WI Newsletter – August 2004

We may not have a formal meeting during August, but behind the scenes, the committee have still been very busy. It is about now that we usually start to think about the following year, but we already seem to be ahead of ourselves, with some dates in the diary. We have also discussed a few ideas for our meetings in 2005, which our Programme Secretary will be planning shortly.

We have been on a waiting list for a tour of Denman College in Oxfordshire which is owned by our National Federation. A wide variety of Courses are run throughout the year, and are now open to non-members. Fortunately, Abbotts Ann has now reached the top of the list, we are going to visit on 20 June 2005, and we will be inviting members from other Institutes within the Danebury Group to join us on this occasion.

I mentioned in our June Newsletter that some of us from Abbotts Ann had been involved with events organised by the Methodist Circuit here in Andover, where we were fortunate to meet the original Calendar Girl, Angela Baker from Rylstone & District WI. I can now reveal, that she has accepted our invitation to return to Hampshire, and we are delighted to be organising an evening on Friday 15 April at the Fairground Hall, Weyhill, when there will be an opportunity to hear her story. Plans are at a very early stage, but we do not intend to restrict this event to WI members, which means men will also be welcome. However, please do not get over-excited, Angela will be keeping her clothes on. More details will be revealed in the coming months.

We had a visit to Eton College on 18 August, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Although, this took place during a very wet week, we managed to stay dry. We were split into two groups, each with an excellent guide who really brought the place alive. It is possible that some of us went with a pre-conceived idea of the Eton, but certainly, I came away very impressed, students who attend this historical centre of learning are indeed fortunate. The PR is obviously working! They certainly have to work hard, but there are also plenty of opportunities for those who excel in sport or music. Whilst the buildings are themselves full of history and date back many hundreds of years, the facilities are excellent and the boys are given a good all round education.

After our tour, it was time to cross the bridge to Windsor for lunch and there was still some time to spend looking round the excellent shops – a great way to spend an hour or so.

Arrangements have continued for the fete teas on 04 September, otherwise we are back in the Hall on 30 September when Fran Horn will be telling us how to mix, match and mis-match.

Don’t forget we are always pleased to welcome visitors; you don’t have to commit to joining straight away, just come and take a look, see who we are and what we do – don’t believe all you see in the media, there really is no typical WI member.

Sharon King