LPGA Weekend Conference March 2008 (See Photos).
Over 20 of us arrived with great expectancy at Rutland Water on Friday 7th March. We were not disappointed.
On our first night, the guest speaker at our evening meal was the Chief Executive of Rutland County Council, Helen Briggs.
Discussion then included was this the smallest unitary authority? Or is that the Isle of Wight? Surely one of us should know?
On the Saturday morning we particularly enjoyed a trip to the local brewery, The Grainstore Brewery. After a look around the whole site, we then still had to wait until we could participate in testing the product – and guess who was first in the queue? (No name needed)
Our visit to the windmill at Whissendine (and climb up it by some of us who were determined to be an embarrassment at our later venues – being covered in flour dust!) was great fun, especially meeting the mother and son (with traditional grey beard) who run the show and actually sell proper flour.
Our dusty crew then made their way to the village hall at Cottismore to enjoy a W.I. lunch and meeting with the local youth worker, speaking on engaging youth with the community. This led to a fascinating exchange of views on the different methods in place which supported this. Great -let’s all do it! We particularly enjoyed looking at the work of the local children on the walls, including an especially amazing cartoon-type figure of Noah – and guess who we mistook it for?
We must also confess that, during the length of this discussion, we were forced to leave one mobile switched on in order to stay in touch with the score at the Portsmouth v Man Utd match then underway. Fortunately, the result was acceptable, which was clearly indicated by the bouncing up and down of one of us!
A relaxing gap followed. After this, Elisabeth Skinner outlined the plans for future development of the foundation degree course, a most positive step forward in widening our horizons and meeting local demands and needs.
At our LPGA AGM we agreed we will be meeting in Kent next year, date likely to be 6th March – so put it in your diaries now!
With a membership scattered around the country, I would like to put together a map which shows who we are, where we are and what our contact details are, so we can stay in touch AND know where the best-informed knowledge and support is, both locally and nationally. I hope you will all provide me with the following, to allow this:
Name:, Parish /Town:, County: Email address: ( Some of this information is with us already)
The exchange of email contacts will, I hope, also give us an online chat opportunity for a useful natter, exchange of info and the opportunity to speak to people who actually know what we are talking about! Please do join up to this exclusive gossip shop.
Finally, it is wonderful to see our membership steadily increasing, important to stay in touch and jolly good fun when we can get together.
Our next opportunity? The Cheltenham Summer School , so keep your eyes open for this programme. Otherwise, let us know when you have local events that we might enjoy.
See you around.
Margaret Bernard [graduated 1997].