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 hire from her shop.
The ladies of Abbotts Ann who formed our own Institute back in 1917 would not have dreamt of attending a WI meeting without a hat and many of us today may well regret this lost tradition. On the whole women today only wear them for special occasions or, if appropriate, as protection to keep us safe or more likely to keep our hair out of the rain! Indeed there was one hat that proved very popular and you may well see it in a variety of colours on various heads this winter.
Ann asked three lucky ladies to model some beautiful creations, as she wished to demonstrate that anyone can wear a hat. Many women feel that hats just don’t suit them, but that is not the case. It is a question of selecting the right size of brim and shape to suit one’s height and head. Many of us let the evening go to our heads as we rushed up to try on our favourites.
Up to then, September had not been particularly busy, as only the Reading Group and Supper Club had met this month and even then the latter was a much smaller group than usual as they gathered at The White Lion in Wherwell.
This wasn’t that surprising as we had had a very busy afternoon on 5th September organising the WI Teas at the Village Fete. We asked for cake and cake we certainly received. Please take this as a personal thank you to all of you (members and non-members) who kindly baked for us, for which we were very grateful. We do not wish to spoil any announcements the Fete Committee wish to make in the future, but we were rushed off our feet all afternoon and with outstanding results. THANK YOU.
Next month’s meeting is on 29th October in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. and Andy Rhind-Tutt is making a return visit to talk about something interesting. You may remember he had our members enthralled last year when he spoke about archaeological finds in Amesbury.
Diary Dates:
10 October – Walking Group
15 October – Supper Club
20 October – Autumn Council Meeting, The Anvil in Basingstoke (event sold out)
29 October – Monthly Meeting 7.30 p.m. in The Village Hall – Something Interesting: Andy Rhind-Tutt
31 October – Craft Day – Jewellery Workshop
