Landgate WI - April 25
THE April meeting of Landgate W.I. started with president Jean Watson introducing this month's speaker Philip Godliman.
It was decided to open the meeting with his talk on 'The History and Culture of Gypsy Travellers'.
Member anticipated a very interesting talk and so it turned out to be. Mr Godliman retired from teaching in 1971 and having an interest in the life style of the gypsy travellers he joined the Kent Travellers Education Service which helps gypsy families ensure their children attend school as much as possible.
Most people have this some what romantic idea of gypsy life with fortune tellers and peg sellers being the stereo type. Others see them as traders and scrap dealers leaving a mess behind them wherever they stop.
The truth is that 90% of travellers are settled in houses now or at least on permanent sites.
The term gypsy covers a number of types - these included the circus and fairground people, barges on the canal boats and new age travellers.
The history of gypsies goes back to their emergence from India it's believed over 1,000 years ago. They moved across the world through Europe and North Africa.
They arrived in Britain 500 years ago and were entertainers in the Tudor court. However during the later part of the 16th century the persecution began which has carried on through the centuries and right into modern times.
Thousands were killed in the holocaust during the Second World War.
Because times have changed over the last 30 years or so the work that was done has now been lost.
Many spent the summer fruit and hop picking and making pegs and flowers in the winter time. The women would go round selling their goods door to door.
In 1968 the council Site Act came into force making it illegal to stop just anywhere so permanent sites were established and this enabled families to put caravans and mobiles homes on site.
Life may never be the same for future gypsy families but the urge to travel and the very strong sense of history will ensure the survival of the gypsy way of life.
This report is a shortened version of Mr Godliman's comprehensive talk as members were enthralled for over an hour.
June Humphries thanked him for being one of the most interesting speakers Landgate has had.
After the refreshments and raffle the minutes from the March meeting were read by Jean Pearson in the absence of secretary Pat Hartley.
Two visitors were welcomed to the meeting and treasurer Christine Bennett read her report and Jean some correspondence she had received.
There was an invitation to the Mayor's inauguration on May 5 for Jean to attend as president of Landgate W.I. Janette Ireland will accompany her.
The group meeting at Beckley will be today (April 25) and Landgate will be running the book stall.
The competition was won by Pat Carter with a delightful tin matchbox cover with photographs on it of her grandmother and uncle when they were young. Janette Ireland and June Humphries came second and third.
Winn Simmonds celebrated her birthday this month. After a very full morning the meeting closed.
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Weather for St Leonards-on-Sea
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
