CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF iNNER WHEEL
The Torbay Yarn Bombers have put our splendid Inner Wheel box topper onto a postbox in the entrance of Morrisons. Torquay already has a history of box toppers and this was an amazing collaboration and it will be moved regularly around the town!
Who are we?
We are the Inner Wheel Club of Torquay. one of 6 clubs in Devon, District 17
Jean Baily takes on the Presidency of our Club for a second year and we celebrated our 90th birthday in November 2023! There are currently 24 members.
In August we had a luncheon to celebrate the start of Joan Goodman’s second year as club President. Members met at Dainton Golf Club near Newton Abbot, a popular venue with its beautiful views across Devon.The Past Presidents of the Inner Wheel Club of Torquay met for our annual lunch in September, organised by our President Joan Goodman. We had a convivial lunch at the Belgrave Sands Hotel.
Our first club meeting of the year was an entertaining talk with slides by Jim Redman whose mother was Danish, about the history of the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen which he first visited just after World War 2, which he adored and he has returned there many times throughout his life.
November 2023 was busy!
Torquay Inner Wheel members gathered for lunch on Monday 13th November at the Livermead House Hotel and set up stalls of Christmas goods. This was a result of Storm Ciaran which had forced the cancellation of the Autumn Fair on 2nd November.
Guests in the hotel were invited to join them. After a refreshing tea break, Jeremy Wilson gave us a concise history of tea, ranging from 5000 years ago when it was placed in a Pharaoh’s tomb, through the social impacts and benefits it brought down the centuries.
Questions at the end explored present day controversies about decaffeinated and caffeinated tea, and tea bags versus loose leaf tea. The talk was very well presented with slides. CLICK ON THE PHOTO’S ARROWS BELOW TO SEE ALL THE STALLS.
On 23rd November, we celebrated our club’s 90th birthday. The Livermead House Hotel already had its Christmas decorations up so was looking very festive, and most Devon clubs were represented. Guests also included the Torquay Mayor, our District Chairman and also those from Cornwall, Somerset and London, as well as past National President Betty Roberts. After a very nice lunch, the birthday cake was cut by Torquay President Joan Bailey and their oldest member, 103 year-old Joan Nott who also blew out the candles. A HAPPY DAY! PLEASE USE THE ARROWS ON THE PHOTO BELOW TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE DAY.
We have been supporting and shining a light on cr2ee – Christian Response to Eastern Europe and have sent 18 shoeboxes to go in their Christmas lorry. CLICK HERE for more information about cr2ee.
December 2023 Raising funds for our charities at the Christmas district meeting.
The New Year 2024! Celebrating Inner Wheel Day with our District Chairman Louise and tackling a huge pile of stamps which go to support Lepra via the WI, as well as one member continuing to crotchet another blanket
What else do we do?
Three club members are on the District committee and one has been Member of Council (Association MOC) for 2 years and has now taken a further role with Association.
We have a speaker at most meetings. The 2023 AGM was combined last year with International Day and members brought a variety of foods.
There was a Coronation Quiz last year and the Social Committee organises coffee mornings as well as other entertainments and fundraising events.
A friend of a member in a bowling club offered to ask her coffee morning ladies to knit for us and produced a large range of blankets and children’s clothing.
We are in close contact with the Inner Wheel club of Hawkesbury, Sydney, Australia, exchanging monthly news and one member meets up with them each year when visiting her family.
When do we meet?
Meetings are held at 14:00pm on the second Monday of every month at the Livermead Hotel.and members often have a light lunch beforehand. If you are interested in joining us, please email
District 17 latest news
International Inner Wheel 19th Convention – Celebrating 100 years in 2024
International Inner Wheel 19th Convention is coming to Manchester. Come and celebrate 100 years of Inner Wheel - Friendship and Service “Dear Inner Wheel Friends, it is with great pleasure that I am able to offer you the possibility of joining together at...