women – RUDDINGTON.info

Our WI is 99 … and Still Counting

6th October 20238th October 2023 Graham Wright

Did you know that Ruddington Women’s Institute has been active in our village for ninety-nine years? Ahead of their centenary celebrations, current members are extending a warm welcome to any woman to join them, regardless of age. They’re also keen to dispel some common misconceptions. Committee member Barbara Wheeler says: “Contrary to popular belief, the WI is not all about baking and jam making! Some of us enjoy doing that, but others like to go on visits in the local area, join in the various activities at our meetings or…

Messy Mums Say ‘Farewell to Winter’!

27th February 20231st March 2023 Graham Wright

Spring is definitely ‘in the air’ and women in Ruddington are being invited to gather again to celebrate its arrival. ‘Messy Mums’ – an evening of ‘chatting, crafting using upcycled materials, plus cake and wine’ – is back this Thursday at St Peter’s Church. It’s a FREE event, usually held there three times a year for the mums in our village, although non-mums are also welcome. However, organisers say it is specifically for “ladies”. Liz Mack of St Peter’s Church explains: “Messy Mums was born out of Messy Church, a family…

Ruddy Bear’s Uganda Update!

12th February 202312th February 2023 Graham Wright

It’s been a busy few months for The Mustard Seed Project, Uganda – the Ruddington based charity which was founded in 2017 by village schoolteachers Jayne Henson and Sally Squires after they visited rural Uganda to work with teachers on active learning activities. In our last update we reported how ‘Ruddy Bear’ was due to set off again on his travels last October – this time to Uganda with Sally {pictured top right} along with some of his bear friends who had been sponsored by villagers to give to Ugandan children – one…

Join the Ruddy Rebels!

11th October 202213th October 2022 Graham Wright

Women who want to run with others – or get back into running – are being invited along to a series of FREE ‘Couch to 5k’ running sessions starting in Ruddington this week. They’ve been organised by Notts Women Runners in Rushcliffe Country Park since 2016 – as the sub group ‘Ruddy Rebels’ – but have been on ‘hiatus’ since COVID-19 struck, just over two and a half years’ ago. Rachel Lesesne, one of the three run leaders, explains: “Our last official beginners group graduated in March 2020 {pictured top}, just a…

Phoenix Flowers is Blooming Great!

21st June 202221st June 2022 Graham Wright

Ruddington’s popular florist is celebrating today after her business scooped a prestigious “Muddy Stilletos Award” 2022. Readers of the top UK lifestyle website – which prides itself on reaching “over 1.1 million cosmopolitan, fun-loving, urbane women living OUTSIDE London” – have voted Phoenix Flowers the best florist in the whole of Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire! It was the end of last month when our High Street florist’s learned they had been nominated and shortlisted in the final five. Three other Ruddington retailers; The Frame Breakers, Ruddington Village Market and Ruddy Fine Gin; were…

Rushcliffe Ranger’s Rugby Recognition

25th March 201825th March 2018 Graham Wright

Did you know that a Ranger at Ruddington’s Country park used to play top flight rugby for Ireland?! Zoe Fordham’s achievements have been marked with the award of an Irish international rugby cap as she celebrated her country’s 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam success – 25 years after she herself played in Ireland’s first ever women’s international. Zoe was among the special few who pulled on the green jersey in a match against Scotland in Edinburgh in 1993. The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) honoured her and the women who followed in…