We hope you all managing to keep well and active and that the majority of you have now had your first vaccination.

At our last meeting Christine Green, a former graphic designer at the BBC, gave us a wonderful insight into what goes into those few opening seconds of a programme – the title sequence – and how these and credits of programmes are created. Amongst other programmes Christine’s work has included “Our Friends in the North”, “Tracey Beaker”, “Children’s Hospital”, The Queens Christmas Speech and even Pudsey’s buttons. Christine explained the process of creating memorable graphics that fit with the programme from initial idea, storyboard to completed work. Christine also mentioned her love of crafts, including patchwork and paper cutting, which she is now heavily involved in.

These Preview Notes are being sent out early and please note our next Zoom meeting will be on Monday 15^th February.  Our speaker will be Teri Atkinson Fear a celebrity make-up and hair artist. With over 20 years’ experience in the business Teri has worked with some of the world’s most famous, influential and internationally recognised personalities and celebrities. She also gives make up tutorials.

As usual the meeting will start at 7.00pm prompt and our guest speaker will take over at 7.30. So please make sure you have joined Zoom by then or you may have trouble getting in. A Zoom link will be sent nearer the time. As a matter of etiquette can we ask all members to put themselves on “mute” during the speaker’s session – even if you are not intending to speak, Zoom is very sensitive and picks up the slightest noise. Please let us know if you are having trouble using Zoom so we can talk you through it. Otherwise here are a few useful links

NFWI Board Elections 2021-2023: You will have seen in the February WI Life (page 35) a list of the candidates for the NFWI Board of Trustees elections. Please read about each candidate and as you cannot cast your own individual votes please email us who you would like to vote for before the March meeting (15^th March).

NFWI AGM: At very short notice we have been informed by SFWI that applications for an Observer ticket for the AGM at the Albert Hall on 8^th June have to be in by Friday 12^th February. If you would like an application form for an Observer ticket please let Lesley know as soon as possible. (This event has subsequently been cancelled).

Dons Local Action Group: Wimbledon Football Club are looking for laptops people no longer need to be cleaned, updated and distributed to school children. If you are able to support or help in any way please visit https://donslocalaction.org/keep-kids-connected/ for further information.

Lady Denman Cup Competition 2021:  The NFWI is pleased to announce that this competition will be held in partnership with the National Gallery.  Using no more than 500 words, WI members are invited to submit a piece of writing, fact or fiction, in any style (story, poem etc.) based on a painting by Artemisia Gentileschi. For further details please see the attached document.

Crafty Ladies: We will be having another Crafty Ladies Zoom meeting on Friday 12^th February at 3.00pm. So do join us with your cup of tea, and maybe a slice of cake, to hear and see what members have been making.  This group is for any handicrafts that members do and want to share (not just knitting). Please email Eileen to be sent the zoom link. If you don’t craft but fancy joining us for a chat, we’d love to see you.

Wildlife Appeal:  One of our members wondered if any of you would like to crotchet or knit nests for rescued wildlife babies. For further information, patterns and where to send items follow this link https://www.facebook.com/littlestwildlifehotel/posts/424365875670475

Surrey News on line: The February edition of Surrey News is now available to view online. Details of how to book the SFWI Annual Council Meeting via Zoom on 15^th March are on page 3. Speakers are Lynne Stubbings and Joanna Foat.

From SFWI:  To view Zoom events and “how to use Zoom” run by the Yorkshire WI please visit https://yorkshire-north-west.thewi.org.uk/nyw-zoom-along

Happy New Year! Here’s looking forward to a much healthier and happier 2021.

We thank Sarah Slater for giving us a very enlightening and supernatural talk on “Working with the Ghosts of Hampton Court Palace” at the December meeting. We are looking forward to visiting Hampton Court in person for a tour when we can experience it for ourselves – if we are brave enough!

We look forward to “seeing” you next Monday 18th January at our Zoom meeting. Our speaker this month is Christine Green who will tell us about “Working For Auntie – life as a graphic designer at the BBC.” This is a fascinating insight into the way the opening title sequences and credits are designed. Christine worked on a wide range of programmes including ‘Our Friends in the North’, ‘Tracy Beaker’, ‘Children’s Hospital’ and the Queen’s Christmas speech.  As usual the meeting will start at 7.00pm prompt and our guest speaker will take over at 7.30. So please make sure you have joined Zoom by then or you may have trouble getting in. A Zoom link will be sent nearer the time. As a matter of etiquette can we ask all members to put themselves on “mute” during the speaker’s session – even if you are not intending to speak, Zoom is very sensitive and picks up the slightest noise. Thank you

Resolutions: To enable us to submit our result for the Resolutions members of the committee will be phoning you in the next few days to make a note of your vote.  You will find all the details about these on page 22 of the Nov/Dec copy of WI News or on this link https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/resolutions/resolution-shortlist-202021. Could members please read these so that you are able to respond when contacted. Many thanks.

Stem4:  Some of you may have noticed the Wishing Tree on Wimbledon Common over Christmas which was an amazing initiative by two local Wimbledon residents to raise money for Stem4. On two weekends in December, they were offering people the chance to have a wish/thought written on a label on a bauble which was hung on two fir trees for a donation. The decorations have now been taken down (having withstood storm Bella!), but their fundraising page is still live. If you would like to donate to our chosen charity for 2021 please visit

and add your name and Wimbledon WI to your donation so that Stem4 know we are supporting them. Thank you.

Crafty Ladies: We will be having another Crafty Ladies zoom meeting on Friday 15^th January at 3.00pm. So do join us with your cup of tea, and maybe a slice of cake, to hear and see what members have been making.  This group is for any handicrafts that members do and want to share (not just knitting). Please email Eileen to be sent the zoom link. If you don’t craft but fancy joining us for a chat, we’d love to see you.

Please make a note that we will be having another Crafty Ladies zoom meeting on Friday, 29^th January when we will making a delightful, simple flower brooch. If any member is interested in joining us, please let Eileen know so that a small kit pack can be delivered to you in advance.

Surrey News on line: This is the link to view the Surrey WI News online January edition. You can see Eileen’s delightful little penguin on page 9 as a result of the “What can you do with 40 grams of wool?” challenge.

WI Wanderers: If you are a member of Facebook, there is a private group for WI members nationally called “WI Wanderers”. They advertise online talks and activities which WI members across the country can access. These include both other WI’s and Federation meetings.

Please make the most of your membership by keeping in touch by reading Surrey WI News and visiting www.surreyfedwi.org.uk for many other ideas,  MYWI, the new NFWI monthly Newsletter which can be delivered direct to your inbox,  the new online wonderful ‘Denman at Home’ courses on www.denman.org.uk, as well as https://www.facebook.com/WimbledonWI/ our own Facebook, the Federation Facebook and Twitter accounts. To have the free digital newsletter delivered to your inbox each month, subscribe via the NFWI website at: https://www.thewi.org.uk/ media-centre

Stay safe and well.

The Committee