W.I. Newsletter January 2026

Meeting first this month was our Book Club who chose to gather at The Grey Hound in Broughton for lunch.  They were taking advantage of discount vouchers found in their crackers when they were there for our Institute’s Christmas Lunch.  Amongst other subjects they did discuss their latest book selection which was How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley.  You had better watch out now you have been warned!   Many of our members turned up to our coffee morning this month, eager to catch up with each other following a busy December.  They had also been promised cake and yummy biscuits.  Due to the cold and frosty weather, it was decided that the Walking Group would meet earlier than usual for a stroll from Dobbies around Rooksbury Lakes and back for a well-earned warming coffee.  Again, there was a good turnout – a chance to walk off those festive calories – and everyone stayed upright which was a relief. 

At our meeting this month, Members had the opportunity to vote for the Resolution they wished to see debated at both our AGM in May and the NFWI AGM in June. There were five in the running. Our result will be conveyed to Hampshire Federation and then we wait to hear which one was favoured nationally.   There were also sign-up sheets available for our summer outing to Kew Gardens in August and a visit to Houghton Lodge Garden for our June meeting (members please note this will be on the afternoon of Friday 26^th).

Our speaker this month was Steve Simmons-Jacobs who was both charming and humorous.  Before he began his talk, he kissed the hand of our President Lynne (did she mention this, Ray?).  

Steve was present to talk about the organisation Serv Wessex, also known at times as The Blood Bikers. This is a voluntary organisation that supports the NHS by delivering blood, human milk, medication, samples and other items out of hours when the NHS service is closed.   They also do daily trips to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, currently based in Thruxton, with regular blood supplies.  This means being available from 7 p.m. – 6 a.m (during the week), all over the weekend and all Bank Holidays – all year round.  They cover an area stretching west to east from Dorchester to Chichester and south to north from the Isle of Wight up to Newbury and Guildford.  In addition to the bikers and drivers the organisation has Dispatchers who take the calls and then liaise directly with all parties connected to the transfers.  When products are needed to be taken out of this area this involves liaising with other regions to organise a rendezvous point.  There is now a network of 32 groups covering the whole country all operating under The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikers.   It all began in 2009 when a grateful patient decided to assist his local hospital in Portsmouth.  There are currently approximately 120 volunteers in our area.  

The service is provided free to the NHS, but there are costs involved.  Most of the bikers fund their own equipment which includes a riding suit costing up to £2,000, a helmet and blue-tooth headset around £600, gloves £200, boots £400 and an Air Vest (acting like an air bag in an emergency) around £400.  Whilst they can claim a petrol allowance, many of them choose not to do this.  It is possible to use your personal means of transport, but there is also an opportunity to use one of the organisations own vehicles.  They currently have five marked motorbikes, two marked cars and an events trailer.  The statistics involved are quite staggering.  The data for 2024 shows they travelled 127,500 miles to facilitate 1,967 jobs involving 3,075 items.  Annual operating costs are around £40,000 plus the cost of replacing the vehicles every four years as well as insurance and servicing.

In recognition of the service in 2021 they were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service with special mention of the work carried out during the Covid pandemic when the charity provided a 24 hour service.

Steve’s love of motorbikes and the joy of riding them shone through the evening, although he has now stopped riding his own Ducati 1260 cc for the organisation and drives a car to undertake these journeys.  He had brought along a miniature version, and some members took the opportunity to sit on it.  As mentioned previously, this is a very serious subject, but humour was used to convey the message.  If you wish to find out more then please do look at their website where you can find further information on volunteering and fundraising.  (https://servwessex.org.uk)

Our next meeting is on 26 February and on this occasion the subject is Jane Austen and her best friend Martha with Jane Glennie.  As always non-members are welcome to attend, we just ask for a donation of £5 to include refreshments.  Just come along to the Village Hall for a 7.30 p.m. start.

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