Our members came in their colourful summer clothes and hats/fascinators to enjoy the hospitality of Jane & Julian Benson, who kindly allowed us to use their house and garden for this month’s meeting.
The fine weather held, so once we had been updated on all that is happening in the WI, we were able to partake of our refreshments outside, followed by a stroll around the garden. We even enjoyed a “flypast” by a few military helicopters! Our President claimed responsibility for this fortuitous coincidence, but we know better!
However, our evening had begun with a minute’s silence in memory of Margaret Wilson who had died at the end of May. Margaret, a past President, had been an enthusiastic member of our Institute for many years and will be much missed by us all.
Our winter project was revealed in its finished form. Members have been busy stitching away since the end of 2009 with Wendy Casson as the driving force behind a wall hanging created to mark the Village School’s move into new premises. It is stunning and is a testimony to the many talents of our members. The idea was for most of us to do something, but inevitably, a few members have been very involved, and we now wait to hear what the School and Head Teacher thought of it. Our President and Secretary, Val Downing & Wendy Casson, were due to officially hand it over at an assembly at the end of this month.
Our walking group was much depleted due to other commitments, but four still turned out for a walk in Kings Somborne, our Reading Group still meets on a regular basis and a few members met for lunch on the 26th June.
On the 29th June, nine of our members enjoyed a lovely day at the jewel in the WI’s Crown – Denman College in Oxfordshire.
Opportunities are available for members to attend various courses on a vast variety of subjects. However, on this occasion, a first visit for a few from Abbotts Ann, we just enjoyed its stunning setting, visited a few craft stalls, took a peep at the updated ensuite rooms, glimpsed the new cookery demonstrating kitchen and enjoyed the hog roast. Seven of us then attended a talk given by Bunny Guinness, who can be heard as a regular panellist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. She is a much in demand garden designer and has created medal-winning gardens at Chelsea. We were given suggestions on how to transform our own gardens.
Our meeting on the 29th July has a 1940s theme and members are being encouraged to dress accordingly; there has been much consultation and consternation as to how this may be achieved.
Diary Dates:
10 July – Walking Group
13 July – Coffee Morning
29 July – Meeting Village Hall 7.30 p.m. – Themed Evening : The 1940s
04 Aug – Outing to Windsor (spaces available – for more information please call Sharon King 01264 335630)
10 Aug – Reading Group (Digging to America – Anne Tyler)
14 Aug – Walking Group
Sharon King
