The WI: Inspiring Women - Around The Women's Institutes

BENSON

OUR March meeting was our annual meeting.

Most of our members were keen to renew their membership but forming a committee was problematic. This seems to be the case with a lot of other clubs and societies these days.

After many years in the role and our grateful thanks, our treasurer stood down and we are currently having to put our thinking caps on to replace her. Hopefully, this can be resolved and we can move forward.

March was Women’s History Month and with this theme in mind, there was a display of Benson WI history, including a copy of the minutes of the first meeting held in March 1926 plus snippets of interesting information and photos from subsequent years.

We took part in a small quiz with questions on the history of our WI and inspirational women (International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 8).

During April, the Oxfordshire Federation will be holding a speakers selection day in Benson parish hall.

On May 23, it will be back in the hall hosting a talk about the Diamond Light Source based at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus near Didcot.

Its purpose is to produce intense beams of light whose special characteristics are useful in many areas of scientific research.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24. Anyone wishing to join us should please call the president/secretary on (01491) 837885 or email bensonwi@oxfordshirewi.co.uk

Sue Brown

CAVERSHAM

MARCH is a time when we look back over the past year and forward to the warm summer evenings.

We have had a busy calendar again. Looking back, we seem to have a tendency for speakers on ecology and nature subjects and the forthcoming meeting in April is no different as we will be looking at the “Signs of spring”.

Our March meeting was the first to be held on a Tuesday evening. This change has enabled us to maintain an evening meeting (7.30pm) to suit members with daytime commitments and those looking for a midweek distraction.

If you would like to join us for an evening, feel free to reach out on Facebook or email cavershamwi@
berkshirewi.co.uk

Meetings are held in central Caversham, in a fully accessible venue, and last about two hours, including a cup of tea or coffee and time to learn something new, meet your neighbours and discuss local and national issues. Visitors are welcome (and entirely free).

Claire Elliott

CLEEVE-BY-GORING

OUR March meeting marked our 62nd birthday.

It was also an important birthday for Margaret King, a long-term member, who supplied her home-made scones and cream for our coffee break.

After the election of the committee and re-election of Katrina Cooper as our president, we enjoyed a musical quiz.

Our thanks to Penny Noble, who acted as teller.

On March 23, members made cakes and supplied refreshments for the Goring litter pick while other members collected litter and cleared gutters.

With fine weather, it was a successful morning.

March was rounded off by four members attending the Oxfordshire Federation’s annual meeting, where Krys Knox won the gold medal for needlework and Chris Cox won a scarf in the raffle. A good day out!

Chris Cox

COCKPOLE GREEN

ON Wednesday, March 20 joint presidents Judi Rowlands and Helen Perry opened our annual meeting and welcomed the members present.

The formal business was conducted with reports by the joint presidents, secretary and treasurer, the adoption of the accounts and the election of the officers and committee.

The programme for 2024/2025 was circulated.

After the formal meeting, members enjoyed a “Bunny” beetle drive.

We played in small groups and had a friendly afternoon with lots of laughter and encouraging comments for those getting frustrated with their progress.

This was followed by a delicious tea, provided by Diane Bush and Hilary Kinnersley, and a bring and buy sale organised by Carole Ellis and Ruth-Mary Vaughan.

A competition for members to create a flower arrangement in an egg cup was won by Sheila Williams and raised £15 for the Associated Country Women of the World, a charity affiliated with the WI.

We will hold an open coffee morning at Crazies Hill village hall on Wednesday, April 17 from 9am to 11.30am. All welcome.

Our next meeting is also on April 17 at 2.30pm and will feature a seated Zumba class.

Sheila Brockelbank

HARPSDEN-GREYS

OUR latest meeting was held on March 13.

President Suzanna Rose welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Graham Horn who spoke on “Thankful villages of England and Wales”.

It was a fascinating talk and the first time that we had heard about these
villages.

There are 16,000 settlements and of these there are only 56 villages that were fortunate not to lose any of the men serving in the two world wars.

The servicemen who paid the ultimate price are commemorated by “peace” monuments and plaques in churchyards and on churches.

The signs at the entry to these villages will include the words “Thankful Village” alongside its name.

There is one memorial that includes a woman’s name as she was part of the Voluntary Aid Department.

Research continues with the aim of adding the names of more women who made a contribution to the wars. Unfortunately, there are no Thankful Villages in Oxfordshire.

After the talk, Suzanna outlined the activities for the next month, which include the book club, pickleball, the Sunday lunch club and a walk along the Thames.

The overall winner of the Associated Country Women of the World competition for 2023/2024 was Pam Hails.

The committee was
re-elected and Suzanna will remain as president.

Thanks were given to Jean Newman who has been organising our afternoon teas for some years but is now handing the reins over to Rose Cooper.

Thanks were also given to Merryl Roberts who can no longer take on the secretary’s role. We meet at Harpsden village hall on the second Wednesday of the month and would welcome new members. Just come along at 2.15pm ready for a 2.30pm start. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, April 10.

Gwen Wilding

HOT (HENLEY-ON-THAMES)

MARCH is the traditional month for the annual general meeting, when we have a round-up of our past year and reveal our plans for the future.

We had an official vote to re-elect the committee, overseen by Tilley Smith, president of Stoke Row WI.

We have a couple of members stepping down from official positions this year.

Thank you to Alison Engleby for all her hard work and commitment to her post as secretary for the past few years, keeping us on the straight and narrow path that the WI requires. Also thank you to Katie Woodis-Field as a previous president and member of the committee for providing support to the current president for the past couple of years.

A huge thank-you to Louise Sadler for stepping up to be joint secretary with the support of Bernie. And welcome to Julie to the committee.

Nicola Taylor was re-elected as president for another year.

As president, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed representing and promoting our WI within the Henley community, providing the Henley Standard with our monthly round-up and keeping our social media presence visible and accessible to a wider audience.

The Women’s Institute has more than 37,000 followers on Facebook, 16,000 on Instagram and 40,000 on X.

I enjoy being part of the HOT WI as much as being president and I’m proud to let people know what a fabulous women’s group we are.

Daunting as it is to stand up in front of our members each month, without them and their support we would not have the fun, welcoming group that we are.

Our success really does rely on our members.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in the diary for the coming year with a big thanks to our meetings group for taking this challenge on.

Please do ask your friends, neighbours and acquaintances to consider joining our friendly group. Our current annual membership fee is under £50. We meet on the third Friday of each month at the Sacred Heart Church hall.

Here’s to another year of monthly meetings with speakers and activities, scrummy cakes and treats and, most importantly, making friends.

We rounded off our official meeting with a fun game of “Snip it out”. Our next meeting will be about the history of Brakspear brewery with a beer tasting. This will take place on Friday, April 19 at 7.30pm.

Nicola Taylor

MILL GREEN, WARGRAVE

ON Wednesday, March 6, we held our annual meeting at the St Mary’s Church Centre in Wargrave.

This was to be the last meeting of the branch in its current form as, despite a healthy membership, there were insufficient volunteers to make a viable committee.

So, after the formal approval of the annual and financial reports a suspension meeting was held, supervised by Anita West and Sarah Denley Ball, fron the Berkshire Federation.

Members have been saddened at the demise of the branch but after the meeting was formally closed, they celebrated with a small party.

They were able to look back fondly at their achievements and the fun and friendships they had shared over 51 years as a happy and vibrant group.

Glynis Gothard

PEPPARD

WE all gathered in March for the combined annual and monthly meeting, still wrapped in winter clothing and anticipating a hot cup of tea.

The annual meeting voting procedures resulted in the re-election of our president, Valerie Broadbent, and the election of a committee with two members standing down and the addition of a new member.

The members are very grateful to the committee for all the work they have done and do.

We have introduced a new presentation cup, in memory of our much-missed member, Pauline Lester.

It was with great pleasure that Valerie awarded this flower of the month cup to Irene Lindsay. A delicious tea and chatter was enjoyed as usual with the added advantage and excitement of a dishwasher which Peppard WI has been able to supply to Peppard War Memorial Hall for the advantage of all.

At our next meeting Michael Macleod will speak on “The history of food”, which we are all looking forward to.

Do join us at Peppard War Memorial Hall on Wednesday, April 10 at 2pm, when we look forward to welcoming our speaker and visitors.

Stephanie Douglas

REMENHAM

THE March meeting was a homegrown affair.

Several members had brought along stories and poems to read aloud and related experiences they had enjoyed.

We heard from A A Milne, Wordsworth and the ever popular Gerard Hoffnung with his wonderful way with words, about women’s equality and coping with old age (disgracefully) and from Anthony Trollope and his connection with Henley.

All provoked some interesting discussion.

In February we heard from a WI in Oxfordshire about Standing With Giants, an installation of 1,475 soldier silhouettes to be installed at the British Normandy Memorial in France during the summer.

Knitted or crocheted red poppies would complement this installation and WI members were asked to help.

Three Remenham WI members have been busily knitting and have sent poppies to be added to the display.

The installation will be on display back in the UK in the autumn.

In April we are expecting a visit from chair specialists HSL, who will be demonstrating the different models they offer and advising us on comfort and posture as well as offering tips on wellbeing.

This meeting will start at the “summer time” of 2.30pm.

Judy Palmer

SHIPLAKE

MARCH’S regular meeting was chaired by Fiona Cooke, standing in for president Sue Lines.

The postbox topper that members had been working on was placed on a table for all to see.

It was covered in daffodils, pansies and rabbits and was put on the postbox at Shiplake village stores in time for Easter.

We will again be organising teas, coffees and cake for this year’s Henley Arts Trail (May 4 to 6).

Profits from this will be given to the Bluebells dementia group in Henley and an Alzheimer’s charity.

The Big Help Out is happening again this year at Shiplake Memorial Hall gardens on Friday, May 10 when it is hoped several members will give a hand.

Our next outing is to the Henley Gin distillery on Friday, April 26 followed by lunch at the Bottle and Glass. Members were reminded of other arranged outings.

Fiona mentioned a new performance to be given by Michael Sterling at the memorial hall on Friday, April 19.

The meeting was then closed and the annual meeting took place.

New committee members were elected and reports were given by Rosemary Appleby (treasurer) and Barbara Rowlett (catering) who, along with Chris Bickerton, is standing down after doing the job for 10 years.

The president’s report was read out by Fiona on Sue’s behalf.

Lynn Boros had made vases of flower arrangements which were purchased by members. Profits from this will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

The next meeting will be at Shiplake Memorial Hall on Wednesday, April 17 at 2.30pm. All welcome.

Jean Buckett

SONNING COMMON

SUE Frayling-Cork welcomed all members and our tellers, Beth Fossett and Irene Lynsey, from Peppard WI, to our annual meeting on March 21.

Members began the meeting by singing the WI anthem, Jerusalem.

Next was the business of electing a committee and president for the forthcoming year.

While the counting of votes was being completed by the tellers, Jo Denslow gave a report on the darts group and awarded the following cups:

Jackie Cheffings memorial cup for five bullseyes — Yvonne Wood.

Highest score with three darts (129) — Alison Bishop.

Most “doubles out” — Yvonne Wood.

The flower of the month cup was awarded to Jo Denslow.

The winner of the competitions cup for the most points was Marian Turner.

Sue Frayling-Cork thanked members for voting her in for another year and also thanked the committee for their hard work in supporting her during the previous year.

Following refreshments, members enjoyed a quiz presented by Beverley Porteous.

We sent Easter wishes to everyone in the village by decorating the postbox in Wood Lane with an appropriately-themed topper made by members of the craft group, led by Marilyn Mowatt.

Lesley Davis

STOKE ROW

IN March we held our annual meeting where our president and committee agreed to stay in office for another year.

This was welcomed by the membership.

We heard from our treasurer how successful our fundraising had been over the past year, enabling us to fund the new programme.

The committee’s report also highlighted how busy we had been over the year, taking part in croquet and skittles, enjoying trips to the theatre and gardens and to a wind and solar farm, walks and dining out to name but a few.

The evening concluded with a photographic presentation of our activities and we look forward to another lively year of activities and social events, providing us with new experiences and new friends.

Our April meeting will be the first of the new programme when we will be trying out chair Zumba.

At the beginning of March we tried something new for our group — a midweek holiday break at Littlecote House, a Warner Hotel near Hungerford.

Six of our members enjoyed four days of activities, including rifle shooting, swimming, dance classes and quizzes.

With good food and evening entertainment, the holiday was voted a great success and is likely to be something we will do again.

For our next fundraising event we will be running the Woodcote coffee shop on April 13 with a raffle and a book sale. There will also be meetings of the craft, book and games groups as well as swimming, coffee and chat sessions on Zoom, walking and dining.

Why don’t you come along and try one of our meetings? You would be most welcome to visit us.

Email our secretary at stokerowwi@oxfordshire
wi.co.uk

Denise Stanworth

WHITCHURCH HILL

AS a group, we don’t undertake much fundraising during the year.

Our annual dues and nominal donations at our meetings enable us to cover most of our costs.

However, like any organisation, it is always very useful to have a little surplus to enable us to make charitable donations as we feel appropriate and to contribute to a designated activity during the year.

To this end, we have in recent times run the Art Café in Whitchurch twice yearly.

From the proceeds of this particular event we make a donation to a specified charity while retaining a little of the money raised for our own funds.

On Saturday, March 16 we made a profit of £160 after a busy morning with coffee and tea drinkers, many of whom also generously contributed to our raffle.

Exactly £100 of this money is being donated to Helen & Douglas House in memory of Doreen Godley.

Following or annual meeting in March, we will be publishing our programme of events for 2024-25.

This includes our programme of speakers, social events and one or two fundraising activities to come.

If you want to know more about us, please call Frances on 0118 984 2162.

Sally Bergmann

WOODCOTE

SALLY Lambert welcomed the members and our group advisor Jane Finnerty to our annual meeting.

We welcomed a new member, Jenny Cotter.

Birthday cards were given to Ann Rossiter and to Debbie Black, who was celebrating a special birthday.

The bloom of the month winner for the year was Shirley Bryant and the competitions winner was Barbara George. Both were given vouchers.

We had a great time playing skittles at Wallingford Sports Park and were joined by members of South Stoke WI.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch and then it was time for skittles. The winner was Ann Rossiter while the wooden spoon went to Patricia Solomons. The knockout round was won by Doreen Knox.

The lunch club this month went to the Red Lion at Peppard Common, where we had a delicious meal. Thank you to Sally for organising this event.

Sally Lambert was re-elected as president.

Carole Shelley-Allen is stepping down from the committee, so thank you to her for all her hard work organising the trips and birthday cards.

Kerry Jones will be our new committee member.

This was followed by a beetle drive. Thank you to Gill Woods and Betty Thomas for keeping us in order.

Penny Edwards won the Easter egg and Gillian Seymour won the egg for the lowest points.

We then had a delicious tea. A big thank-you to Kathy Brewer and Pat Hunt.

Penny Edwards won the bloom of the month.

In April our speaker will be Peter Tickler on “Crime fiction”.

Come and join us on the third Wednesday of every month in Woodcote village hall for a 2.30pm start.

Judy Williams