New Members’ Welcome Reception

On Friday October 24th, some 35 guests attended the lovely Kensington home of Anne and Bob Van Gieson to enjoy the New Members’ Welcome Reception. This annual evening event for new members, their partners and guests provided a relaxed opportunity to meet, mingle and savour conversation over wine and finger food. The executive team‘s participation in Anne Van Gieson’s cooking classes certainly paid off as tempting appetizers looked and tasted as if catered.

Amongst the many guests, we were delighted to have Donna Thomson, our Honorary President and wife of Jim Wright, the High Commissioner, who spontaneously spoke about the strength of the club and President Margaret Wickware’s dedication.

Margaret formally welcomed new members, introduced the executive team, described our charities and highlighted upcoming events. A Waterford crystal maple leaf dish and a stunning pink orchid were presented to hostess Anne for her generosity in organizing the special evening. Chris Kohut, Maple Leaf Trustee and CCSF representative Jill Pollock also socialized with members.
Thanks also to Phyllis Nickerson, Office Manager, for all of her preparation and for offering a warm and friendly welcome upon arrival.

We hope that all our new members sample the many activities and events on offer at the CWC and most importantly, enjoy their London experience.

October's Hospitality Morning

The Wallace Collection is a gem of a museum in London housing a superb collection of art from all periods and many countries, especially France. At our October Hospitality Morning this morning, CWC members were given a special ‘tour’ of the collection by artist and art historian Alex Hirtzel, shown on the left of the photo with Patty Bell, CWC Vice-President.



Alex is an artist and art historian, and as well as being involved with the Kettle’s Yard Gallery in Cambridge, she spends one day a week at the Wallace Collection in London. She’s a wonderfully entertaining presenter and shared some of her ‘inside’ knowledge with us through stories of scandal, romance and wealth – giving us a taste of how the collection came together from the mid-1700s through to the 1880s.

As well as learning about the history of Hertford House, we enjoyed seeing a slideshow of just a sample of the collection. In paintings as diverse as The Laughing Cavalier (by Frans Hals) and Madame de Pompadour (by Francois Boucher), Alex explained why they were collected, and talked about the significance of the paintings and the artists themselves. Many of us now have a much greater appreciation of why (for example) Madame de Pompadour hung two of Boucher’s paintings featuring Apollo on either side of the bed she shared with Louis XV!

If you haven’t yet visited the Wallace Collection, then hopefully you’ll now feel inspired to do so.

And moving from 18th and 19th century art in France, to the fascinating and glorious city of Barcelona, at November’s Hospitality Morning at Quebec House, Mireia Fontbernat will take us on a trip through the city’s history, its architecture and people. Please do check the CWC's website for details to join us on the 11th!

Posted by Barbara Richards

Mary LeMessurier, CWC Honorary Life Member

Mary LeMessurier (left), Margaret Wickware (right)
During my recent visit to Edmonton, Canada, I had the pleasure of meeting another of our honorary life members, Mary J. LeMessurier. Mary stopped by to purchase a copy of the CWC History Book and to hear about the club's recent celebratory events. At the same time, I got a chance to learn a little more about this great lady.

Raised in Nova Scotia, Mary was Alberta's Minister of Culture from 1979 to 1986. Following her appointment as Agent General for Alberta, Mary and her husband relocated to the UK in 1986.

During her six years in London, Mary complemented her governmental responsibilities with CWC related activities. She joined with the CWC President and others at that time in the task of establishing the Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund as a Registered Charitable Trust with direct ties to the Canadian Women's Club. In recognition of her tireless work on behalf of the CCSF and and the CWC, Mary was made an Honorary Life Member. As well, in her honor, each year a scholarship is given to a deserving student studying history.

Since returning to Alberta, Mary has received the Order of Canada (1998) for her services to public life. Now, enjoying retirement, Mary is a an avid golfer. Mary hopes to return to London to celebrate her 80th birthday in June, 2009 and we hope that we will be able to welcome her to a CWC event at that time.

Posted by Margaret Wickware, President, CWC

Afternoon Book Group's Reading List for Fall 2008

The Afternoon Book Group will resume our meetings starting on Monday 29th September. We meet on the last Monday of each month at 11am and enjoy a discussion about the book and the author, followed by a light lunch. Details can always be found in the bulletins and e-newsletters. Please get in touch with Roselyne Prescott if you would like to join us!

If you can't make it to the meetings, you might like to read along with us, so shown below are three books we're reading to start off the 2008-2009 season.


29th September - The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusack


27th October - The Judgement of Paris, by Ross King


24th November - The Visible World, by Mark Slouka.

The links from the title of each book will take you to the amazon.co.uk site.

And if you're still not sure about joining us, hopefully the photo below shows just what a friendly and welcoming group we are! We're showing off our copies of 'The Other Side of the Bridge', written by Mary Lawson. Mary is a Canadian who has lived in the UK for the last 35 years, and we were thrilled that she took part in our Literary Evening, held at the Canadian High Commission in May 2008.

Culinary Corner

What could be more glorious than cooking with, and for, friends, and enjoying good conversation & sunshine! That is what the culinary group did this past July 16 when the goal of the day was to create great food for friends, and yet do it an a stress-free way without being a slave to the kitchen.

We enjoyed Grilled Prawn & Chorizo Salad, Tortilla Ham Wraps, Spinach Salad and Spaghetti Salad - any combination of which would achieve your goal. You may want to try this Spaghetti Salad as part of a small buffet or as a side dish the next time you have friends coming. Serve it with chicken, ribs, chops - or whatever strikes your fancy! Best of all, don't be afraid to prepare it the day before. It's just as delicious after a day in the fridge!

Spaghetti Salad

Serves 8 as a starter or side

4 oz red wine vinegar
4 oz sun dried tomatoes (not in oil is preferable so rinse off oil)
4 oz extra virgin olive oil
a pinch of dried, crushed chilis (to taste) or could be 1/2 tsp for this amount
5 - 6 bruised garlic cloves
5 - 6 toothpicks to pierce garlic so it can be removed later
15 (or so) shredded basil leaves - shred by hand!
30 (or so) black olives, pitted, and halved
8 oz spaghetti - either wholewheat (healthier) or regular
salt to taste
handful of chopped flatleaf parsley

Method:
Heat vinegar with an equal amount of water. When boiling, pour over sundried tomatoes and leave to soak for at least 30 minutes. Dry on paper towels then cut into thin strips with scissors. Bring water to a boil with plenty of salt. Drop in pasta when boiling, then bring back to boil. Remove when not quite ready (according to package) and drain, retaining about 1/2 cup of the boiling water. Tip: if pasta package says 10 minutes, start checking at 8 - 9 minutes. Place in large bowl and add garlic on picks, olives, basil, tomatoes, chilis, some of the olive oil, and keep stirring. You can add some of the pasta water to moisten along with the oil. Stir frequently, and let sit for at least 2 - 3 hours to allow flavours to permeate. Stir in parsley at end before serving. And you can then remove the garlic (and their toothpicks!) before serving (the pasta will have absorbed the flavour by now).

The longer this sits, the better. It can be prepared the day before but brought back to room temperature before serving.

And although we didn't have a camera with us on the day, here's a photo of one of our classes from a few month's ago. Once activities get underway again in the fall, I do hope you'll join us!



Message posted by Anne Van Gieson

Annual General Meeting 19 June 2008

Jenny Tripp Black reporting from the Veterans' Support Committee

Valerie Berry receiving her Maple Leaf Pin

Special thanks to Phyllis Nickerson for her work at the CWC office

A presentation to Margaret for her work as President, from the Executive team

Teresa Howe, Vice-President

Teresa Howe and Christine Afolabi selling copies of our newly published history book. It celebrates the 75th anniversary of the CWC. You can order a copy of the history book by contacting the CWC office.

Mrs Violet Knight

Costa Pilavachi, Trustee of the Maple Leaf Trust and Margaret Wickware, CWC President

CWC Members

Jenny Tripp Black and Mona Dahdaleh

These pictures are from our AGM, held in the Grand Salon at the Canadian High Commission, where copies of our history book - celebrating our 75th anniversary - were on sale.

The Agenda was as follows:

1. Welcome by CWC President, Margaret Wickware

2. Adoption of the minutes of June 14, 2007, Mona Dahdaleh

3. President's Report 2007/2008, Margaret Wickware

4. Honorary Treasurer's Report and Presentation of Audited Accounts for 2007/2008, Sheryl Boggs (in her absence given by Margaret Wickware)

5. Election of Independent Examiner

6. Honorary General Secretary's Report and Audited Accounts, Mona Dahdaleh

7. Standing Committee Reports for 2007/2008:

    Maple Leaf Trust, Margaret Wickware

    Veterans' Support Committee, Jenny Tripp Black

    Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund, Judy Wiesinger

8. Proposal for amendment to Rules and Constitution

9. Presentation of cheques to charities from funds raised by the Maple Leaf Trust during 2007/2008, Costa Pilavachi (Maple Leaf Trustee and 2008 Campaign Chair)

10. Maple Leaf Pin presentation, Margaret Wickware

11. Other business: Executive Slate for 2008/209

12. Adjourn Meeting

Canada Day at Trafalgar Square

We certainly enjoyed perfect weather for Canada Day in London - even better than last year! We met dozens of fantastic people at our stand, and hopefully have signed up a few new members. The third picture down shows our Vice-President, Teresa Howe, and President, Margaret Wickware (centre), making a presentation of our 75th Anniversary History Book to James Wright, Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who took time out of his busy schedule to drop by and say hello. 

This is Anne Van Gieson - she runs our hugely popular Culinary Corner events.

Lois Darley looks after memberships.

Thanks to ALL the ladies who helped work at the stand this year!