We meet, usually at the Village Hall, on the second Thursday evening of
the month. We normally have an invited speaker, and the topics for the
talks vary widely. The subject may not have been one you would have
thought to read up about, but the enthusiasm of the speakers rubs off
on the audience who generally end up entertained and informed. Past
speakers have talked on and demonstrated, for example, how the knights
got dressed in their armour, belly dancing, and the Heart of England
Way. Instead of a speaker we will occasionally organise our own
entertainment with a short play or a selection of sketches, performed
by willing members.
Return to top of page
As well as the scarecrow festival, which raised money for local
organisations, such as the pre-school and the village hall, we have a
jumble sale and coffee mornings and help by providing cake stalls for
other village events like the church fair. We also take part in the
Christmas Shoe Box project to provide gifts for deprived children in
the third world.
Return to top of page
Members are welcome at regional events such as the intellectually
challenging series of "Serious Science" lectures, which have included
lectures from locally acknowledged experts on digital TV and fractals.
Other memorable events have been a very amusing talk by one of the
calendar girls and a practical afternoon on earthquake engineering,
organised by the Bristol University Faculty of Engineering. Members
receive regular bulletins from the federation about Warwickshire
events.
Read
more about the Warwickshire Federation of WIs
Return to top of page
Interested members and their husbands take it in turns to lead a walk
on a Monday morning, followed by a pub lunch. These are about once a
month and the starting point is never more than a few miles from the
village. The pace is relaxed, the distance about 5 miles and dogs are
welcome. We walk through the winter as well.
As well as the traditional WI jam and marmalade making competitions, we
also compete for the Pat Plant Trophy in memory of one of our former
members. The competition for this varies from year to year and could be
a short story or a still-life watercolour or a poem. We also submit an
entry on behalf of our WI to group events, from time to time, when the
other local WIs get together for an evening.
Return to top of page
When funds permit a taster day is sometimes arranged. Recent ones have
included the Alexander Technique and Singing for Pleasure. Return to top of page
We are a thriving WI and usually have 25 or 30 members at each meeting.
We have members from all walks of life, and from their 40s to their
90s, but all young at heart. We are keen to attract new members and
particularly more younger members.
Return to top of page
Each year a couple of days out to places of interest are organised by
the social secretary, for example in 2005 we went to Bletchley Park to
the code-breakers museum. We also go out for lunch, for example to the
Stratford College.
Return to top of page
We genuinely enjoy each other's company; even sorting the jumble turns
into a time to chat to friends, aided by a glass of wine and a sandwich
lunch. As neighbours and part of a small community we try to help each
other out when the going gets tough.
Return to top of page
Nationally the WI has a loud voice as there are so many members. Each
year resolutions are made to campaign for improvements to peoples lives
which could be to do with for example environmental issues, health
concerns, children's wellbeing etc. The WI tries to influence
government on issues voted for as important to members.
Would you care to join us and take part in as much of this frenetic
activity as you would like?
Details of the next meeting are on the village noticeboards a couple of
weeks in advance, so come along and meet us.
Alternatively if you prefer, email
us with your contact details and we will pass them on to our
President, Julie Upton.
