Category: Women’s Institute

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Women’s Institute February 2014 Update

The WI - Inspiring Women

Magic, Desert Islands & London Guides

December – Magic Marvo

December saw the Women’s Institute’s Christmas meeting.  The president, Susan Leng,   presented a voucher to Marie Louise Fuell who was the 2013 winner of our monthly competition, Hillary Nugent and Manya Barrow were runners up.

The evening continued with a supper provided by the members.   Magic Marvo, a magician, entertained with everyone puzzled  by his clever tricks. The grand raffle enabled everyone to receive a prize.

Later in the month member, Manya Barrow, invited the W I to her house for mulled wine and mince pies with entertainment and Christmas carols which everyone joined in. A convivial afternoon to end the W I year.

January  – Desert Island Discs

In January the vice-president,  Bea Girkin,  welcomed several new members and a guest.  There was no speaker so members brought C D’s to play for  ‘Desert Island Discs’ and talked about the reason for their choice. The competition was a luxury item to take to the Desert Island.  The winner was Mary Brent with her suggestion – a pillow.  Social Time was enjoyed by all with a team word game.

February – Blue Badge London Guide

The president was back in the chair and pleased to see so many new members.  Gary Egerton a blue badge London Guide made a welcome return visit with his talk on Strange and Unknown Facts about London.  Our social time was enjoyed by everyone with slides by the president showing all our varied activities during 2013.

We celebrated our 93rd Birthday Lunch at the Cricketers on 19th February.

The monthly coffee morning at the Treble Tile was well supported with 19 members in attendance.  Play reading afternoons are still flourishing.

Upcoming

Our Open Evening on 2nd April sees the return of Brian Carline, speaker, author and broadcaster.  His talk is entitled ‘An Amusing Account of Life in our Schools’.  Posters with more information will be put up around the village.

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Women’s Institute April 2013 Update

Edinburgh Woollen Mill logoThe president Susan Leng  welcomed 8 invited local Women’s Institutes and many visitors to their annual fashion show.  Eight members  from the West Bergholt WI modelled four chosen garments each from casual to smart wear from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop in Colchester.   The secretary gave a commentary.  The staff from the shop were each presented with a pot of daffodils.

A bring and buy plus large raffle made for a successful fund raising evening.  In October 2014 the shop will present their autumn/winter collection.

May is the annual meeting and the committee is looking for more members to join them.

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Women’s Institute March 2013 Update

The WI - Inspiring WomenWest Bergholt Women’s Institute President Susan Leng welcomed members  and all agreed that the 92nd birthday lunch had been a great success.  The Fashion Show on  3 April will be an open meeting with guests starting at 7.15pm.   Members can bring cakes for St Helena Hospice to this evening; bought or home-made are equally welcome but no previously frozen cakes please.

The evening was then run by the members with the committee being thanked and given flowers.  The speaker Jacqui Crombie was introduced as Warrant Officer 2 (Sergeant Major) who works at the Military Training Centre,  Colchester.  The audience was given an insight into  the everyday routine the soldiers experience.

The evening ended with a grand raffle.

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What have the WI been up to?

Well, the past few months have seen them enjoying some great meetings, as their correspondent reports:

The Orpen Memorial Hall was filled to capacity for our ‘Open Meeting’ held last November. Mr Furnival Jones from London talk was called ‘The Palace of Knightsbridge’ about his 41 years as an employee at Harrods. He delighted his audience with his anecdotes about eccentric clients and their unusual requests as manager of the food hall.

With inclement weather our Christmas party was postponed and we enjoyed a New Year Party instead. With the aid of a memory stick and the hall screen our last two years’ events brought back happy memories of our various achievements and outings.

On April 3rd we are welcoming Edinburgh Woollen Mill with their ‘Fashion Show’.  This will be an Open Meeting so more details available from our secretary or president.

Visitors are welcome to attend a meeting free and enjoy a speaker and meet the members.

Find out more about the West Bergholt branch of the Women’s Institute on their webpage.

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Harrods, the Palace of Knightsbridge – Womens Institute

Harrods 1909

This month was an ‘Open Meeting’ with 53 visitors from 8 local WI’s and the general public.  Mr Richard Furnival-Jones from London was welcomed by the president, Susan Leng, with his talk entitled “The Palace of Knightsbridge – aka Harrods”.

He joined the company when he was 18 years old and retired after 40 years. It was interesting to hear about the history of the department store from the nineteenth century to its present day. He related many fascinating anecdotes to his captive audience. The evening ended with a grand raffle.

December will be a Christmas Party with buffet and no cutlery or glasses will be required this year. Mr Frankie Coulter will entertain with a variety of music played on his keyboard.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Dogs, College & Lifeboats – The Women’s Institute October Update

An outing has been arranged for 17 October to Tiptree and lunch at Perrywood Garden Centre. A coffee morning is held every month at the Treble Tile. Next one 25 October at 10.30am.

Canine Partners

We have an open meeting in November when Mr Furnival-Jones will talk about his 40 years at The Palace of Knightsbridge i.e. Harrods. Visitors £2 pay on the door. We shall be welcoming many local WI’s.

In September the president, Susan Leng welcomed members who enjoyed a talk from Canine Partners Assistance Dogs, helping people with physical disabilities. The wheelchair bound speaker brought along Guy, his dog, who demonstrated his skills used around the home and when out shopping.

In August five members visited WI Denman College for the day near Oxford and spoke about their impressions during social time.  Squares are being knitted and made up into blankets for the special care baby unit.

West Mersea Lifeboat Station

Mr Rick Boreham was this month’s speaker. He is a volunteer with West Mersea RNLI. With the aid of slides members heard about the history of the organization and the many incidents involving the Mersea Lifeboat. He also put on the suit the men wear when going out on a call.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Jubilee Thrones with the WI

Coronation Throne with Stone of Scone

President, Susan Leng welcomed guest speaker Barbara Faulkner who celebrated the June Jubilee meeting with members. She began with a quiz of 20 questions about the Queen. No one knew the Queen had nine thrones! The evening continued with a racing game.  Barbara then played music for the members to sing Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia everyone was dressed in red, white and blue.

Following tea, a verse was chosen from the adult village competition and this will be printed together with drawings from the two age groups of children.  The card will be sent to the Queen from the residents of West Bergholt.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Van Dal & Norwich trip – Seats available

Van Dal - History of shoe production in Norwich

The local WI have arranged a visit to the Van Dal shoe factory and shop on 4th July and have seats available for anybody interested in joining them (couples welcomed).

After visiting the factory there will be ample spare time to wander around Norwich with its waterside, city centre and castle as obvious attractions.

If you are interested contact 01206 240854 to book a place on the coach, seats are £16 and the coach departs from Orpen Hall car park at 8:15.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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WI meetings and outings

Van Dal - History of shoe production in Norwich

The president Susan Leng welcomed members and thanked all who brought cakes as our annual contribution to St Helena Hospice Colchester.

The July outing will visit the Van-Dal factory and shop in Norwich with free time to follow. Contact 01206 240854 to book a place on the coach.

As part of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations the W I is organizing a card with verse competition which will be professionally printed and sent to the Queen from the village of West Bergholt. Forms will be available from the Co-op later this month.

Erika Cole presented the completed photograph album recording the W I’s 90th birthday celebrations during 2011.

Mrs Paula Short was welcomed with her talk on The Artists who Painted Horses.

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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Fashion Show at WI

The president Susan Leng welcomed everyone to the Fashion Show staged by Viyella and Country Casuals.  WI’s from 6 neighbouring villages had also accepted the invitation as well as local visitors. 10 members volunteered to be models wearing a selection of clothes from casual to formal wear with a commentary giving the audience more details of materials etc.

Members are reminded that the meeting on 4 April is when cakes for St Helena Hospice are required (bought or homemade).

This material has been developed for the West Bergholt Village Website at http://www.westbergholt.net
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