Sharon King

It has certainly been an historical month and may be at times hysterical. We were given a detailed explanation of the Battle of Waterloo by Dan & Peter Snow at the Autumn Meeting of the Hampshire Federation in Basingstoke. Both are passionate about history and certainly brought their subject to life. They have …

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We were like children in a sweet shop at this month’s meeting. Ann from The Clothes Shop in Newbury had brought along a vast selection of hats which included ones from her personal collection, previously worn by her mother and aunt at family weddings, as well the latest models available to purchase or …

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For a variety of reasons it was not possible to organise our annual summer outing for the first week in August this year, as we usually do, instead we opted for the second week, Thursday 13th, but never again. The first venue selected was vetoed, the next two were unable to accommodate us …

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As a reward for reading our very long newsletter last month, our news this month will be brief and to the point. The Supper Club went further afield and met at The Plough in Sparsholt and enjoyed excellent food on a warm summer’s evening. It was a very busy venue and we had …

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There is a lot to tell you about this month, so I should go and put the kettle on before you settle to read this month’s report of our activities, as we have been celebrating being 100 years old. Not personally you understand, but the Women’s Institute first came to these shores, from …

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  This month was our Annual Meeting and I don’t think I can do any better than share with you part of our President, Kate Bennett’s report of the past 12 months. “Well, I have completed my first year as President and must say I have found it interesting, educational, challenging at times …

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I believe it is a given that most women give a lot of thought to their wardrobe; what to buy, what to wear, how it looks, does it fit, does the colour suit …. etc. – but do we think about whether our choices actually reflect our role in society. I very much …

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We have watched the latest exploits of Dame Judi Dench and her cohorts, as they enjoy a second lease of life in The Second Best Marigold Hotel, savoured an excellent supper at the newly opened Lion in Clanville and laughed with Janet Street-Porter at the HCFWI Spring Meeting in Portsmouth Guildhall. At the …

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Instead of sharing our own memories at this month’s meeting, due to a last minute change to the Programme, it was our mother’s and grandmother’s memories which were invoked. It was Deborah Wheeler, or at least her alter-ego Mrs Queenie Stacey, who took us back to 1942, in the midst of the World …

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Mention was made last month of the Centenary Baton which is making its progress through England, Wales and the Islands culminating in its arrival at the Royal Albert Hall on 4th June. Well it passed through our corner of Hampshire on Saturday 17th January, but blink and you missed it! Despite all the …

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