W.I. Newsletter July 2026

Did we ever think it would be too hot in the UK to hold a coffee morning?  Well, that is what happened this month, the Committee felt the temperature in the Sports Pavilion on Bulbery would be too high for comfort.  So, the decision was taken to cancel.  Members were advised, but apologies to anyone else who turned up!

Members of our Walking Group were also wilting, so only two of us decided to meet at 8.15 a.m. (yes that’s right) on the second Saturday of the month to do a gentle stroll around the wildflower meadow at Bury Hill.  It was very pleasant and then we adjourned for a coffee at nearby Dobbies.  We also had a good chat.  Our Book Club reviewed We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker – this was an emotional read and our members were moved by the story of Duchess Day Radley, a young teenage girl and her little brother, Robin. 

Our speaker this month, Alan Jones, was making a return visit, albeit it was several years since he last ventured to Abbotts Ann.  Although he had been a roving reporter, this time he had another talk up his sleeve, or should that be under his hat?  Keep your Hair On!

Most of us take our hair for granted.  Unfortunately, some men do go bald later in life and others suffer from alopecia or lose their hair due to various medical treatments which can be devastating.   Otherwise, the rest of us manage with what we are born with, although some of us are never satisfied.  People with straight hair long for a wave or two, some with wavy hair decide to invest in straighteners and others cope with a mass of curls.  However, it turns out that human hair has a value and there is a multi-million pound industry involved. It is sometimes referred to as “virgin gold.”  A 20” hank of straight hair can fetch around £500, but if you have red curly hair then it can reach £1,000.  We will all be asking for our hair back when we visit the hairdresser – but be warned, strands of white hair are not wanted.  I wonder why?

We also learnt that we have between 100,000 and 150,000 single strands on a full head of hair and a single strand can hold a weight of 4 ozs.

Through the ages wigs have been popular, Alan had brought along various examples.  Hair can be used for medical purposes, be spread around the edge of farmland, particularly in Africa, to deter large wild animals.  The smell of human will hopefully deter them.  When the Exxon Valdez ran aground off the coast of Alaska and caused an oil spill of 10 million US gallons, human hair was deployed to create large booms which absorbed the oil.

There was so much more that we learnt about human hair, including that religion can dictate whether you can or not cut your hair, women may have to keep theirs covered when out in public and surgeons can use human hair for sutures.  Today there are synthetic fibres available, but there is still a demand for wigs made of human hair.  Instead of selling your hair, it is possible to donate it so that it can be used to create wigs for children who experience hair loss due to chemotherapy. 

So, ponder on all this next time you look in the mirror to check your whether it is a good or bad hair day.

There is no meeting in August, but we are off to Kew Gardens on Thursday the 6^th August and we are, of course, gearing up for refreshments at the village fete on 5^th September.  Whilst many of our members will be baking, we do need more please, so if you can offer a cake then we would be delighted.  Cakes can be delivered to the village hall on the morning of the fete please.  If you aren’t a baker, but you could spare an hour perhaps, in the afternoon, to help serve cake or pour tea, then we would be very grateful.

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