Asby WI

Wheelchair, Coast to Coast

"An inspirational and determined lady making the most of life!" was how Jackie Lambert described the speaker when giving the vote of thanks at the close of Asby WI's guest's talk.

During the evening members had heard how Debbie North, originally a teacher in Blackburn, Kirklees and Lincolnshire, and a keen hillwalker, had been diagnosed as having the 'spine of an 80 year old' which was crumbling.  Surgery followed but this left Debbie wheelchair bound.  She returned to teaching but retired early when the fact of her disability was not taken into account.

She was, however, determined still to get out and about with her husband.  She made her very first trip in an 'ordinary' wheelchair to Gordale Scar, followed by another excursion using a National Trust wheelchair around Malham Tarn.  Then pneumonia struck.  Recovering from another spell in hospital she decided to do the Coast to Coast long distance trail.

This time using an all-terrain wheelchair, Debbie and Andrew followed their own version of the Wainwright classic and were met by family and friends at Robin Hoods Bay after coping with a route full of obstacles: rocks across tracks, locked gates on bridleways and horse stiles, to mention just a few.

A Walk in Maggie's Wood

When the Asby WI Committee planned their midsummer meeting - a guided walk in Maggie's wood - they would have had hopes for a beautiful, warm sunny evening and, afterwards, refreshments out in the garden before the sun set. Unfortunately, the order of the day was warm clothes, rainproof outerwear topped off with beanies or hoods, following a very wet day!

However, the rain held off and the twelve members plus a guest were able to concentrate fully on the woodland walk with Dr Simon Smart, senior research scientist from the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Lancaster University.  Heading for the wood, the group initially went through a magnificent field of buttercups where Simon indicated his first items of interest - pignuts, members of the carrot family, which to most members appeared to be 'yet another umbellifer!'

Afternoon Tea & Resolutions

Fine china, delicious sandwiches, scrumptious cakes and smiling waitresses were in evidence in the village hall when Asby WI held a formal afternoon tea in aid of the Ankoma Outreach Project. Despite rather poor weather the event was well attended and raised £181 for the Ghanaian charity - an endeavour warm to the hearts of Asbeians as it is the project of local couple, Asha Richardson and her husband, Craig. The money raised will go towards the charity's work in Ankoma's Presbyterian Primary School, the Health Clinic there and the community in general.

The monthly meeting saw 12 members gather for the annual 'Resolutions Evening' at which resolutions going before the national Annual Meeting are discussed so that the local delegate to the meeting can be informed and vote accordingly. The resolutions represent the national membership's recommendations on policies about which the national federation should be campaigning.