The Salford Angels WI has had a busy time celebrating the Jubilee and Olympics with letters from Buckingham Palace, Olympic torch bearing members and winning fancy dress competitions!

To mark the Jubilee celebrations, Salford Angels members Suzanne Rigg and Sam Smith produced their very own Diamond Jubilee jam.  The scrumptious raspberry, blueberry and champagne flavoured jam was part of their produce for ‘Well Picked and Well Preserved’ – their own jam and pickling company. Suzanne and Sam decided to send a couple of jars to her majesty for her approval and were very honoured to receive a letter from Buckingham palace thanking them for the jam! As HRH is a member of the WI, we hope she enjoyed the homemade jam as much as we did!

As the Jubilee celebrations were over, Salford Angels were very much looking forward to the Olympic Torch Relay as our very own member, Emma Smith was a torch bearer. Emma carried the torch through Reedsholme in Lancashire and the Salford Angels were out in force to support her with of course, cake in hand! Emma was nominated innovative and inspirational character in our community. First she set up a sustainable waste social enterprise in 2002 which diverted fruit and vegetable waste from landfill. The project created local jobs and produces compost to feed the soils of Manchester! She is now a Director (Trustee) and positive impact manager at Social adVentures where she has created a Community Larder involving planting fruit trees in parks, schools and open spaces so residents can forage for wild fruit and then make up jams (jam making classes also provided!). In addition she has set up a community wellbeing garden centre to provide anyone who has or is experiencing mental distress, with training and volunteer opportunities. She works with the local children, over 60s and even organised knitting sessions to create a quilt for BLISS (premature babies charity). She then cycled down to London to deliver the patchwork quilt personally. Emma has been a force for good in our community and her work here in Salford has made a noticeable impact in our area. We are all really proud of Emma and it was great to see her getting the deserved recognition for all her hard work.

Recently, some of our members visited the Lancashire Federation’s WI special Jubilation Event at Haigh Hall in Wigan. In what was a lovely afternoon of tea, scones and a chance to chat, there was also a competition for the best dressed lady.  There was lots of great outfits on display with hats, fascinators and scarves at the ready in all colours.  However congratulations must go to our president, Suzanne Rigg who won the “Best Dressed Lady” title! Very well done to Suzanne!