Fiona opened the meeting by welcoming 61 members and 1 guest. Thank you to everyone who brought in books to sell at Monday’s meeting – £38.50 was raised.
NFWI AGM: Lys reminded us that this will take place on Wednesday, 6th June at Motorpoint Arena Cardiff if anyone is interested in attending.
Surrey WI News: Lys said a copy of the Surrey News would be put on the noticeboard for people to see what events are happening. If there is anything that takes your fancy, please let Wendy know so she can book a place. This is also “the last shout” if you want a copy of Surrey WI News as orders have to be in by the end of the month. Please let us know within the next few days if you want to receive this which comes out monthly, starting in June, and costs £5 for 12 copies
Events: We have had two fantastic events recently. The first was quiz night when we raised £1133.79 for our chosen charity – well done and thank you to everyone who took part or helped on the evening. Also a black scarf was left behind if anyone is missing one. The second event was the brilliant trip to the Hat Factory in Luton – a lovely day out.
Four of our members are attending the Bowling Day on 27th April to be held at Streatham WI’s meeting place.
There are a few places left for:
Blue Badge Whitechapel Walk, Saturday, 12th May (£9)
Turner’s House/Orleans House, Sunday, 3rd June (£6)
Lullingstone Castle, Wednesday, 4th July (£27.50)
Please let Gillian know as soon as possible if you would like a place.
Centenary merchandise: There will be another opportunity to order these at the May meeting. Mugs £10, Tea towels £6, pens £3. Please pay with your order.
Barnes Fair. Fourteen London WIs are running stalls at this fair on Saturday 9th June. We are looking for volunteers to help run our tombola stall. If we get enough helpers the slots will only be for half an hour – giving you plenty of time to enjoy the fair.
Jellyfish and Octopus for prem babies: Eileen showed us a delightful crochet jellyfish she has made for the prem unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. These little jellyfish and octopuses make babies feel calmer and safer. The babies play with their tentacles as if it is their mother’s umbilical cord and reduces the risk of them pulling out any medical tubes etc. Below are a few websites with patterns plus a Woman’s Hour clip. The yarn has to be 100% cotton and the coordinator for Chelsea and Westminster, who vets all the octopuses or jellyfish, suggests beginners try the knitted jellyfish or the flat jellyfish for crocheters. If you have difficulty accessing patterns, please let us know.http://octopusforapreemie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/octopusforapreemie/
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=octopus+for+a+preemie+uk+
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09gbn0h
My WI: If you haven’t received an automated ‘Welcome to the Digital WI’ email containing your login instructions for My WI, please visit https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/request-access to request access to the site.
Suffrage 100 – Archives at night: Law breakers, law makers: An event at the National Archives on Friday 18th May at 18.30 – 22,00
FGM (Female Genital Mutilation): We have received an email from the London Surrey WI Advisors regarding the campaign against FGM in the UK and globally. They are encouraging us to write to our MP to investigate why the practice of FGM is still occurring and asking for this to be eradicated both nationally and globally and to bring justice to these little girls. Attached with these Hot Topics is a copy of a letter members can edit and send to their MPs. If we all sent this to our MP that would be in excess of 800 letters from the 15 London WIs.
Perfect Pollinator : Plans are under way to make a bee by our WI for the display at Wisley. If any member has either bright yellow or black material/wool we can use for rag work, could they please bring it to the May meeting. Thank you.
The Perfect Pollinator Evening RHS Wisley Thursday 28th June: The Federation has arranged this evening event as a finale to the Centenary celebrations and will be open from 6.30pm to 9.30pm especially for WI members, their families and friends to have a social evening with a picnic. There will be live music from three bands: Blazing Saddles, a Country and Western band; Dr Bone and the Rhythm Boys, a 1920s style quintet and Surgeons of Swing who play a mixture of swing, jive, jazz, ballroom and Latin music. To order your tickets ring 0203 176 5810 and ask for tickets to “The Perfect Pollinator Evening”. Tickets are RHS members £7 in advance or £8 on the night. Non RHS members £10 in advance and £11 on the night. This looks to be a fun evening so why not take your picnic hamper, Pimms or Prosecco and a chair or rug and enjoy the gardens and evening. Barbeque food and drinks will be available to purchase if you don’t want to take your own.
Fire Regulations: Fiona reminded us of the procedure in the event of a fire:
• Vacate the room walking quickly and quietly, with the last person closing the door and go directly to the Muster Point
• Do not stop to collect any belongings
• Make sure your evacuation route takes you away from any risk
• The Muster Point is the tennis courts where names will be checked against the sign-in sheets
• Do not return to the building until instructed it is safe to do so.
A copy of the Ursuline Fire Policy and school plan can be found on the noticeboard.
Speaker for the evening – Jane Asher: To say swimmer extraordinaire is putting it lightly, Jane is truly an inspirational lady who in her 88th year is still swimming competitively.
Born in Rhodesia, Jane swam competitively at school and during her early twenties before moving to the UK. Living in Norwich Jane took up coaching when she became a mother to her four children and set up the East Anglian Swallow Tails swimming club, for which she is still the Honorary Life President. When Jane lost her husband, Robbie, to cancer in 1991, it was at this point that she decided to pursue competitive swimming. Masters Swimming became a lifeline for Jane. It kept her busy and gave her something positive to focus on. She made lots of new friends and it gave her the opportunity to travel all over the world.
Despite having a double hip replacement at the start of the millennium, Jane has smashed over 200 swimming records. She has competed in races in some of the world’s most high profile swimming pools but she maintains that her favourite pool to swim in is our very own London Aquatics Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Park.
Diary Dates:
Saturday, 12th May – Whitechapel Walk
Monday, 21st May – Plant Sale, Final vote on resolutions, Flower demo
Wednesday, 6th June – NFWI AGM Cardiff
Saturday, 9th June – London SWWI’s Centenary Fair
Thursday, 28th June – SFWI Picnic at RHS Wisley (6.00pm – 9.30pm)
Wednesday, 4th July – Lullingstone Castle
Sunday, 22nd July – Morden Family Fun day
Saturday, 4th August – Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace
Sunday, 26th and Monday, 27th August – Edenbridge & Oxted Show
Sunday, 9th September – Wimbledon Stables Day
Monday, 8th October – SFWI Autumn Meeting
