A COOKBOOK featuring 100 recipes from around the world and boasting royal approval is helping a York community group raise funds to refurbish its hall, writes Arjun Kharpal.

The Copmanthorpe Women’s Institute (WI) has put together a recipe collection which includes foods from numerous countries, including Malawi and Norway.

The cookbook aims to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and raise money towards refurbishing the WI’s hall in Station Road. The hall dates back to the 1920s and needs extensive improvement.

Susan Farthing, a member of the WI committee, said: “The hall is used every single day by different groups in the village. We are anxious to keep the building going for the community.”

All the artwork in the book is by a WI branch member and there is even a recipe contributed by the Duke of Kent. The Queen’s office has written a letter to the branch, which is published in the cookbook. Her Majesty is the most senior member of the WI and the president of the Sandringham branch.

So far this year Copmanthorpe WI has raised £1,500 through various events, including a table top sale and Gardening Question Time, where a panel of gardening experts answered important questions about their trade.

The WI hopes to raise £1,000 from the cookbook and launch event being held on June 22 at the WI Hall, from 7pm to 9pm. The aim is to raise £5,000 by the end of the year to carry out the refurbishments.

The launch party will have a selection of the dishes from the cookbook on offer, including a Malawi chicken curry and an avocado mousse, as well as raffle tickets and two hampers as prizes. The book will also be on sale.

Ms Farthing said: “So much work has gone into it and it’s lovely. I have this terrible dream of nobody turning up. But I know people will come and I’m very excited. It is a good book and sells the Women’s Institute.”