Bath and buns

​The Chase Group of WIs travelled to Bath for a day’s outing on 9th May. It wasn’t a perfect day weather-wise but we did manage to dodge the worst of the rain while we went on a guided tour of the city. The party enjoyed the attention of two guides and both of them were excellent. We concentrated on the architecture of the city rather than the people who had lived there although of course, Jane Austen and Beau Nash came into the talk as well. The photos were taken by Dee Blackmore. I think she must have lain flat on the floor for the shot of the beautiful ceiling of the Abbey and the picture of the famous Pulteney Bridge from the other side of the river shows how the dark clouds had lifted as we strolled along to the next bridge. Many of us succumbed to eating Bath buns which are much lighter than they look---that is what we told ourselves anyway! An interesting day.
 Everyone appreciates the work involved in organising a group outing like this and thanked our Group convenor and hoped she would arrange another one.
15 May
Did you read in the national press how Leicester and Rutland Federation members have been banned from baking cakes for the local hospice? They have been doing this for years and now the hospice isn’t allowed to accept their donations because of health and safety concerns: all the members’ kitchens have to be inspected and registered as food establishments. This bureaucratic nonsense raises its ugly head every few years and is one of the reasons behind BFWI running basic hygiene courses for members so that WIs can say that they have someone who holds a valid certificate when they cater for the public at garden parties or market stalls. The editorial of The Daily Telegraph poured scorn on the ruling in Leicestershire so perhaps something will be done about altering the decision and the patients can go back to enjoying a slice of cake with their teas.
In the same issue of the paper there was a welcome piece about 3 criminal drug dealers being jailed under the Modern Slavery Act for forcing youngsters to be runners for drug trafficking between London and Portsmouth. It is good to see the legislation following WI campaigns being used in the war against this practice.