On Sunday, 12 June 2011, the WFA Cumbria Branch held its annual summer occasional day which this year coincided with our silver jubilee.
The event was held at the Hundith Hill Hotel, near Cockermouth in the heart of the Lake District. 37 guests attended the function including David Easton from the WFA National Executive and our three speakers: Sue Light, David Boyd Haycock and Michael O'Brien.
Despite the low attendance this was a successful day: the three talks were well received by those present; and a fantastic lunch was provided by the hotel that we all enjoyed.
The meeting was opened by the Branch Chairman and our first speaker, Sue Light, gave a wonderful talk on nursing, the state of nursing in 1914, and the preparations in the years preceding the outbreak of war. She gave an insight into the welfare and discipline of the nursing profession including their accommodation, food and working conditions. A thoroughly interesting talk.
Our second talk by by David Haycock was on the artist Stanley Spencer and his works, including those on display in the memorial chapel at Burghclere in Hampshire. David also talked of the Stanley's early life in school and in Bloomsbury. He also spoke of Spencer's life whilst serving in the Balkans and showed pictures of some of the outstanding work by this artist.
We then broke for a three-course lunch and to restart the afternoon the chairman presented to our past long-serving chairman Bob Matthews (now the Branch's Honorary President) a small token of the Branch's appreciation for all his hard work over the years, The chairman also added that other long serving and still serving members of the branch had not been forgotten and a token would be presented to them at a later date. Bob, in his speech of thanks, also commented that others had worked hard over the years and he thanked them all for the support they had given him.
The third speaker of the day was Michael O'Brien who spoke of the romantic character from Italy, Gabriele D'Annunzio. He recalled D'Annunzio's exploits in Italian society and his role with the Italian Army during the Great War including the raid on Buccarri, for which he earned his nickname 'The Pirate Of Buccarri'.
After the raffle, the Chairman closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance, and he hoped to see them all next year at another successful day.
Overall this was a wonderful day in a fantastic setting with super facilities. Amongst our number were some ladies who came because of their interest in nursing. They were not WFA members but they are soon to become members and, hopefully, they will bring others with them.
So to those of you out there who saw this advertised and thought about going but didn't, I am afraid you missed a treat.
Stop Press: next year's Occasional Day will be on Sunday, 10 June 2012 and feature Rob Thompson, John Derry and Peter Hart.
Contributed by: Martin Simpson, Cumbria Branch Chairman.
You can view a slideshow of all the photographs from the day below. Please click on the "expand" icon to view in full screen; use "Esc" on your keyboard to close.
