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Hot Topics September 2013

74 members and 6 guests were then entertained by Joan Cottle who spoke about the suffragette movement and our very own Wimbledon suffragette Rose Lamartine Yates.  Rose had lived in Dorset Hall, Kingston Road and had been an active member of the Wimbledon branch of the Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU), becoming its treasurer and organising secretary in 1910.  The Wimbledon branch was renowned for its militant suffrage campaigns.  It opened its shop on the site between the Odeon and Morrisons.  She gave a most interesting and informative talk in which she described the history of the Votes for Women movement, including the horrendous conditions which the jailed suffragettes had to endure being violently force fed when they went on hunger strike.

Notices

Jenny Cairns made a short appeal for people to provide temporary overnight emergency accommodation for young people (18-25) through a charity called Night Stop London http://www.depauluk.org/projects/nightstop-london/

Annette Osborne talked about the 2nd hand book sale planned for our October meeting and asked members to provide books which were in reasonably good condition – fiction and biographies normally sold well.  Monies raised would go towards WI funds.  Members were also asked to let her know if members knew of any outlets which would welcome any books which remained unsold at the end of the evening.

Eileen Smith spoke about the Crochet/Knit/Sew Poppy Evening on Wednesday 18th September 7.30pm and about the Dress a Girl around the World http://sewscrumptious.blogspot.co.uk/p/pillowcase-dress-info.html.  Information about both these was included in the Meeting Preview Notices.

Agnes Fox referred to a letter from Carers Support Merton thanking us for the monies we had raised at the Super Raffle.  Also about the list of possible children’s gifts to this Charity which we normally collect at our November meeting.

  • vouchers for cinema/toys r us
  • girls and boys toiletries
  • electric toothbrushes
  • annuals – football teams. ben 10, pop bands
  • stationary/ art supplies
  • sport gear footballs, tennis racquets
  • craft kits
  • lego
  • beads – make a bracelet.

Members were invited to nominate any local Charity which they would like to see considered to be our Charity of the Year 2014.

Agnes also appealed for members to come forward to stand for the Committee.  Several current members would be standing down in November and more help was required to run the WI.  The next Committee meeting was on Monday 14 October and members were invited to attend to get a “taste” of what goes on.

Ann Dolphin gave a report on her evening on Patrol with Wimbledon Police – the prize she had won in the Super Raffle.

NFWI AGM 2014 will be held in Leeds on Saturday 7 June. Application forms to be a representative (delegate) or observer should be available at the October meeting.

Subscription Rates for 2014 would be £34.70, with dual members paying £15.80 to their 2nd WI.

Members were asked to look at the Notice Board, including WI campaigns about saving our high streets/town centres and reducing usage of plastic bags.

Members were invited to sign up if they were interested in attending the Christmas Meal (being organised by Julia Whiting) provisionally scheduled for Monday 25 November (7.30 for 8 pm) at the Railhouse (previously The Rock), Raynes Park.  Further details would be available at our October meeting.

2014 WI diaries – Those members who had ordered copies but were not able to collect them from Janice Beale at this meeting would be able to do so at our October meeting – they are £3.60 each


A boat trip on the Thames and a visit to The Savill Garden July 2013

A cloudy start, but we were pleased it wasn’t raining. 26 of us filled a small coach to Runnymede.
Here we boarded the Lady Margaret Anne boat owned by French Brothers.  We had a delightful trip down the Thames looking at the lovely houses fronting on to the river and also the wildlife (ducks, swans, cygnets, geese, heron, grebe and yes, I’m sure I saw a kingfisher!)
Beryl Reid’s honey pot thatched cottage was pointed out to us. She lived here with up to 13 stray cats. Our guide also pointed out Albert Bridge and the Bells pub with the mystery of what happened to the bells destined from Oxford back in Henry 8th’s reign.
Also the bridge which wasn’t strong enough to support bus and passengers, so passenger s had to get off the bus, walk over the bridge and get back on, and Black Pott’s bridge named because of the black soot that gathered on people’s faces!
We had a ploughman’s lunch on board together with optional wine. Then after good views of Windsor Castle and Eton College chapel, back to Runnymede where the coach took us on to Savill Garden. Savill garden is a beautiful garden of35 acres of interconnecting gardens and woodland. We saw the azalea walks, the summer gardens which included magnificent herbaceous borders, the hidden gardens and the lake and the beautiful perfumed rose garden with its dramatic walkway rising over the centre.
We had a welcome cream tea in the restaurant before making our way back to the coach. Our lovely driver Ray got us back to Wimbledon in plenty of time for us to return home in time to see Andy Murray recover himself against Verdasco to gain a place in the semi-finals.
A really good day out. Thank you Gillian.
Annette


Wimbledon Village Fair 2013

From our fantastic Village fair co-ordinator Veronica:

I feel sure you all would like to know how our 5th year having a WI stall at the Village Fair went.

village-fair-2013From the application date in February this event takes 5 months in the planning. Our stall is our main fund raising event of the year and is important as funds raised go towards the hiring of this hall, paying for speakers, etc.  Other fund raising events (e.g. bring and buy, raffle and plant sales) raise funds towards your chosen charity – this year it is Carer Support Merton. 

The day of the Village Fair was a day of strong gusting winds throughout the day, as those who gallantly offered to help man our stall, or came to support us, will know.
 My lasting memory was seeing a rota of two ladies constantly holding the gazebo down.  Louise had 9-10 slot until I realised that she had become a permanent fixture still holding the gazebo – 3 hours later.

The produce flew off the table, not due to the wind thankfully.  We had an excellent position this year as requested.  Our stall was on the path leading to Cannizaro Road which means we had a good chance of being seen as people arrived, and better still customers were reminded to buy on their way out.  The disadvantage of this position meant we were blasted more than most from the wind hitting our rear from the pond and then our side once our neighbours gave up and left. 
In spite of our gallant effort to stop our gazebo taking flight, we did sustain some damage which we hope will be repairable.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who helped make our WI Stall not only successful but most enjoyable for all of us who took part.

Thank you to the COMMITTEE who helped me so much in co-ordinating our stall and for tolerating all my emails and attachments throughout the process.

A very special thank you to Angela who has so generously offered the use of her bakery, equipment and premises over the years to enable us to have a drop off centre prior to the packaging that takes place throughout the Friday before the Fair.
Sadly Angela will be unable to offer her premises again so if anyone knows of a centrally located, large kitchen that we can use next year, please contact Agnes or a Committee member.
 Thank you to the Friday team who worked from 10am to 7.45pm packing and labelling all your lovely produce, and to Dulcie and Gillian who did an excellent job labelling an even larger selection this year of your preserves.  And also to Val and Phil Barnes for providing the transport.

 And finally a big thank you to all the wonderful ladies on the Stall Volunteers Rota List for the day, and to all who contributed with cakes, biscuits, and preserves.
Many of you provided far more than expected – Rosie Hickson excelled making 12 banana cakes!!

I have had some lovely emails from you and I am so glad none of you sustained injury while preventing our possible flight.

Thank you everyone and put in your Diaries the 2014 that Village Fair next year will be on Saturday 21st June.

From a willing helper:

In spite of the weather it was a “different” Saturday.  It was so encouraging to see so many people supporting the Fair so that the weather really didn’t matter.
I think we shall have to think of something to stabilise the gazebo – more tent pegs might be the answer – (or longer armed people?)
Anyway the end result – of the money we collected –  was very encouraging and I certainly enjoyed being part of the organising  on Friday/Saturday.
A big thank you to Veronica for all your effort.

Daphne


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