Alstonefield and District RVS Friendship Club

The Club generally meets at four weekly intervals at Alstonefield Village Hall (unless otherwise stated).
If you’re not a member and would like to join us for a particular talk in the Village Hall, you are very welcome. If you can let Fiona know in advance, this will help with the catering- that said, we have never yet run short of food!

Wednesday 1st June

Mary Jephcott- The life and times of Mary J

Mary is one of the oldest residents in the village. Her life story is fascinating and inspiring.

Mary’s talk will be followed by a special Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea. Please let us know if you would like to join us as numbers in this instance are limited.

Cost- Only £5.00- including a glass of bubbly to toast the Queen.

Wednesday 15th June 6.00pm

Trevor Wragg- There’s More to walls

Trever Wragg has been a Stone Waller since leaving school in 1964. Come and discover the importance ands heritage of the Peak District stone walls- a talk not to be missed.

Cost £5.00 including evening meal.

Wednesday 6th July 6.00pm

Friendship Club Birthday Party and entertainment

For more information, please contact Fiona 01335 310200.

 NEWS FROM 2019:

NANCY IS A STAR!

Nancy Coates is 100 years old and still volunteering for the Friendship Club after 37 years!  Her contribution to the continuing success of the Club was recognised – co-incidentally on her 100th birthday – by the award of Support Staffordshire’s Volunteer Star Lifetime Achievement trophy.  As Nancy wasn’t able to attend the presentation evening, being otherwise occupied with her birthday party, Debbie Rushworth of Support Staffordshire came to the Club’s 61s birthday party to make the presentation.  Also present that evening was Laurence Quirk of the Royal Voluntary Service, who presented Nancy with several long service medals and certificates – the exact number of years’ volunteering wasn’t quite clear, so he presented her with medals for 10 years’ service, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years, together with two sets of the accompanying certificates, one set in her ‘official’ name of Alice and one in the name of Nancy!  Naturally, it was Nancy who was asked to cut the Club’s birthday cake that evening.

Photographs, left to right: Nancy receiving her Volunteer Star Lifetime Achievement trophy from Debbie Rushworth; Nancy receiving her many medals and certificates from Laurence Quirk; Nancy cutting the Club’s birthday cake.

CARRIE OSBORNE TALKS ABOUT THE ANN GREEN FESTIVAL

Last year’s Ann Green Festival was the subject of a talk by the festival’s organiser, Carrie Osborne, on 14th August.  After telling us more about the inspiration for the festival and the events that took place, Carrie showed us the originals of the wonderful paintings of the church, exterior and interior, designed and drawn by Sue Prince and completed by many different local people.  There are so many wonderful stories, both recent and from long ago, included in the paintings, and there was a great deal of interest among members  (see photographs below).

Everyone is welcome to join the Club, which, contrary to some people’s ideas, is definitely not just for old people!  We also welcome non-members at any of our meetings or outings, so why not come along a give us a try?  We have a very varied programme each year.  From late March until early December, we meet on alternate Wednesdays, either at Alstonefield Village Hall or to go on an outing.  A coach collects people from many surrounding villages for the outings, and members collect those without transport to bring them to meetings in their cars.  Every time we meet there is good food on offer, as well as plenty of laughter, plenty to make us think and to entertain us, and wonderful friendship.

Membership costs £4 per year, afternoon tea at meetings costs £5, the coach for outings costs £7, transport to meetings in a car costs £1.  We bring items for a grocery raffle to each meeting and have a ‘bring and buy’ table at each meeting, and also hold a raffle on each outing.