during office hours on 01507 526667.
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It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and Kevin was asked plenty of questions during our Coffee break and afterwards. We then carried on with our normal business. We had a newcomer join this evening and a visitor to see what were about. We had a vote on our chosen charity for the year and this year is will be LIVES. It was also mentioned we have a Willow Weaving afternoon on the 24th May at 2pm £5 and we come away with a Willow Heart.
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Social get together Wed 29th March 1.30pm-3.30pm. Roughton Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday 21st March 7.30pm Roughton Hall and we welcome Firsby Fudge for atasting evening and we finish with our AGM.
New members welcome.
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Reporter Louise Roberts
March 2023
Sam & Matt Sorrell of Firsby Fudge
From Alison Davis
Sam opened the evening and explained how Firsby Fudge came into existence. They came into this by chance and NOT from a long line of bakers.
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Sam was the Head Lecturer of Performing Arts and Dance in Essex which she loved but did find very demanding. Long hours and then thoughts turned to family. Matt had a business with picture framing and art restoration, bespoke items for Liberty’s. Matt has a talent for painting and did an Art Exhibition in Milton Keynes. Whilst standing next to another glass art exhibitor he decided he would take up glass making – he purchased a kiln and went into big time production.
After a family bereavement, Sam and Matt moved to Firsby and built an art studio and started to exhibit at Alford Craft market on a regular basis. One day he was standing next to a Fudge Exhibitor and yes, you guessed it, he bought the Fudge business. There was a caveat that they continue with the same six traditional Lincolnshire recipes and from that they added their own flavours.
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Sam does all the business side and Matt does all the cooking and still making glass. Sam continues to teach in the area, Zumba and Dance Fit.
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During Covid, Fudge went on the back burner. Matt built a pagoda in the back garden – a new business was born –Pagodas, Fences and Sheds, bespoke pieces all from wood. They now produce their fudge from March through to Xmas, selling their produce at local country fairs and at the end of their drive.
Firsby Fudge is made from all fresh ingredients the result is smooth and creamy, melts in the mouth, similar texture to Scottish Tablet Fudge one of the first fudges to ever be made. Butter, milk, cream and sugar and all natural flavourings. Different sugars for different effects.
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Vanilla – white granulated sugar and vanilla extract.
Salted Caramel – Soft dark brown sugar
Butterscotch – Like salted caramel but sweeter.
Rum and Raisin – Raisins steeped in real rum
Chocolate Fudge – Cocoa powder used (no chocolate) rich and dark. Ginger – Stem ginger used
Mojito – Dairy free – Coconut milk used and lime – Tastes zingy
Raspberry – also dairy free as uses coconut milk
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Fudge is very difficult to make, very easy to go wrong, needs correct temperature and correct humidity level. Fudge is actually made in the cooling process at 110 degrees at which point the other ingredients are added to the sugar, poured into tray, then within minutes a small pizza cutting tool is used to cut it up while still warm. It hardens very quickly as it cools. Different sugars need different temps to heat to. Always keep in fridge and this fudge can be frozen as fresh ingredients are used.
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There followed a chance to try and taste the different fudges! Delicious!!!!
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Matt and Sam thanked for their interesting talk and yummy fudge.
Social get together Wed 26th April 1.30pm-3.30pm. Roughton Hall.
Next meeting: Tuesday 18th April 7.30pm Roughton Hall. Dragons of Doggerland - Mary Porter Author.
New members welcome.
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Reporter Alison Davis
April 2023
Mary Edwards-Porter, Author of “Dragons of Doggerland”
Report by Louise Roberts, edited by Jill Russell
We welcomed Mary to our April meeting to talk to our group about her book “Dragons of Doggerland.”
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Mary managed to fit in a few careers already before turning to writing! She’s had a life-long interest in nature and, as she’s always enjoyed sharing her interest with other people, it was a natural choice for her first career to be in teaching. She taught science and biology for 11 years, based in Suffolk. Always a kid at heart, it was soon obvious that the best thing about teaching was the after-school nature clubs that she helped with over the years – birdwatching, pond dipping, and all those lovely things out of which she had never grown. As the years went by she left school and did what she really loved. There followed contracts with the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) in Anglesey and Norfolk, and then a full-time post with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, where she stayed for over 30 years.
Mary then went on to mention she never finished her first book, even though she had received plenty of encouragement. Mary lost her Mum and then her sister who both had wanted to write a book but never did. After she lost both of them she decided it was the right time to sit down and actually write a book.
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Her first children’s book “Dragons of Doggerland” (published August 2022) is set around 7500 years ago. It is the first in a trilogy, with “Escape from Doggerland” and “Dragons of Bulla’s Brook”.
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Mary’s books are aimed at roughly the 6 – 9 year olds. “Dragons of Doggerland” is set in a time just before the land disappeared under the North Sea, around 7000 years ago. Around 12000 years ago, the great ice sheets of the Ice Age started to melt. Sea levels rose, and, over the years Doggerland got smaller. It is thought that a great tsunami (wave) triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Norway around 7000 years ago, finally flooded Doggerland, so that only Dogger Bank remained.
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Mary then had to get the book published and, although you can publish through Amazon, Mary wanted to publish in a bookshop. She contacted an illustrator via Lincolnshire Watch and also joined Society of Authors which was a great help. Mary decided to use the money that her sister left her to actually publish her first book.
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She then went on to read a passage from the book which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
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Dragons of Doggerland is available at Lindum Books, Gilbralter Point Visitor Centre and Book Fayre Woodhall Spa. Our ladies went on to purchase the book at the meeting.
Next meeting: Tuesday 16th May 7.30pm Roughton Hall. Coronation Tea & Royal Quiz.
New members welcome.
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May 2023
Coronation Tea Celebration
Report by Jill Russell
To mark the coronation of King Charles we had a Coronation Tea laid on for us by caterer Sue Kind.
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Roughton Hall was bedecked with flags and we sat round a set of decorated tables. We warmed up with a quick quiz about Charles and then started to tuck in to yummy sandwiches, sausage rolls and cakes. Suddenly, there was a cry, ‘There’s the Lancaster!’. Sure enough we saw the plane flying past, possibly on its way across to Woodhall, which it was due to do that evening, to mark 80 years since the dam busters raid. It seemed very fitting in a way that our evening would be enhanced this way. It was a really jolly affair with plenty of good conversations and laughs and naughty, scrummy grub too!
Chair, Louise went through the answers to the royal quiz but, as it was only a bit of fun, no prizes given. The competition for the craft item was won by Rose for her pencil/pen holder and also a pin cushion. Ann won the 50/50 and raffle prize.
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Chair, Louise completed the evening by letting us know what the Table Top and Plant Sale in April had achieved; £177 for the club and £195 for our charity this year – LIVES. This was a really worth while achievement and thanks particularly to Louise for getting so many plant donations and working so hard, and all the members who helped on the morning.
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She also let us know that the Smartie Tubes filled with money had made £75. She asked for a vote as to where the money should go and overwhelmingly it was voted to go to LIVES.
Next meeting: Tuesday 20th June7.30pm Roughton Hall. William French, Butler to the Stars.
NB This talk is open to non members £5 entry.
New members welcome.
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June 2023
Annie's Country Kitchen Vegan Treats
Report by Jill Russell
​We had a last minute cancellation from the booked speaker, William Butler, who was due to give a talk, due to illness. Happily, Julie Arthur from Annie’s Country Kitchen stepped in and took his place.
Julie says times for selling her products are difficult at the moment with rising costs but she aims to keep price rises to the minimum. Her ethos is the making chocolates with no egg or dairy and to be low impact on the planet by all packaging being re cyclable with the environment in mind. She then went on to explain how she decided to set up this business. She was working in an office and had a vegan friend who couldn’t eat any of the goodies people brought in so Julie started to make vegan chocolate bombs which went down a treat. Work colleagues told her she should sell them. She moved jobs and got the same reaction from her new work mates. So, in 2018, she decided to start her business and sell her wares on line. She sells boxed Chocolate Creams and Bark – Honeycomb, Turkish Delight, Fudge and more. She also makes wedding and birthday cakes to order. She also supplies to cafes, pubs, shops and hotels. Her treats are all handmade using dark Belgian chocolate.
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She then gave us a fun quiz to do and when we went through the answers these were the most relevant facts we learnt. The difference between cocoa and cacao beans is that cacao beans are the raw, unprocessed beans. The country which grows the most cacao beans at the moment is The Ivory Coast, which provides 40% of the world’s beans. Julie gets her processed beans from here under a fair trade/environmental scheme. It takes 400 cocoa beans to make 1lb of chocolate. These beans grow in South America and a cold chocolate drink was drunk by the Aztecs! There are 4 types of chocolate; dark, milk, raw and ruby. Apparently white chocolate comes from a different bean. The % on the packets refer to the percentage of chocolate to sugar. Julie works on 70% chocolate to 30% sugar. The most chocolate is sold in Belgium’s airport and the country which consumes the most chocolate is Switzerland.
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She then went into more detail about the ingredients and where they come from. Cacao beans come from the Theobroma Tree which means ‘Fruit Gods’. Beans are left for 7 days to ferment, roasting in the sun, 100/125 degrees Celcius. Shells are removed and then the beans broken into nibs. These are then ground down into cocoa mass, then processed into cocoa blocks. These blocks are then blended with sugar and milk flavouring. These then go through a conching process in big drums to get rid of any chemicals and bitterness.
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Julie then needs to put them through a tempering process when she receives them, looking like chocolate buttons at this point. In her machine she heats the chocolate up to break down the crystals. This liquid is then cooled to form new crystals which will snap. She uses molds and the chocolate is shiny on the outside. She dips by hand with different fillings. This process will not work in humidity, she needs to work in dry, cold conditions.
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She then took questions from the group. Apparently dark chocolate is better for diabetics and she should know being diabetic herself. She also used to have migraines but no longer since she has switched to dark chocolate. She sells on line and gives talks and goes to vegan festivals. She went vegan for environmental and health reasons. She also sells veg sausage rolls, cakes and different sorts of cookies with orange or cranberry plus nuts. She admits that the business pays for itself but she is fortunate her husband has a well-paid job to allow them to live in their accustomed lifestyle.
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To contact Annie’s Country Kitchen, Julie Arthur tel no: 07801 583813 www.anniestreats.co.uk e: info@anniestreats.co.uk
We thanked Julie very much for such an informative talk and had the opportunity to purchase some of her goods. The packs I bought myself I have found very tasty and will buy more in future!
We then had coffee, tea and cake. Louise won the raffle and Glynis the 50/50. She was very pleased as it was her birthday soon! We then went through certain club business.
We were mightily cheered when she began by offering us a sample of her handmade sweets which went down very well!
She began her talk by explaining why her name is Julie Arthur yet her business is called Annie’s Country Kitchen. She related the heart-breaking tale of losing her 21 month old daughter Annie to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in the nineties. An apparent healthy, rumbustious child to die suddenly, for no explained reason, must live with her always. Julie wanted her business to act as a comfort and as Annie loved chocolate and animals, particularly rabbits, it was fitting to name it after her with a yellow rabbit logo. She has had three sons since but keeps the business as a legacy to her daughter.
Our Chair, Louise Roberts informed the members that no subs would need to be paid for the Christmas meal, just the cost for the caterer, £12/£13. Also, that if anyone brought a guest that person would not have to pay subs for their first visit and then be encouraged to join the club in future. ‘Lives’, our charity this year have already been given a donation of £195 and the club has received a ‘Thank You Certificate’. Louise stressed that the members need perks as well as building up contributions to charity. This statement met with mixed response which may need further discussion?
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The next Table Top sale will be on Sat 26th August 10.00am at the Coronation Hall, Woodhall Spa, to try to get a bigger footfall.
Next meeting: Tuesday 18th July 7.30pm Roughton Hall and the topic is Reflexology
New members welcome.
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July 2023
Francis Ward, Reflexology.
Report by Jill Russell
She began by explaining what Reflexology is: the manipulation of either feet or hands to create balance or rebalance in the body. She went through the parts of the feet and hands which correspond to parts of the body systems, working from the tips of the fingers corresponding with the brain, fingers with the sinuses, across the hand below the fingers with the lungs, then working down the palm with the diaphragm, then the liver and gall bladder, stomach, intestines and so on. The heart focused on the pad below the thumb with adrenal gland close by. Francis explained that Reflexology is suitable for all and that people come to her with anxiety, stress, depression and physical pain.
She would then aim to give them wellness goals and put a plan together over a number of sessions. The aim is to facilitate the body to heal itself through relaxation, lying back aiming to get the immune system going, getting rid of toxins, eliminating pain, getting oxygen flowing and improving circulation.
Francis went through some of the history of this therapy which has been around a long time with ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, using this technique to heal themselves. In early 1900’s Dr William Fitzgerald suggested working on zones of the body, applying pressure to give an anesthetic effect. Also by stimulating reflexes helping the body right itself.
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Francis mainly works on the feet as the larger area means the mapped out areas are not so crowded as on the hands: Toes correspond to the head then working down the foot: shoulders, digestive system, bladder and so on. As she manipulates the feet or hands she is trying to balance the energy out and can feel crystals or grit below the skin and whether the feet are hot or cold. Right side of the body corresponds with the past, the left side the present/future. Hard skin can be a barrier. Frances explained that people have different reactions to the therapy. Some have a desire to sleep, some perspire or get a tingling sensation.
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She was at pains to stress she is not a doctor and works in tandem with the medical profession who see the value in it alongside conventional treatments. Research on this technique is limited as not funding to get evidence of its effectiveness.
Francis then told us about her life, first training as a graphic designer. She went on a reflexology course as a fun sideline. Then, as she became too stressed with work, she quit her job and retrained in reflexology. She is now a member of the Association of Reflexologists. She warned us that, as there is no regulation, it is too easy for hacks just to set up as practitioners so care is needed to check out legitimacy.
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We then went through an extensive practical session working on our own hands which was very stimulating and enlightening. Francis is totally absorbed by this therapy and believes in it whole heartedly with such enthusiasm that it was a really enjoyable interesting experience. We then had a question and answer session and thanked Francis for her talk. Anyone wishing to use her services may contact her: http://www.soulviewspace.com mobile 07921132714.
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This was followed by tea/coffee and cakes, 50/50 draw and raffle.
Next meeting: Tuesday 15th August 7.30pm Roughton Hall. New Beauty Night.
All welcome
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August 2023
Francis Ward, Reflexology.
Report by Jill Russell
Unfortunately, the scheduled speaker was unable to come at the last moment so our Chair, Louise, devised an impromptu quiz to fill the gap.
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We were in teams of 4/5 and Louise shuffled us about a bit to mix up friendship groups. She gave us 30 questions which we then marked. It was very close with two teams sharing the win: ‘The Unknowns’ and ‘No Idea’.
After refreshments we had a picture quiz to complete, which proved quite challenging, and was won by ‘The Dragonflies’.
To complete the evening Louise informed us of the progress of the Summer Fair, 26th August, to be held at the Coronation Hall 11.00am – 3.00pm.
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She has 30 exhibitors who have booked a table so that is a great response and funds from that to go to the club. She also has obtained some very worthwhile donations for the raffle prizes, all proceeds from which will go to our charity this year: ‘Lives’.
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Louise then checked on volunteers to help with the event either baking, contributing, assisting on the day and helping with refreshments. Hopefully it will be a very worthwhile event and all credit to Louise for all the organisation!
Next meeting: Tuesday 19th September 7.30pm Roughton Hall. Grandma's Pudding Company.
All welcome
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September 2023
Grandma's Pudding Company - Talk by Carol Goulding
Report by Jill Russell
We sat down to listen to a talk about what we expected to be the usual description of a café business with some sample treats to jolly us along. This couldn’t be further from the truth which we discovered very soon as Carol began her story about her life, dreams, ambitions, tragedies, joys, heartaches and downright pleasure her establishment gives to her and what she gives to it, which is her whole self.
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She began by putting a quote up from the Kevin Costner’s film ‘Field of Dreams’: ’If you build it they will come’. As Carol said where she is in Friskney, is in the middle of nowhere, but people come to her from far and wide. Her logo is a tea pot and a listening ear, coloured gold, black and white. Her company is a CIC: Community Interest Company, Not for Profit which relies on donations and sales. She acquired this dream 27 years ago while caravanning in Kent when they visited a vineyard where they were served by the disabled. She has a disabled daughter, Sam who, when she left college at 22, had nowhere to go. As all parents of disabled children do, is worry what will happen when they die if their offspring have no outlets, social skills or means to support themselves?
Carol’s background was a teacher for 25 years, Senior Head of Special Needs, certified counsellor specialising with teenagers. She lost her father in 2016. Then her husband, Mark, who worked with adults with special needs, was attacked one day by an inmate who started to eat him! This led to him suffering from PTSD and depression. He then started to develop dementia and became an alcoholic! Her mother wanted to spend more time with Carol so she started making cakes and selling them at shows and markets, which led on to her getting sales on line. She gave up teaching to set up ‘Grandma’s Pudding Co’ with her Mum being chief food taster. To help her achieve her dream of setting up a tea room, her Mum gave her the money to buy a mobile unit at the end of 2018. Unfortunately, her Mum died in Feb 2019 before the unit was delivered that March. Carol began to develop the unit for the tea room but was really let down by the builder she engaged to do the work. He totally ripped her off, stealing appliances and doing shoddy work. She was quoted £10000 to repair it which she did not have. This is where her friend Dave stepped in and gave her the confidence to keep going in adversity. With him she started working on it herself, putting down the drive, upcycling and cadging materials. She was given items like a balcony and got a kitchen for £500. Still bad luck dogged her, being let down twice by central heating installers.
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She opened the Tea Room in 2021 and staffs it all from youngsters and adults with Special Needs, which include those with Autism, Aspergers, Down’s Syndrome and those who have withdrawn and lack confidence for living. She now has a team of 49 and her joy is to get as many as she can into full employment elsewhere. To date 5 have achieved this! She promotes the Tea Room and how it is run on social media and gets interest accordingly. She has been on Radio Lincolnshire nine times, Women’s Weekly, Lincs Life and Look North twice. Her daughter Sam is engaged to Jamie who also has special needs and works there. She gained a Lincs Police Community Award, the Dept Chief Constable arrived with a Santa Hat to give her the Secret Santa Winner, Dog PD dog.
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arol does all the cooking at the moment and insists that the food is of top quality but at a price that is affordable. They serve afternoon teas, sausage rolls, winter stews etc. They grow their own salad material and have gone more into buffet food. An exhibition trailer has been added to the unit as a comfy seating area which is booked out for groups, called ‘The Garden Room’.
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Carole then related a tale which made her realise what a community support she has. On 31st Oct 2021 a Funnel Tornado hit Friskney and seven trees came down. Only her house was hit and her brandnew taxi! She was worried the road to the wildlife park would be blocked so put a call out for help. Seven chainsaws arrived and seventeen helpers to clear up the mess. To add to the tragedy, her husband increasingly suffering from dementia, had failed to renew the insurance!
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Undaunted she soldiered on and has big plans for the future, making the Tea Room a big community hub for people to keep returning to from far and wide. The atmosphere is friendly, nice and welcoming and everyone is accepted for what they are. She hopes to offer ‘Meals on Wheels’, Free Xmas Dinners, Free Suppers, Free Movie Nights the first of which is 11th Oct to show ‘Field of Dreams’. They are building a cold room and hope to develop a mezzanine area to sit out with a Mediterranean/Tropical feel. She would like a pottery, woodwork/DIY area to the left. Carol was keen to stress she doesn’t want to grow too big and wants to keep her hands on the tiller. She gets up at 4am to prepare food and has volunteer help in term time from a number of women but is alone in holiday time. She is training up one of these helpers should something happen to her but she is very much a ‘One Person Band’. She admits this is a worry!
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She takes her team out to events to get them out of their comfort zones and cope with stress. She works with the NHS Neo Natal Ward, puts on pop up tearooms, buffets with different organizations, hog roasts, parties/buffets all to help raise funds.
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The Tea Room is totally wheelchair friendly around and a covered roof is over the two units which Carole said she was up on banging nails in during the construction!
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She has encouraged an autistic singer called Henry and he is doing a concert there on 6th Dec.
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Not surprisingly, she has gained a Gold Citation for Linc Life Magazine, for Best Newcomer and she has been shortlisted for BBC Radio Lincs ‘Making a Difference’ award, the ceremony being on the 28th Sept.
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She aims to get a Lottery Licence and join The One Hundred Club. They are having a German Octofest week beginning 9th Oct. She also has begun doing food for the local pub when they lost their chef.
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Carole finished answering our questions by saying that the most important thing for her and the most joy she gets is seeing her team gain in confidence, little by little with the ultimate aim to get them into paid work: ‘A Tea Room made from Love’.
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We all were absolutely bowled over by her talk and the amazing person she is, what she stands for and what she has achieved. Members agreed on the spot to give her a substantial donation and we hope to make a Cameo visit to the Tea Room next year. Thanks was given to Carole for giving such an inspirational talk.
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Tea/coffee and biscuits followed and the raffle and 50/50 draw. Our Chair, Louise fed back how well the Summer Fair did which means that members will be subsidised for the Christmas Meal on 28thNov and only pay £10 and no sub that evening, which is good news! Book a place and pay at next month’s meet.
Next meeting: Tuesday 17th October7.30pm Roughton Hall. Author - Kate Mitchell.
All welcome
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October 2023
Kate Mitchell - Author.
Report by Jill Russell
Kate began by telling us a bit about herself. From an early age she had a vivid imagination and keen on stories. She told us she heard of the assassination of JFK in Nov ’63 on the wireless while feeding the calves in the shed. When she went in to tell her folks they didn’t believe her because they were never sure whether she was telling tales or not! She worked in the Probation Service in Sheffield for 30 years writing reports. When in her 50’s she went self employed and took a Creative Writing Course at Sheffield University. She wrote her first novel: ‘The House Fell on her Head’ and self published with Amazon. She then spent more time on her writing. During Lockdown she wrote her second novel: ‘The Last Thing She Did’ and this time managed to get a publisher, Betsy. She told us she likes writing short stories which are easier to complete as distractions hinder creativity.
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​A common question she gets asked is:’ Where do you get your ideas from?’ Her answer is that she gets them from everyday happenings and then adding ‘What If?’ Her first book was inspired by a terraced set of properties into which she moved. The rest of the residents had been there since 1936. She offered to help her neighbour cut her hedge and was told lots of things had been buried there in the Anderson Shelter after the war. This led her to research The Blitz in Sheffield to help her story. She also went to Dunkirk to visit War Graves and by chance she found a sardine tin which she incorporated into her story.
Her second book has done well and gained prizes in ‘Good Housekeeping’ magazine. It is set in Lincolnshire, Sheffield and Ireland. At a petrol station a child is abducted from a car. A bystander who observed this spends the next years trying to discover where the child has gone. Kate was pleased to have gained a publisher but says it is really hard for new up and coming writers to get one.
Her third book; ‘He saw what she did’ is a story about a woman unjustly imprisoned for murder, who escapes from the prison by jumping into a refuse lorry, in order to prove her innocence. Betsy said it was unbelievable which is strange after the recent escape of a prisoner under a lorry? This novel remains unpublished.
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Kate says she does not write her crime fiction with police procedurals but that her characters solve the problems. She gets annoyed by authors who are inaccurate about court detail in this country.
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She says that research is so important and to get characters to develop three dimensionally. This is why writers go in for writing series. Kate says plotting the story is important to her, not like some writers who go ‘night driving’, just going with the flow. Editing is also so important and that some third party must do it, not the writer.
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Kate asked us if anyone of us was a writer or poet and a couple of our number had written chidrens’ stories and one had an idea for a memoir. She thought memoirs a powerful way to give ancestors and people gone by a voice. She then asked us all to spend 10 minutes quickly writing a story entitled ‘New Pair of Shoes’. We all had a go and a few of us read our attempts out to the whole group. Kate was very kind and praised us for our contributions! We had coffee/tea and cake and Kate took part in a question and answer session. We thanked her for her interesting talk and the challenge she set us.
Next meeting: Tuesday 28th November 7.30pm Roughton Hall. Christmas Meal.
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