926 FOCUS

FOCUS
10 Focus
South Woodham Ferrers
WI September Report
The September Meeting
took a different form this
time as the Speaker asked
if she could give her talk
before we attended to our
business. This was no
problem so Kate Cole told
us about ‘The Witches of
Elizabethan Essex’ at the
beginning of the meeting.
The Witchfinder General,
Matthew Hopkins, not
surprisingly, featured quite
heavily. Although he was
born in Suffolk, he moved
to the Manningtree area,
where he began a ruthless
career. During his time as
self-appointed Witchfinder General, he and his followers
were responsible for more people being hanged for
witchcraft in three years, than in the previous 100 years.
Colchester Castle is where most of the witches who were not
put to death, ended their days.
Kate told us about the relationships between Kings of
England and witches in the past. The most notable was
Anne Boleyn who was falsely accused of incest, witchcraft,
adultery and conspiracy against the King and we all know
that didn’t end well!
To our surprise, the last witch was prosecuted as late as 1944
because the 1735 Witchcraft Act remained on the statute
books, never having been repealed. This did finally happen
in 1951.
Kate has a wealth of knowledge on happenings in our
County and beyond and has written many books about local
history. Her talk is well worth hearing.
After the business, Shirley told us of some forthcoming
outings she has arranged. We are going to the Beth Chatto
Christmas Fair at the end of November with lunch at The
Rose Tree Tea Room at Dedham afterwards. She has also
booked Scrimshaws for our After-Christmas Lunch in
January. Looking ahead to March, we are off to The Cliffs
Pavilion to see ‘Remembering the Oscars’ with Strictly Come
Dancing’s Aljaz and Janette. It sounds as though it will be a
varied and interesting show.
Before all that, our Christmas Coffee Morning will be on
Friday the 22nd of November, in the WI Hall, Guys Farm
Road, from 10.00am until 12 noon. All are welcome to join
us for mince pies, cakes, sausage rolls and tea or coffee.
There will be handmade birthday and Christmas cards for
sale, courtesy of the Craft Club.
We only have two more Craft Club meetings before this
event so we shall have to be busy on the second and fourth
Tuesdays of the month. We meet in the WI Hall from 1.30pm
until 4.00 and anyone is welcome to come along.
!
After-eight Social Club !
!!
!Saturday 16 th November !
Maldon Town Hall!
Put your glad rags on and dance! !
Doors open 7.30 pm !
!
Please bring your own drinks !
Admission: Members £6, Non members £8
Optional fish & chips can be ordered on the door
!
!
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