Trefoil Guild

We had a most successful Skills Day in September organised by Enid Mulholland when over 60 members gathered in the Barn and Training Room at Foxlease. We made use of the Training Room to accommodate the number – our largest yet!

I attended the National Chairmen’s Conference weekend in Derbyshire at the beginning of October, which was very interesting. Of course, we all enjoyed the buffet supper of foods from around the British Isles and the entertainments were well up to Guiding standard, great fun.

Also in October, five members of the County TG Committee travelled to Wiltshire for the South West Region Teams Day. It was good to come together as a Region. Elizabeth Ferrier, the National Chairman, answered questions on the TG especially, of course, about the TG membership of Girlguiding UK. We are awaiting the final decision.

How we all enjoyed the County Review and congratulate the County Commissioner and County Executive on a very well organised evening that was relaxed and informative. It was a splendid gathering and well done to all involved.

On the 6 December, we shall gather at the Barn, Foxlease, for our annual Carol singing afternoon from 2.00– 4.00 pm.
Pam Baker
Trefoil Guild Chairman
____________________________________________________________________
The peace at Foxlease was disturbed on Tuesday 20 September 2005 when over 60 members gathered there, to spend the day partaking in various craft skills. The choices available covered Beading, Pyrography, Canal Boat Art, Dream making Patchwork, Glass Painting, Card making, or a scenic walk in the New Forest. As it was a beautiful sunny day, we were able to enjoy eating our lunches in the grounds of Foxlease, always a pleasure.
The County Chairman, Mrs Pam Baker, thanked all the talented craft demonstrators for giving their time, and Mrs Enid Mulholland for co-ordinating the day. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Rose Bushell
PR Hampshire West County
____________________________________________________________________
TREFOIL GUILD NATIONAL AGM

Bath is a beautiful city. An ideal venue for the Trefoil Guild National AGM when South West Region hosted the event. Four members from the New Forest Waterside Division attended - three from Holbury Guild and one from Hythe. Leaving home on the Friday morning we travelled by car and we were surprised when we stopped at a wayside inn to find that they had to unlock the door for us when we stopped for the coffee that they were advertising as it was half past eleven. They must miss some passing trade!

Having located St Francis Hotel we parked the car there, as parking spaces were limited and could not be reserved in advance. Then we went to find some lunch as booking in did not start until two o'clock. During the afternoon we walked by the parks and the river and visited an interesting range of shops - Bath is not just a clone of other city centres throughout the country. Unsurprisingly we met and spoke with a number of groups of Trefoil members as we walked.

On the Saturday morning, we went on the city tour on an open top bus complete with a commentator whose stock of jokes appeared to be endless (unfortunately). The tour company carried large numbers of Trefoil members that weekend! We tried the Sally Lunn buns in Bath's oldest shop. We asked for one bun and four plates - not to economise but the buns looked rather large for a 'between meals snack'. At lunchtime, the queues were long in the restaurants of the high street stores with Trefoil Guild members augmenting their usual numbers.

The AGM was held at the Forum and there were one thousand five hundred and thirty five members present. The main speaker gave a fascinating account of expeditions that she had taken part in with the Scientific Exploration Society. She has been on six trips to various parts of the world in the five years since she retired from teaching and she focussed on two of them. One project involved bringing water closer to the homes of a remote community who had to travel for four hours to obtain water. The talk was supported by photographs and film.

Mealtimes at the hotel were very interesting as we met members from many areas and discussed Guiding and other life experiences. After dinner on the Saturday evening, we went to the theatre to see 'An Inspector Calls'. On the Sunday morning, we went to have a close look at the Royal Crescent and wondered how one householder obtained permission to have their front door painted yellow. We played crazy golf at the popular Victoria Falls golf course then drove to the American Museum in time for lunch. The museum was very interesting and enjoyable and we discussed the exhibits with the volunteers who were on duty, Trefoil members who were visiting the house and other members of the public.

The entertainment arranged by Venture Abroad on the Sunday evening was well attended. It was held at the Ralph Allen School and we were taken there by coach. We had an enjoyable evening watching Brownies who were taking their Entertainer badge, listening to the Venture Abroad staff singing numbers from 'The Sound of Music' and to the Bath Spa Band with their brass and woodwind instruments. Then we sang songs from 'The Wars' songsheets accompanied by the band.

On the Monday morning, we were directed to a craft stall in the indoor market that had an excellent range of materials for making greetings cards. We left Bath about midday and after stopping for lunch en route, we arrived home during the afternoon.

So many times over the weekend, we were asked 'See you in Belfast next year?' We asked the same question to many of our newfound friends. We have already booked our accommodation in Belfast for the Trefoil Guild National AGM for 2006. See you there?
Pam Mold
Holbury Trefoil Guild
______________________________________________________________________
On a lovely summers evening on 14 July 2005, Southampton Windhover Trefoil Guild met at Marwell Zoo, Colden Common to formally present a bench in memory of one of their members and past Chairman, Mrs Violet Billings, who died on 2 January 2005. Money for the bench was raised by personal donations, monthly raffles and profit from the sale of Webb Ivory goods. Violet was renowned for her embroidery skills, helping with the stitching on several Standards and the Region Wall Hanging. She was also a Friend of Marwell, so it was thought an appropriate place for a permanent memorial. The bench has been positioned overlooking the brand new Snow Leopard enclosure, which opened on 5 July 2005, an animal which Violet was particularly fond of.
Cynthia Hockley
Southampton Windhover TG