Kate Moore, tells about the visit of Kathy & Paul:   

"It was a real pleasure to welcome my old friend, Chat Liner Kathy Sechrist and Paul to our home last week.   I was able to organise extra help to care for Mum and Dad, so the two short days Kathy and Paul spent with us, were like a 'mini holiday'.

"Kathy and I first met many years ago at the NWR SIA Conference in Anchorage, and I was delighted to learn that she and Paul now spend their time between Enfield UK and Whidbey Island, WA, USA.    I was determined they visit before their return to the USA later in August, and the opportunity to take them to the Nantwich & South Cheshire Show last week seemed 'like a good idea at the time'.

"So what is the Nantwich Show?    Basically, it's thought to be the largest 'one day' show in the UK.   First held in 1897, it is on the last Wednesday of July each year.    Just for one day.   Huge numbers attend, over 29,000 in 2000.   Sadly 2001 was cancelled due to 'Foot and Mouth', and last year there was a freak storm that ruined the event.   The Show Committee promised 'boarding' would be laid to help if it rained this year - that proved totally insufficient.   In fact, all walking areas in the huge show ground were a sea of mud (in places 3 inches deep) and we three, squelched our way through the mud which almost covered our walking shoes.   But in spite of that, it was fun!   Plenty of things going on, apart from the 400 + Trade Stands etc., Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team, King's Division Waterloo Band, Show Jumping etc.

"The Cheese Show - now thought to be the biggest in the world, attracted over 2000 exhibits from all over the world.   The various classes of cheese are judged on Tuesday evening and the prestigious prizes awarded in the Cheese Tent Wednesday morning.    We arrived just in time for the presentation.

"Having spent over 20 years working in the Dairy Industry, the Nantwich Show has always been where I met up with old friends and colleagues.   Sadly this year, I realised what happens when you retire... all your friends retire too!   I knew very few of the huge contingent of creameries or retail outlets at the show... really began to feel like a pensioner!

"Various Show Rings hosted the animal judging - including farm animals, horses and ponies (Welsh Mountain Ponies to Shire Horses). http://www.nantwichshow.co.uk/show.asp

"The Soroptimist stand was excellent and showed both the work of our local club and that of the Soroptimist world.   Plenty of leaflets available for the public, including my last few Limbs for Life leaflets.   To further show our work for Landmine victims, there was a display of posters from Landmine Action, and the public were asked to sign the Landmine Action 'Clear Up!' Petition for Explosive Remnants of War and Cluster Munitions.    I was really proud to see us at the Show - an opportunity to reach almost 30,000 members of the public!

"Most of the Club members I met 'on duty', were Soroptimists who have joined the club in the past 2-3 years.   It was fantastic to see them working!

"Eventually at around 3.00 pm we three squelched our way back to the car, found the exit to the gigantic car park and made our way home.   Ever valiant and the 'gentleman', Paul volunteered to clean all our shoes!!

"Thursday morning we visited Nantwich - for the guided tour of our beautiful 16th Century town."






Shown on the left the beautiful interior of the Parish Church of St Mary in Nantwich.

























"It was a whistle stop tour, but we spent some time in our beautiful Parish Church of St Mary's where I could show off our Soroptimist Kneeler.(SHOWN BELOW)    We had an excellent guide in the church."

Kate and Kathy Sechrist with Soroptimist Kneeler.  "The Soroptimist Kneeler was sewn by the needlewomen at the church, to mark SI Nantwich 50th Anniversary in 1999."

"After we inspected the shrubbery's surrounding the church, our Club's millennium project and completed our walking tour, we sped across to Stoke on Trent for a visit to Royal Doulton and Wedgwood!   Then it was off to have a quick look at Little Moreton Hall - supposedly the finest Elizabethan Manor House in England.   (shown above) (I found souvenirs of Little Moreton Hall at a model village in Australia in 1987!!)   Then, to round off our two busy days, we went to Crewe Hall for afternoon tea.    I'll leave Kathy to describe that event - but it included a guided tour of this amazing building which is now a 4 Star Hotel - the actual site of the Mansion dates back to 1170.   Immediately after tea, it was back to Crewe Station and we said 'au revoir' to Kathy and Paul.  

" The end of two lovely days, spent with friends, once again showing the special importance of International Friendship between Soroptimists."

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