Take a really simple, tried and tested fundraising event like a coffee morning, put it into the hands of WI ladies and they will turn it into something magical!

Mraane ayns Arrane, the Isle of Man WI Choir members worked their socks off planning, donating, crafting, baking and decorating for the first big fundraiser for their Belgian trip, the ’Love is in the Air’ choir coffee morning held on February 17, at the Centenary Centre, Peel and it really paid off.

The room was festooned with more than 100 red, pink and green hearts and the tables looked a treat with their ’hearts and flowers’ doilies and fresh flowers. The raffle was enormous and naturally, being a WI event there was a massive cake stall and a ’guess the weight of the cake’ draw, as well as lots of beautiful craft items for sale. WI members from all over the Island descended on Peel and jockeyed for seats with a large number of local residents, the room was full to bursting and the atmosphere was amazing!

Musical direct or Karen Elliott expressed her delight at the support the event had received and thanked all who had come along.

The choir was honoured to have been accepted by the Last Post Association to sing at the closing ceremony at the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium, on Sunday, October 8, and is really looking forward to what will be an emotional experience. A standard bearer of the Royal British Legion, Isle of Man County travelling with the choir will also be in attendance and a wreath will be laid at the memorial during the ceremony.

The ladies will also give two concerts in the community during their three-day trip, one at Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in De Panne, Bruges with a second to be arranged in Ypres.

Obviously such a comprehensive tour is complex and expensive to arrange and so major fundraising will be ongoing throughout the year to try to off-set some of the costs, just getting 34 people off the island will need almost £5,000. Their next event will be a quiz night and raffle at the Marine Hotel, Peel, on Sunday, April 9, at 8 pm, when teams of up to six people will compete.

Entry cost will be £1.50 per person, non-team members will have ample opportunity to join one on the night, the quizmaster will be Ian Baker of Peel and the evening promises to be great fun for anyone who wishes to come along.

Su Collins

Mraane ayns Arrane, the Isle of Man WI Choir