The Trefoil Extra!

On 2 July 2025, 15 members met up for the afternoon at one of our favourite places, the Jarman Centre, Newmarket. (Cambridgeshire East’s residential and activity centre).

A relaxing afternoon of creativity decorating pebbles followed by a barbecue.

In the words of our oldest participant Val Smith from Peterborough Guild, ‘Such a great weekend. I feel it has given me a new lease of life! This has been my first residential adventure away with Trefoil Guild and I can’t wait to go on another. The highlight of my weekend had to be the zip wire but I could not have done it without the fabulous instructors and fellow Guilders who were there to help and encourage me. There have been so many new crafts and activities to try and every session has been filled with much hilarity, motivation and achievement. If I can do this in my 88th year, what does my 89th hold for me?  So come on all you older ladies let’s show the youngsters what we are made of.  I have come home so inspired to plan my next adventures.'

We had decided to visit Harwich as earlier in the year volunteers from Harwich Museum had come to a Trefoil meeting to give a talk on the Kindertransport refugee children.  We were all so inspired by the talk and film show that we wanted to find out more and to see the memorial statue for ourselves.  The refugee children, mainly Jewish, were sent by their parents to escape the persecution and concentration camps. They entered the UK via Harwich and 2,000 were first housed at Dovercourt Holiday Camp situated 2 miles away from Harwich. In all 10,000 children were saved by Kindertransport.

Eight members from Hanwell and District Trefoil  went on a trip to Pax Lodge. We had a great day they made us feel very welcome, for most of us it was out first visit.

Bognor Guild, Sussex West recently enjoyed a tour of Littlehampton Lifeboat Station followed by a fish and chips supper.

Mountney Trefoil visited the local marina for their August meeting and had a private tour of Sovereign Harbour, learning the history of the harbour and details of some of the moored boats which include the local RNLI lifeboat.  12 took part in the tour and 6 joined us for coffee afterwards to complete an evening of fun and laughter.

The sun shone and the water was very calm, perfect conditions, but this was preceded by heavy rain and a thunder storm so we were lucky that the evening was not cancelled.

Garden party on 15 August 2025 held in a member’s garden.  Attending were 14 members from Priory Trefoil and 4 guests from York City Trefoil to commemorate VJ Day.

We had a memorabilia table (below the RAF flag in the photo) to honour all who served to protect our country.  Food was as near as possible to wartime rations

A lovely day trip to go round the Museum of Illusions in Manchester