Yearly Archives: 2014

Charleston House

A most interesting day was had by all at Charleston House in Sussex, the home of the Bloomsbury group, a collection of like minded friends.
The house of artist Vannessa Bell (Virginia Woolf’s sister) and Duncan Grant and David Garnett moved here in 1916.
It was a meeting place for writers, painters and intellectuals.  The decoration inside the house reflects their decorative lifestyle. Nearly all the furniture, doors and walls were painted by Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry and Duncan Grant.
The walled garden was mainly vegetables but over time it evolved to the garden that it is today, full of flowers intermingled with vegetables, mosaic paths and statues made by the artists.
After a most interesting tour with our guides we went to have lunch in the cafe only to be told there is only coffee and cake much to Gillian’s distress as she was told they served lunches
We were then directed to a farm a few minutes down the road which our bus driver kindly took us and found a good restaurant and a selection of shops within the farm, plus a selection of plants which many of us bought for our own gardens.
Thank you Gillian for a great day.

Agnes



Dirty Rotten Scoundrels March 2014

A small group of us had a thoroughly enjoyable visit to a matinee performance of this comedy musical at the Savoy Theatre.  The show is set on the French Riviera and is based on a 1988 movie starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin.  Wonderful performances by all the leading characters, including Robert Lindsay as Lawrence Jameson and Rufus Hound as Freddy Benson playing two conmen kept us highly entertained.  The acting, singing and dancing was extremely professional.  Both actors seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their roles and clearly had difficulties containing themselves on occasions as some of the sketches became every more funny.  The audience greeted both the comic and musical elements of the show with much laughter and applause throughout.  Thank you to Daphne and Gillian for arranging this highly pleasurable escapist afternoon.



Hot Topics April 2014

Agnes, the President, welcomed the 74 members and 9 guests to our meeting when the main event was a talk and discussion with Siobhain McDonagh MP for Mitcham and Morden about women in Parliament.  We had a lively and interesting question and answer session with points discussed including the role of an MP in the constituency and in Parliament, despite being active in local politics why women were less inclined to serve as MPs, engaging the interest of more young people in voting and becoming involved in politics.  This was followed by our annual Super Raffle in aid of our Chosen Charity of the Year, Merton and Morden Guild.  We were pleased that Anne Donaghy from the Guild was able to be present for the raffle, which raised over £315.  We are very grateful for the very generous donations of prizes both from members and local businesses.

Notices

Quiz Night 22 March 7pm we had a great evening.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this a success.  We raised £320 for Merton & Morden Guild with the balance going to our own WI funds.
Plant Sale –it is our plant sale at our May meeting.  Please remember to sow seeds and take cuttings and bring them to that meeting.
Wool voucher April WI Life page 59 – anyone not intending to use this voucher please bring it to our meeting so that it can be exchanged for a free ball of wool from Hobbycraft to use to knit blanket squares.
Easter egg cosies – these lovely cosies made by our craft ladies were available to purchase with the proceeds of £70 going to support Merton & Morden Guild.

The Social & Theatre Committee have two trips lined up:
Globe Theatre  Sunday 15th June
Royal Albert Hall  Tuesday 22nd July,
as well as visits to the theatre:
One Man Two Guvnors
Miss Saigon
Twelve Angry Men

Food Bank – thank you for your continuing contributions.  There will be a concert to raise funds for the Food Bank on 9th May 2014 at St Luke’s Church, Ryfold Road, Wimbledon Park  Tickets were available for sale at the meeting.
Sign up Sheets – The following were available:
Wimbledon Village Fair Saturday 21st June – our stall is our main fund raising event to help run our WI.  More help needed on the stall and/or produce – thank you to those members who have already signed up.  Veronica, who is kindly acting as the Coordinator for our stall, gave a presentation covering amongst other things the types of suitable produce for the stall.  A separate note about this is being sent to members.
Surrey News – this meeting was the last chance to order and pay.
Chocolate making and Pottery Taster Courses – Do you fancy trying your hand at chocolate making or pottery?  We are considering providing subsidized taster courses probably on a Saturday at a local venue.  Expressions of interest required at this meeting.  Further details and date(s) will depend on numbers interested in attending.

On the NOTICE BOARD this month – lots of new information, including:

  • As promised at our March meeting, Ann’s full report with photographs on the Surrey Federation’s Annual Council Meeting.
  • National Federation of WIs Annual Meeting June 2014 Agenda
  • National Federation of WIs Annual Review 2012-13
  • 2014 Organ Donation Resolution Briefing. – at the June National Annual Meeting voting will take place on this Resolution.  We will be voting at our May meeting so we can tell the delegate from New Malden WI who is representing us whether or not our WI supports it.
  • 2 Open Days at NFWI HQ on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th October – a chance for you to see our HQ.  Anyone wanting a booking form please contact Ann, the Secretary  (Tel No on your 2014 Programme card). Closing date for applications end July.
  • Honey Bees – Following the success of SOS for Honey Bees campaign, National are asking WI members to call for a Bee Action Plan to ensure a sustainable future for bees  Information includes
    • SOS for Honey Bees Campaign Action Pack
    • Back our Bees Poster and Postcard
    • Next Meeting – Monday 19th May We will be having a flower arranging demonstration (with arrangements available to purchase), plant sale, voting on the Organ Donation resolution and NFWI Raffle tickets available for sale.



Highclere Castle

WI Highclere CastleA long awaited visit to Downton ……  ooops, Highclere Castle, finally came around last week.  A full coach load (see picture) stood outside the Ursuline sixth form at 9.45 whilst Gillian with her clipboard checked us all in.  Sun shone as prearranged with WI head office and as the coach drew up, there was a mad scram for seats.  So reminded of day trips at school, the need to sit beside best friend, actually anyone would do to avoid the horror of sitting beside “Miss” in the front seat, with the First Aid Kit – inclusive of plastic bags and damp flannel therein – long before Wipes were invented of course.  In those days packed lunch was eaten before we were into third gear, but now the only comestible I spied was the surreptitious slurp of bottled water.  I sat beside BF Frieda and in the aisle beside me sat Sue who was knitting.  Through this encounter, I now have promised help on my embryonic knitting, a far too ambitious project for my talents, a  Mystery Blanket and a date at Waterloo (not mine I hope) to help me cast-on with circular needles!!!!  The WI to the rescue again.

WI Highclere CastleThe journey was swift and smooth and apart from small excitement of fire engine overtaking us at top speed, and then further on, the sight of lorry on fire, we arrived in good time.  An efficient and gillet clad lady in tweed skirt and sensible shoes, gave us a brief rundown of rules.  As per school days, didn’t listen, so can’t tell you what they were,  but no-one had to see Gillian after the trip, so we obviously all behaved.  Highclere was so much smaller than I had imagined from TV and much more cosy than Blenheim (WI trip last year).  We wandered around, drawing room, morning room etc and in each there were guides to give you a little history.  Bedrooms upstairs looked lived in, hairdryers on dressing tables, mags on bedside tables, little notices told you this was Lady Cora’s bedroom or the bedroom where Lady Mary got up to hanky-panky with a Turkish diplomat in Series One.  There are no kitchens where filming took place as these scenes are filmed in the studio.  Currently Series Five is underway and the TV crews were expected next week.  One guide hinted to me that Series Six maybe on the cards too.  You heard it here first.

The castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which was built on the foundations of the medieval palace of the Bishops of Winchester, who owned this estate from the 8th century. The original site was recorded in the Doomsday Book.  Since 1679, the castle has been home to the Carnarvon family.  The house was rebuilt in 1839 by Sir Charles Barry but in subsequent years fell into disrepair.  The present Lord and Lady Carnarvon have only recently been able to bring the house back to life, because of increased visitors due to the success of the Downton Abbey series.  They had been living in a cottage in the grounds, but now they live in the Castle during the winter and only move back into the cottage when the house is open to the public.

During our visit, I managed to have coffee and shortbread, lunch (toasted pannini) and a cream tea and only saw the ice-cream man on way back to coach so missed out there.  There were no escapees, and the coach set off on time for home.  Shame.

Many thanks to everyone who organised this trip.  I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day and already looking forward to the next outing.

Katie

PS  Would love to go to Knole or Leeds Castles.
P4240051

 



Quiz Night March 2014

A great Quiz Night for family and friends of our WI with a good chance for a natter.  The quiz devised by Nige the Quiz tested our brains which were nourished by some splendid Ploughman’s platters half way through.  Some were able to show off their very broad and detailed knowledge, which resulted in high scores.  Others, in particular me, clearly need a lot more quiz practice to get anywhere near the talent shown by many there on the night.  Agnes, as Master (or should I say Mistress) of Ceremonies, once again kept the evening moving, scoring, and collecting answer papers, with help from WI members and family.  Our thanks also to the Committee members who arranged for, and prepared the food and refreshments, and of course the all important washing up afterwards.  Needless to say it was all hands to the deck at the end of the evening as members and guests helped clear up in the best tradition of the WI.

Thank you to everyone who participated to make the evening such a success.

Ann



Hot Topics March 2014

Agnes, the President, welcomed the 64 members and 8 guests to our meeting in the Dining Hall at Ursuline High School (our usual venue of the 6th Form Centre was being used for exams). We were delighted that 7 of the guests paid their 2014 membership subscriptions to our WI.

Main event

We had a lively dance session with Claudio from Start the Dance who showed us the steps for two Latin American dances – merengue and salsa. By the end of the evening, everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves very much. Congratulations to all of those of you who had a go even though it looked challenging and exhausting.

Notices

Agnes reminded members that the following signup sheets were available at the meeting and to pay at this meeting for any trips/events they had booked:

  • Quiz Night 22 March 7pm St Mary’s Church Hall, Merton Park – details in reminder notice circulated on 18 March.
  • Super Raffle 14th April – prizes already received listed on the signup sheet. Members to add any other prizes had obtained, together with details of the donors so we can thank them
  • Wimbledon Village Fair 21st June Agnes encouraged us all to do something to support our WIs main fund raising event and to put our names on the signup sheets.       You can bake something or make preserves.       We get an increasing demand for Gluten Free produce. Helpers also needed for the stall on the day. Ideas for what to bake/make were on the Notice Board and in a folder of recipes

Kosovan children – A thank you drawing from the Kosovan children was on the Notice Board for the monies Elizabeth Gowing had given them from the %age of the sales donated as a result of purchases made by our members at our February meeting.

Knitted Squares – Knit some more squares for blankets – see our website http://www.wimbledonwi.org.uk/category/arts-and-crafts/. We will be saving some for next year’s Get Your Knit On and some will be made into blankets for our charity Merton & Morden Guild. Some wool was available at the meeting.

Dress making Workshop 22nd February Fifteen members spent an enjoyable morning sewing, chatting and sampling homemade cake. Thank you to all who made the dresses either on the day or since and also to those who contributed material. 27 dresses have been sent off this week to the orphanage in Mombasa. More information and pictures will be on our website soon http://www.wimbledonwi.org.uk/dress-a-girl-around-the-world/. Julia will be going out to Kenya again in September so, if you would like to make a dress or two, they would be gratefully received. We may run another workshop if there is sufficient demand.

Surrey Federation WI Annual Council Meeting – Ann, the Secretary, said she’d been to Dorking to represent our WI. She gave a brief rundown of the event. Copies of the Federation Chairman’s Address, Treasurer’s Report and the Budget for 2014-14 were on the Notice Board. A fuller report of the meeting would be on our April meeting Notice Board. Lynne Stubbings National Federation Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Training Committee gave a brief history of her involvement with the WI. and a glimpse of what the NFWI are planning for our Centenary Year. Lynne’s main message was that it was up to us as current WI members to make the most of our opportunities and help lay the foundations for current and future WI members to be the Inspiring Women of the next 100 years. During the return train journey Lynne asked Ann to send her greetings to Wimbledon WI and hoped we enjoyed our meeting that evening. Some of the forthcoming events in Surrey (details on Notice Board) mentioned at the Federation Annual Meeting were:

  • Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) Awareness & Fundraising Walk 27 April 1pm Nonsuch Park
  • Aspiring WI Speakers Auditions – A new venue for these events when afternoon and evening sessions were planned for 5 June in New Malden
  • Croquet Taster day 11 July at Surbiton Croquet Club and
  • Cranleigh Show on 2nd August.

Notice Board – Ann reminded members to look at it. Among the other new material this month were:

  • NFWI News extracts from April issue
  • Extracts from Surrey News including, forthcoming events and results of the votes cast within Surrey Federation for the 4 resolutions we voted on at the end of last year
  • Denman – A chance to attend The Real Downton Abbey: Literary Lunch Friday 2 May 2014 which coincidently follows on after our WI’s trip to Highclere on 24th April

·       Easter egg cosy knitting and socialget together -8pm Wednesday 2nd April – see end of this Hot Topics, and

    • Different colours on member’s badges – Joanna had been issuing new labels for our members’ badges. We hope these will help members and visitors who have any queries to spot someone who might be able to tell them more about our WI. Click here for definitions

Signup sheets – The following were also available:

      • Committee Taster – come and hear what we get up to on the Committee – it is your Committee for your WI, and
      • Surrey WI News – Taking orders for this monthly magazine – price for 12 issues £3 for the year. Examples of previous issues were available. Final orders/payment (if not already paid) due at our April meeting.

Our Website – Joanna has given our Website a revamp and added some new material – do look at it regularly. Congratulations to Joanna for all her hard work on our Website which has been chosen to feature at WI’s Inspiring Women Working Together conferences around the country and described as “a great example of a WI website, linked to the NFWI site”.



Horseguards Parade and the Household Cavalry Museum

We had a lovely morning in the spring sunshine at Horseguards Parade today.  We watched the changing of the guard before going into the Household Cavalry Museum to see the horses being settled in their stables and the soldiers dismounting.  After that we had a guided tour of the museum and a look around the exhibits, which were very interesting.

Lou



Wimbledon WI Trips 2014

March

Cavalry Museum

Saturday 8th March 10.30am (approximately 2 hours) £4


 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Savoy Theatre)

Thursday 27th March 3pm £35


April

Highclere (Newbury)

Thursday 24th April £28 –  full day and coach


 Swan Lake (Wimbledon)

Tuesday 29th April £25.50 – 7.30pm


May

Charleson House (Lewis)

Friday 30th May – £30 – full day and coach


 June

The Globe Tour (Southbank)

Sunday 15th June £11.50 12 noon


July

Royal Albert Hall (Kensington Gore)

Tuesday 22nd July £19.50 including light lunch


The Importance of Being Ernest

Wednesday 2nd July
MATINEE
PRICE £35.00
THEATRE  HAROLD PINTER

Plus a post theatre play talk with the cast. Starring Nigel Havers. More information on the theatre website


Coming up…

MISS SAIGON                      Tuesday 4th November                 Prince Edward Theatre             £49.50.

ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS   Thursday 5th March  2015             Wimbledon Theatre                  £25.50

 



February Hot Topics

HOT TOPICS MEETING FEBRUARY 17TH 2014

Agnes, the President, welcomed the 77 members and 3 guests to our meeting.

Speaker

We celebrated Kosovo’s Independence Day with Elizabeth Gowing.

Read more ›



Spring 2014 Noticeboard

Fairtrade Fortnight

24 February – 9 March

Fairtrade Fortnight 2014 marks the launch of a special campaign that aims to transform the banana industry to ensure those at the sharp end of the supply chain, the millions of struggling banana farmers and workers, get a fair deal. For further information visit www.fairtrade.org.uk or call 020 7405 5942.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

8TH MARCH

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

WOW – WOMEN OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL

Wednesday 5 March 2014 – Sunday 9 March 2014

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/women-of-the-world
A weekend of talks, debates, performance and activism celebrating women and girls.
The WOW weekend is for everybody. Talks, debates, comedy, workshops, activism and performance on everything from politics, science and sex to fashion, war and power.

CLIMATE WEEK

3-9 MARCH 2014

http://www.climateweek.com/
Climate Week is Britain’s biggest climate-change campaign, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. A range of activities will showcase practical solutions from every sector in society. You can find more details on events in your area, or get started on planning your own event. For more information see the website http://www.climateweek.com/
or contact 020 3397 2601.

World Book Day

6th March

http://www.worldbookday.com/

World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.
This is the 17th year there’s been a World Book Day, and on 6th March 2014 children of all ages will come together to appreciate reading. Very loudly and very happily. The main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. That’s why we will be sending schools (including those nurseries and secondary schools that have specially registered to participate), packs of Book Tokens and age-ranged World Book Day Resource Packs (age-ranged into Nursery/Pre-School, Primary and Secondary) full of ideas and activities, display material and more information about how to get involved in World Book Day.

Surrey County Diamond Jubilee Show

Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26th May 2014

at Stoke Park, Guildford  8am – 6pm



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