Yate-Genieri Community Link

THE Yate-Genieri Link held a wonderful Taste of The Gambia supper.

We introduced our 62 guests at the event in February to new and exciting recipes from The Gambia.

This was followed by an illustrated update on the progress of the projects we have been supporting now for many years in this rural village in West Africa.

The evening raised over £1,200, and this will support the salaries which we pay monthly to a teacher (£87.30), a teaching assistant (£28), a school cook (£28), a caretaker (£14), a gardens manager (£24.50), a gardens caretaker (£22.20) and a community nurse (£47) - a total of £251 per month.

These funds raised will enable us to help the village to maintain its nursery school, the women’s vegetable gardens and tiny primary healthcare centre.

Many thanks to all who came to the supper, and to all our supporters in the Yate community.

Many thanks also to Yate Town Council for sponsoring the event – valuable help that was gratefully received.

If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, please contact me at marianjgilpin@ btconnect.com, or go to the website www. yategenierilink.org.uk for more information.

Marian Gilpin Chairman

Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club

MEMBERS of our club have regularly supported the North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Food Bank and the Blonde Angel Street Team with donations of food and toiletries.

At our last two monthly meetings, we have have donated Easter Eggs for these two very worthwhile groups, to try to bring a smile to those who may be struggling at the moment.

Our March meeting took a somewhat different style from our usual speaker meetings, and we listened to each other instead, sitting round tables, chatting and eating cake!

So we learned a little about new members Debs and Fay; discovered how Annie had become a nurse and then a midwife; were enthralled by Margaret’s brushes with royalty and marvelled at Pauline’s crafty skills and beautiful cushions.

Six Inner Wheel members are also members of Yate Rock Choir, so video clips of their performances during last summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were shared.

Next year the club will celebrate its 40th anniversary and we brainstormed ideas to celebrate - our oldest member liked the idea of a weekend in Paris - others were thinking more local. Watch this space!

We were delighted to hear of the growing success of the tea dances organised by the Rotary Club at the Town Hall, and are happy to have helped serving refreshments, providing cake and chatting to the guests. Another takes place on May 4, and Inner Wheel will be there in support once more.

Liz Pattison Club Correspondent