Seeing ourselves as others see us

I've had a wonderful week travelling around with a group of American ladies and our good friend and WI member, Mary Valentine. The group, named "Friends and Philanthropists" are interested in women's community groups and focused on the WI for their tour to London, Gloucestershire and Yorkshire. Whilst in Gloucestershire, they met up with members of the Executive, toured the north Cotswolds and had tea with Ebrington WI. They spent a fine morning in Sheepscombe Village Hall, enjoying an excellent performance of History and Mystery and a speaker from the Stroudwater Textile Trust before sitting down to a delicious lunch prepared by members of Sheepscombe WI. After lunch, they were enchanted by their visit to Celia Hargrave's garden with glorious Gloucestershire sunshine thrown in for good measure. Of course, we felt they should experience some of our traditional WI events as well, so a game of skittles took place at the Cheese Rollers and Duntisbourne Abbott WI welcomed the group to their Gardeners Question time. It was interesting to see our Federation through different eyes and of course, you all did us proud! Thank you for making our visitors so very welcome.

I travelled north with them on Friday morning, towards Yorkshire and the village of Burnsall, our base for the weekend. Whilst there, we were welcomed into the home of Lynda and Terry Logan, Miss July and her husband, the photographer of the Calendar Girls, some of whom joined us that evening for dinner. We were delighted to spend Saturday evening in the company of former NFWI Chairman Helen Carey, looking good and as busy as ever - no surprise there! Greetings were passed on to Gloucestershire Federation and I returned good wishes on your behalf. Sadly, Charlotte Foster, organiser of the Community Challenge and known to many of you for her terrific work on that project, was ill and therefore unable to be there as planned.

Yesterday, Sunday, we spent a couple of hours in the company of Barnsley's best - Mel Dyke, author of "All for Barnsley" and the person who enabled me to bring Joanne Harris to Cheltenham for us last year. She introduced us to the Chief Executive of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, who was so inspired by The Shires WI, he wants to open one in their Town Hall! Finally, we received the warmest of welcomes by the owner of Pollyannas boutique, Rita Britton, where we had lunch and browsed her exciting store full of first class fashion.

People often ask me what the WI has done for me. Having the privilege to join this group and see their reaction to the wonderful network of WI members throughout the country is a fine example of the organisation at its best. "I'm Gill, a WI member from Gloucestershire" is enough to start the liveliest of conversations and opens all kinds of doors in surprising places. Next time you are in a new place, away from home, why not try it?