Findon Village WI
All the latest...
2024
November
Our November pre-loved clothes sale netted an excellent £245 for Findon Pool
Just look at what can be achieved with poppies made by the community, Crafty Ladies and the astonishing expertise of Gay Hibbs and Gill Gostic.
Pond Green has become an amazing tribute to all our soldiers, both living and fallen
October
A fun evening was had at our latest skittling evening at the Black Horse.
Congratulations to Sue, who was a very worthy winner.
September
Committee members attended the West Sussex Federation Annual Meeting, which was held at the Capital Theatre in Horsham. Sara was presented with certificates celebrating our 50th 'birthday' by Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk who spoke on her work with the NSPCC.
As well as hearing of latest developments within the Federation the audience heard from Libby Drew from The Knepp Wildland Foundation and 'Diddy' David Hamilton - DJ and ex Radio 1 presenter.
Rob Goldsmith is one of the few people to have visited and filmed the wreck of the Titanic in a competition he won run by the History Channel in 2005.
His talk to us was full of interest, humour and a sense of awe. However, the danger of the dive was highlighted by the later implosion of the American dive vessel 'Titan' in June 2023 resulting in the deaths of all five men on board.
Click here to visit Rob's fascinating website.
September
With the Sheep Fair behind us, those clever Crafty Ladies have turned their thoughts to the future and are planning November's poppy display on Pond Green.
They certainly appreciated the additional space their new venue of Nepcote Hall gave them.
September is all about the Sheep Fair!
(and didn't we do well...)
This month our speaker was Carrie Cort from Sussex Green Living
Carrie's talk sparked a lively debate on the '3Rs':
Reduce, reuse, recycle
to which we can now add a further two:
Repair and renature.
We are very well served for opportunities to improve our footprint on the planet in the Sussex area, and Carrie shared a variety of ways in which we can simply and easily make a difference.
To find out more about this award winning charity visit their website here.
August
Crafty Ladies are on the Move!
Owing to the popularity of this excellent sub-group we have decided to give Monica a break from hosting, and move to the Village Hall. The cost of £2.50 per person will be well worth it, as we can spread our wings and create even more beautiful items.
This month our speaker was the lovely Ellie Beadell from our local hospice, St Barnabas. She spoke of the recent merger with Martlets Hospice, Brighton, as well as the challenges of roof repairs and staffing which has resulted in only eight of the 24 beds available being open. Their Hospice at Home programme has been very successful, however, providing a 24 hour service for those with an end of life diagnosis.
Our competition was won with Spike Milligan's famous last words: 'I told you I was ill.'
July
Gary Baines from Friends of Shoreham Fort was our speaker this month.
His presentation was on the past, present and future of the fort, and was excellent: a great mix of personal stories and details of the fort's construction.
Thanks, Gary
June
Is there anything our brilliant Crafty Ladies can't tackle? These tricky ears have turned out beautifully, and will be available for sale at the Sheep Fair on September 14th.
What a great event: fabulous fashion choices coupled with a truly delicious afternoon tea.
Huge thanks to all helpers, (and especially Sara whose house has been looking like a clothing warehouse) and to the splendid ladies whose donations led to our fantastic total of more than £500 raised for our community swimming pool.
Weary Walkers hugely enjoyed their latest visit: Knepp Castle, led by Sharon. No storks were visible, but that didn't spoil a great afternoon
Our first fund raiser for Findon Village Pool was a greatly enjoyed coffee morning and plant sale. Thanks to Monica for hosting in her lovely garden, and for all those who provided cakes and plants. £115 will be added to our total, and will help get the pool up and running for everyone to enjoy this Summer.
Our next fundraiser is the afternoon tea and pre-loved fashion sale (donations) on 21st of this month.
May
Congratulations to Pam, whose wonderful posy (nearest to camera) won our flower competition. As Pam was the overall winner of the competitions last year the rest of us will have to up our game to stand a chance!
As Findon Pool is the beneficiary of our fundraising this year, it would be lovely to see an excellent turnout for this event.
Friday, 17th May
6.30pm
Nepcote Hall, Findon Village Hall.
It promises to be a very informative meeting, and there are bound to be areas where ladies of the WI will feel able to help.
April
Crafty Ladies spent a happy afternoon at Monica's creating unique and lovely gift tags and decorated jars for sweets or tea lights. These will be sold at the Sheep Fair on 14th September. That's a date for your diaries!
Skittles
at the Black Horse
Congratulations to Katharine who was our latest winner of this very popular event.
Weary Walkers...
...experienced the many delights of Southwater Country Park, and even managed to avoid the rain and hail (mostly). This first walk of the year saw Maggie with the Golden Compass, which has now passed to Sharon. We hope to see the storks fly at Knepp before too long. More pics in the Gallery.
Casualties Union
Norleen and Helen provided a fascinating insight into this amazing charity at our meeting this month. Helen's makeup skills on her knee and shins showing bruising, shrapnel wounds and burns were astonishingly realistic.
March
Crafty Ladies had a great time at their March meeting, customising pens and pencils into all manner of creatures for the sheep fair, and stringing bag charms/keyrings also to go on sale at the sheep fair in September. See more pics here.
We all know Rita from her fantastic work over the past eight years as a committee member. She has taken on an array of tasks including booking speakers, organising raffle prizes, and sourcing the prosecco! What a star she has been. Thank you from us all Rita.
Our AGM saw some changes to the committee. We said goodbye to Rita (left) and Jan, our events secretary: thank you, Jan for all your hard work. We welcomed Jean and Phil to our merry band.
From left to right:
Jean Burden
Maggie Milward
Monica Easterbrook
Sharon Blacker
Sara Clarke
Paddy Winter
Sue Stone
Phil Clark
We were so happy to welcome Cheryl Kidd, treasurer of Findon Swimming Pool Committee, to our AGM. Cheryl spoke to the ladies about the restoration of the swimming pool, which is a community asset and which now requires a ground source heat pump in order to reopen. As a WI we agreed that the pool will be the worthy recipient of our fundraising this year.
Following his rescue from the pool, I hope this little chap paid his £2!
February
Very well deserved recognition of Gay and Gill's superb 50th birthday topper in this week's Worthing Herald.
Following the wonderful South Today video, the amazingly talented pair are becoming quite famous. What a boost for our very lucky and appreciative WI.
The glitter ball was spinning, the fizz flowed and 'Mamma Mud' and Leila Tasher led the fun and games at our 50th birthday party.
For those of you interested in attending the 'NOT the WSFWI Annual Meeting' here is a link to the eventbrite site where you can purchase tickets.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-the-wsfwi-annual-meeting-tickets-
NOT the Annual Meeting
Join us for a one-of-a-kind event at the Worthing Pavilion Atrium, located at Marine Parade in Worthing. This in-person gathering promises to be a day filled with fun, music and WI friends, with guests: Ruth Rogers, Puppeteer extraordinaire, telling us the inside story of Warhorse; Richard Worsley of the RNLI telling us some stories of saving lives at sea from 200 years of RNLI history; and Margaret Watson, Harpist.
Bring your own lunch to eat in the venue or on the Prom, or explore the many local cafes just a short stroll away. Tea and coffee will be available at the venue, alongside a raffle and RNLI sales.
The venue is fully wheelchair accessible. Parking restrictions are in place around the venue itself, but there is an access bay drop-off point on Marine Parade near to the venue and several parking options within easy walking distance, plus good access by public transport - see information on the Worthing Theatres website for details: https://wtm.uk/visit/pavilion/
Please note that there will be no admission for ticket holders prior to 10.30am to allow Event organisers to set up.
Ruth Rogers and Warhorse
FVWI is 50 years old this month
January
Our fun auction this month raised £185 for the Orpheus Centre - the charity which visited us in October last year and whose mission is 'To inspire and empower young disabled students to live fulfilling, independent lives'. What a deserving cause.
18 ladies enjoyed our first outing of the year - the Theatre Royal.
What a great show!
A hint of the fantastic fare detailed in the wonderful community recipe book for sale in aid of St John the Baptist church.
Findon Village WI produced the section on 'Afternoon Tea'.
2023
December
Thanks to all who donated personal care items to the Trussell Trust this month. Richard and Wendy M write:
We just wanted to pass on a big THANK YOU to everyone at Findon WI who gave toiletries to Worthing Foodbank - Body Basics.
It makes such a difference to be able to offer these basic items to people who come into the Foodbank. They are so appreciated.
Also grateful thanks to those of you who donated coats to Wrap Up Worthing. Andrew Lawrence from Brighton Rotary writes:
...we finally ended the campaign yesterday two weeks late with 1,557 coats! This is nearly 3 times the quantity from last year, and in the words of our charity collector, a coat mountain! We carried on because people just kept giving!
This is such an important project, all along the South Coast, as there are so many people in need at the moment, and your assistance has helped us deliver a fantastic number of coats, and make a real difference to these people's lives.
We hope to continue to support these initiatives, and in January our auction will raise money for the Orpheus Centre.
This month's meeting was a splendidly glittering occasion, definitely fitting for the beautifully decorated village hall. The prosecco went down a treat, the quiz was great fun and the singing was... a bit up and down!!!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and see you in the New Year.
The Village Hall decorating team, and Gill and Gay's Tree Festival topper making Findon Festive
November
Delighted to be published on page 29 of WI Life.
That was such a fun day...
This month's greatly enjoyed 'Crafts for Christmas' meeting
(Click a photo to view it)
The post box and Pond Green again resplendent with poppies. With grateful thanks to Gay and Gill and all who contributed their time and effort to creating this fabulous display
October
Gay and Gill's wonderful Halloween masterpiece gracing the village post box.
See more of their fantastic toppers here
104th West Sussex Federation Annual Meeting
Paddy, Sue and Maggie headed to the Capital Theatre in Horsham for this excellent insight into the wider WI, led by Federation Chair Erica Brichta. Erica introduced us to federation staff and trustees, and gifts were given to those leaving their posts. Our adventure up the River Rother was acknowledged, and Erica said that she could see it becoming an annual event (!) Progress on the move to the new HQ in Horsham was explained, and Yvonne Bee gave a rundown of West Sussex finances. The morning was completed with a very entertaining talk from Sussex author Elly Griffiths, who was also available for book signings in the foyer.
In the afternoon Ann Jones, National Federation Chair, spoke about her long WI connection, her love for the organisation and her hopes for its future. An excellent day was concluded with entertainment from Leila Tasha (who visited us in July this year) who had the crowd on their feet.
Rita's wonderful basket, complete with WI bear, was sold to one very lucky recipient who will be buffed and moisturised to the max!
Congratulations to Hilary Ward, winner of our skittles evening and the only player to achieve a strike!
The evening, which was held at The Black Horse, was very well attended and everyone had a really good time.
We hope this will become an annual event.
Our mission
Inspiring & empowering young disabled students to live fulfilling, independent lives.
In the mid-1990s, musician and song-writer Sir Richard Stilgoe and neurologist Dr Michael Swallow started piloting music weeks for disabled people. These were so effective that Sir Richard decided to start a place where disabled people and students could work together for longer than a week – to change their own and other people’s lives by creating new music and performing in public. The Orpheus Centre opened in 1997 at Sir Richard's former family home in Godstone, Surrey.
The college has gone from strength to strength and it was fascinating to hear how from the original five students there are now 22 live-in students, and over 40 day students. The stories of what they have achieved made for an inspiring monthly meeting.
September
What a wonderful morning we spent in the company of Eddie, our fantastic guide, at this remarkable Grade 1* historic pilgrim inn, c1450, in the village of Bramber.
We all found the treasures within quite breathtaking - from an exquisite beaded purse collection, displayed dolls, portable printing press, cartoons and doors from one of the ships of the Armada to stunning painted walls and secret entrances. St Mary's House really is a treasure, and we count ourselves very lucky to have had a chance to see it as a lived-in home.
For more about the current owners who have undertaken amazing restoration work click here.
This month's meeting with artist Rachel Cowell
Our Clever Crafty Ladies
Have made these beautiful Christmas boxes which are destined for the Christmas Tree Festival on
2nd and 3rd December.
2023 Sheep Fair
The sun shone... the neck coolers sold wonderfully and we took over £300...
What a result!
Thanks and well done to all.
All eyes are now focused on the Sheep Fair.
Home baked items, sweet or savoury, can be delivered to any committee member,
or brought to our set-up and preparation meeting at Monica's on Friday 2pm - 5pm,
and of course we are able to accept items on the day.
Thanks, in anticipation of receiving your delicious goodies.
August
The Big Quick Dip and Picnic...
... certainly achieved its aim of tidying up the River Rother. Sharp eyed litter spotters found so much fast food related debris that our little boat was nearly overwhelmed... and then Katie spotted a bike in the water!!!
Grateful thanks to all who supported this initiative.
See the gallery for more photos.
Extract from a note of thanks from Nick McDonald, Estates Manager at Cowdray Park.
Dear Maggie,
It looks like you had a great time, and that bike looks in great condition – fantastic news that it may get a new lease of life. Thank you for cleaning some litter; it is unfortunately an endless task for our grounds team, but they would never have got those bits.
Thanks again.
Nick
In August 1915, Edith Smith became the first British woman to be appointed a police officer with full powers of arrest. Her duties were to deal with cases where women were involved.
Thanks to Sheila Willis for a most entertaining talk on 'Handbags to Handcuffs: the journey of women in the British police force'.
Sara's fantastically bejewelled winning handbag.
July
Weary Walkers avoided the rain and enjoyed an invigorating walk through Arundel, the Castle Park and the edge of Swanbourne Lake before returning to Mill Road car park. The company was just fab!
Next month's walk will combine with the Big Quick Dip and Picnic, and September's/October's walk will be arranged to coincide with the grape harvest at Nyetimber. After that the mud may well get the better of us.
The Hiorne Tower
Lavender Wands
Look what those dexterous Crafty Ladies have been making now... Monica's house smelled absolutely wonderful, and I am sure Monica will have an extra peaceful night's sleep as a result!
A real treat was in store for us all with Leila Tasha getting us out of our seats and rocking with her songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s. From Elvis to Abba, Leila kept us movin' and groovin', and as for Sara's 70s gear - only a picture can do it justice!
Oh, what a night
Late December back in sixty three
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night…
Gill's competition-winning boots
Recipes for the WI 'Afternoon Tea' section of the cookery book to be sold in aid of St. John's Church have all now been received, and they look delicious! Details of when they will need to be ready for photographing will be emailed by Sara. Thanks to Gay for all her efforts and ideas, and to Richard Bell for offering to take the pics.
June
Weary Walkers
enjoyed a lovely afternoon stroll at Lord's Piece near Fittleworth. This beautiful heathland is part of the Barlavington Estate and offers wonderful views of the South Downs as well as the chance to see a fantastic range of trees, butterflies and birds. If you listen carefully you might even hear the chirping of the field crickets.
Now that the drop down screen has been fitted in the village hall, we are very fortunate to have access to a BenQ projector (kindly donated by Roger Stone). A second projector is also available in case of a problem! I am sure this equipment will come in very useful at our meetings.
OK, it's a bit early, but the Crafty Ladies are thinking about Christmas. This afternoon was spent felting trees for this year's Christmas Tree Festival. Thanks to Monica for hosting this very sticky situation.
Clive Leach and his beautiful goldendoodle Miss May joined us to tell the story which led them to their work with Pets As Therapy. Clive's passion for helping people find the best versions of themselves in a variety of environments (not always with the help of Miss May) was clear in the enthusiasm he showed for both his dogs (he has kept Finn, one of Miss May's two puppies) and his work.
Pam's fab 'cauli-poo' was a very worthy winner of our competition.
We were delighted to welcome Linda Martin, the new chairman of Findon Parish Council, to our meeting this month. Linda updated us regarding the latest plans for the village, and we certainly hope she will be able to visit us again before too long.
Dear Sara and Maggie,
Just a quick note to thank you for your hospitality last night. It was lovely to meet the ladies who are all very interested in what was going on. Miss May was definitely the star of the show.
Thank you for extending an invitation to join you at another meeting. I hope to be able to return at some stage in the not too distant future.
With kind regards
Linda
Cllr Martin has lived in The Quadrangle for ten years and is keen to support local business as well as local traditions. Linda believes that history plays a part in all our lives as not only does it teach us much about the past, but it also provides a framework on which to build for the future. Linda is keenly aware that being a councillor is a responsibility as well as a privilege and will endeavour to work with her fellow councillors to promote and encourage village life.
When not working as a Locum residential conveyancer/paralegal, Linda can be found on the golf course, walking or gardening as well as visiting historic houses and gardens throughout Sussex.
May
Weary Walkers' Nyetimber and Nutbourne Ramble
Paddy, Sally and Sharon
at The Inn Crowd
Intrepid Weary Walkers enjoyed the sights and sounds of the footpaths around West Chiltington as they walked across Nyetimber and Nutbourne vineyards. This popular walk will be repeated in the Autumn when the grapes can be seen just before harvest.
If you have booked your ticket you are sure to have a great time when we run our first trip of 2024 to see 'Six' at Brighton's Theatre Royal on 5th January. We are also aiming to run a trip to Parham House. Further details to follow.
The village hall is looking resplendent in its red, white and blue bunting. Thanks to Crafty Ladies for this festive look... a fitting tribute to Their Majesties.
'South Today' on BBC1 featured an article on our wonderful post box toppers. This is well deserved recognition of Gay and Gill's great skills. What pleasure their talents give to all who visit. To watch the video click here
In a change to the original schedule our speaker this month will be Dr Janet Pennington talking to us about 'Witches, Warlocks and Wellingtons: The Ritual Protection of the Home.' Our competition this month is any item which we believe protects our house (but please don't unscrew and bring your burglar alarm: that's not in the spirit of things). Dr Pennington has a diploma in English local history, an MA in regional history and a PhD in inn and tavern history. It promises to be a fascinating evening.
April
Our WI is playing its part in the celebrations for the King's coronation by bedecking the village hall with rosette bunting. Thanks to Andrea for getting us started on this project.
On this subject, have you seen the fabulous Coronation topper at the village shop post box? Again I am in awe of the skill of Gay and Gill. Amazing, ladies.
Sadly, our speaker this month had to cancel owing to unforeseen circumstances. Instead Sara led us in a discussion of this year's probable resolution (complete with a rendition of 'Singing in the Rain').
Clean rivers for people and wildlife:
Water quality in our rivers is shameful. Legally, designated bathing waters must be regularly monitored for pollution. The NFWI urges its members, the wider public, local authorities and Government to make, support and promote applications for official designated bathing sites on appropriate stretches of rivers in their area. This will be as instrumental to the clean up of rivers as it has been for water quality improvement at coastal beaches.
What happens next?
Members now have the opportunity to learn more about the issue, and to discuss the resolution in their WIs before deciding how their delegate should vote at the Annual Meeting, which is to be held on 25th May at St David's Hall Cardiff.
March
A wonderful Spring topper is gracing the village shop post box. It's a real talking point and asset to us all. Thanks so much to Gay and Gill.
This month we celebrated our 49th birthday with delicious tray bakes and glasses of bubbly. Erica Brichta, Chair of West Sussex Federation, introduced herself and appraised us of various initiatives, and the upcoming move of head office venue from Chichester to Horsham. She also introduced Chris Hodges, a trainee advisor, who gave an illustrated talk on Charles Darwin and the Galapagos Islands, which was greatly enjoyed.
At our AGM Paddy stood down as President, and was thanked for her five years of very thoughtful and capable service. Paddy is not leaving the committee however, and will now take over from Sue as Treasurer. Sue is remaining on the committee, but Peta is moving from the village and will be greatly missed. We wish her every happiness, and hope she will come to visit us. Our new President, Sara, has been Vice-President for a year, and all the committee members are looking forward to helping her build on the firm foundations laid by Paddy.
February
Thursday was a fun-filled evening!
The Sundown Ukulele Band had us clapping, swaying and hand jiving to a joyful selection of songs at our February meeting. We enjoyed their performance so much we are going to book them for our 50th birthday party next year.
The competition 'Something Musical' was won by Liz's Pan Pipes. We also presented Sara with a prize as the overall winner of the competition table in 2022. Congratulations to them both.
January
January's fun auction saw a grand total of £262.05 raised for the Trussell Trust food bank. Many thanks to Sassy for her auctioneering skills, and to all who 'brung and bought'.
Wishing all our members, their families and friends the very best in the coming year. Our first meeting is on Thursday, 12th January when we will have our much-loved auction evening, headed up by Sassy.
2022
December
The hall was bedecked and the prosecco flowed. Many thanks to all who worked so hard to make our Christmas party such a success.
The beautiful decorations made by the 'crafty ladies' of the WI were appreciated by all hall users:
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The Planning Committee and full Council meetings this month were entranced by the lovely decorations in the Hall (as reported by Paddy).
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Hi Paddy, on behalf of Roger and the rest of the village hall trustees I would like to thank you for the splendid Christmas decorations you and your team put up in the hall the other day.
Feedback from the hall users is very positive as they all reckon the decorations are wonderful
Thanks again
Regards
Graham Gostick
November
The poppies made a welcome return to Pond Green. I am sure we all appreciate this wonderful tribute to the service and sacrifice of so many in two world wars.
October
We were delighted to hear the fantastic news from the Gun Inn that Sally and her staff have been announced as overall winners of the Great British Pub of the Year. Brilliant Sally! And very well deserved. Sally hosts our WI book club and Inn Crowd meetings and she and her staff are so very pleasant and helpful. Heartiest congratulations to all!
If you haven't already done so, have a look at the latest wonderful topper on the post box outside the shop celebrating The Queen's Award for Volunteering awarded to the village shop and all who provide its excellent service. We are so lucky to have such a marvellous benefit to our community in the village and it is appreciated by all. Well done and thanks to Gill and Gay.
September
From the National Federation:
We are truly saddened by the news of the passing of Her Majesty the Queen and offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family. She was a loyal and dedicated member of the WI for 80 years, and never failed to show her support for us throughout her time as Queen. We thank her for her dedication, service and fellowship. Many of our members have fond memories of her and will treasure these for years to come.
Thanks to Kathy and Sue who have organised the next Meet to Eat at Findon Manor. Now under new ownership it is a great opportunity to show our support for our local hotel. To see details, the menu and prices Click Here
Grateful thanks to all who contributed to making our stall at the Sheep Fair such a resounding success. We were busy all day and took the terrific sum of £660.45. Congratulations also go to WI member Hilary Langford and her husband Graham for showing three beautiful representatives of the Nepcote Flock, and taking 1st prize for best fleece. It is a real pleasure to have the fair back again, and despite a few queuing inconveniences, a great day was had by all.
August
At our monthly meeting our speaker, Katherine Collette, brought the jazz age of 1920s Chicago to life with a perfect mix of the history and music of the times.
It was lovely to see so many members at the Gardening Club Summer Show. We took £61 from selling jigsaws and guessing the weight of Sharon's lovely cake. It tipped the scales at 5lb 11.5oz and was won by Sue Warrick.
July
Following our plant stall fundraising efforts Paddy received this lovely message from Mary Bye of St Barnabas House.
An inspirational talk from Sarah Oldridge on the subject of 'Kew Gardens through the Seasons' reinvigorated our own efforts with our little plots of paradise, and judging by the lovely flowers from members' gardens on the competition table many of us are doing very well with our gardens.
At this point a special vote of thanks must go to Hilary who hosted this month's book club in her beautiful garden. Given that Hilary and Matthew only moved in to their property five years ago it is amazing how established and productive everything looks. And thanks too for the delicious drinks and nibbles Hilary.
Crafty ladies are now gainfully employed on making all things sheep related ready for the Sheep Fair on 10th September.
June
Following the celebrations of Her Majesty's 70th Jubilee celebrations, and the revealing to the general public of our magnificent toppers and bunting, queens of quite a different order were under the microscope as we learned about beekeeping from Debra Edwards of Worthing Beekeepers Association. There is a great deal of skill in maintaining healthy hives, and nature can be fickle, but for those of us who aren't on the stinging end of production Debra advised eating locally produced honey, and keeping an eye out for nasty Asian hornets which prey upon our bees.
May
We started early with our Jubilee celebrations, welcoming a surprisingly mobile Queen Elizabeth to our beautifully decorated village hall. We had a preview of the magnificent crown made by Gill Gostick and Gay Hibbs, which is destined for the village shop post box. The evening was completed with a glass of fizz and a slice of splendid crown cake, again made by Gay. Thanks to all who made this such a successful evening.
Our plant stall gets under way on 8th May at Monica's in Cross Lane. This was very successful at raising money for St Barnabus last year, so we are looking for labelled donations of fruit, veg or flower potted plants. Thanks.
April
Our speaker Mimi Bogelund was inspirational in her talk on the life changing power of organising and decluttering our homes and work spaces. From clothes to items of sentimental value Mimi gave us cause to think about what is really adding value to our lives.
The competition this month was 'A Decorated Egg' and congratulations to Sara Clarke for her splendid decoupaged entry. To see the eggs click here
March
Our 48th birthday party and quiz went down very well, as did the delicious cake (thanks Gay) and prosecco.
We bade farewell to long-term member Jean Lloyd who is leaving the village in the near future to live closer to her family in East Sussex. Jean has had a number of roles in the organisation, including President. She will be greatly missed.
Congratulations to our quiz winners. Enjoy the chocs.
February
We are delighted to have two new committee members this year. If you haven't already met them I am sure Jan Fabian and Sara Clarke will become very familiar to you, and will be great assets to our team. Sara has kindly filled the new position of Vice President.
January
The resolution we are putting forward for further consideration by the main body of the WI is 'Tackling Digital Exclusion' which received 7 of the 18 votes.
It was so lovely to see so many ladies at the Fun Auction. A big thank you to Sassy whose auctioneering skills helped us raise £278 for ACWW (The Associated Country Women of the World, a charity which exists to amplify the voices of rural women).
Happy New Year to you all!
Remember to put aside any Christmas gifts which slightly 'missed the mark' ready for Sassy to auction at our next meeting: and don't forget your purse as one lady's trash is another one's treasure!
2021
December
We sparkled to perfection at our last meeting of the year. Our singing was aided no end by David who played the piano so brilliantly, and great fun was had all round. Delicious Christmas goodies and mulled wine were all greatly enjoyed, and the festive season definitely feels well under way. Merry Christmas everybody. See you next year.
Members of sub groups rallied to the call to make items reflecting our varied interests for our tree at the Christmas Tree Festival at St John the Baptist Church. The tree looked stunning. Well done to Monica and all those who worked so hard to make it such a success.
November
A small team made a big difference to Pond Green as the Findon sign and its attendant soldier were bedecked with poppies knitted and crocheted by Knit and Natter members, headed up by Monica. Grateful thanks to Chris and his trusty ladder for sorting out the high bits. Much appreciated.
Our AGM saw the splendid news that Paddy has been voted in for her 5th year as President. However, after 10 years of wonderful service to our group Tricia stood down as Treasurer, and, after seven years of doing a great job of booking speakers and keeping the register, Hazel also stepped down from the committee. Both are staying on as members, so we will still see them at meetings and events. Sue Stone has volunteered to take over as our Treasurer, and will be voted onto the committee at our next meeting. We hope to co-opt at least two fresh faces into new positions by the New Year.
The AGM was an opportunity to reflect on the past year, and to look forward to next year's events. Membership numbers are increasing, and the sub-groups are going very well. Thanks were extended to all those who give their time and energy to making them such a success.
October
'A Stroll Around Arundel Castle' entertained us all greatly, despite our speaker Carol Ball coping with the mechanical failure of her projector. Carol brought events above and below stairs at the castle to life with a most enjoyable and informative talk.
14 ladies enjoyed a delicious Thai meal at the Village House (despite the VH bar being closed as the ceiling had been removed during decoration that afternoon). Grateful thanks to the staff who accommodated us so well).
September
We are delighted to have resumed our evening meetings, and it was wonderful to share our Prom Night with so many lovely ladies, albeit without the benefit of our speaker for the evening.
August
Our first face to face meeting was an audience with Lady Constance Crabtree, followed by a delicious cream tea with scones beautifully baked by Gay Hibbs. Delicious.
July
Our Cross Lane plant sale has made over £460, beating our £100 target, and, with money taken for the masks which our industrious sewers have made, we have now exceeded £1000 donated to St. Barnabas. Well done and thanks to all concerned.
February
We are putting a series of Zoom meetings and coffee mornings together, and Paddy is happy to run through how to access these for those of you who haven't used this tool before. Details are on the Programme and sub-group pages.
2020
The speaker for our February meeting was Martin Frost. Martin brought along some amazing books to
illustrate the art of Fore-Edge painting. This is one of the best kept secrets amongst serious antique book collectors.
Thank you Martin for a fascinating talk.
At our January auction we raised over £200 for ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World)
by bidding for unwanted Christmas presents that had been donated by members.
ACWW is the Women’s Institute chosen charity that funds small-scale, women-led development projects in communities around the world.
We also voted for the resolution we wish to be adopted by the National Federation WI; ‘A call to increase potential stem cell donor registration’ was the clear favourite.
AT 6.30 on 25th January 'Findon's Got Talent' in aid of the Village Hall fund and Friends of Findon Church. Tickets are £10 and available from the Peckhams the Butcher's.
Our January meeting is our very popular fun auction, ably overseen by our excellent auctioneer, Sassy. All unwanted Christmas presents gratefully received. Please take in advance to a committee member, or bring on the night. Remember your purses!
We will also be discussing this year's choices of resolutions:
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A call to increase potential stem donor registration
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Female crash test dummies
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End modern slavery
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Time to talk about death and dying
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Protect our precious helium
2019
Our next meeting is our annual AGM (14th November). After a review of the year's events and the voting in of committee members there will be a quiz and cake-tasting.
On 26th September we hosted the Cissbury meeting. Members from the five affiliated WIs (Clapham and Patching, Findon Downs, Findon Valley, Findon Village and Washington) enjoyed a very entertaining talk by Mel Rees followed by a buffet supper.
Thank you to all those who helped, in particular Rita for organising this event.
The committee are planning a trip to The Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton for their Christmas Market on Friday 22nd November. Details of car sharing and cost of entry to follow. Click here to find out more.
Looking forward to seeing you all at Findon Sheep Fair on 14th September. In addition to our usual fantastic array of biscuits and cakes, we will also be selling Crafty Ladies' sheep bags and children's school bags.
Congratulations to all those talented ladies who exhibited their skills at the South of England Show this year. The standard was absolutely wonderful, and it was a real pleasure to see them all on display at this month's (June) meeting.
Following our talk from Jean East on 'Parham House and Gardens' at our 13th June meeting, there will be a visit to Parham on Friday 28th June 2 - 5pm.
The West Sussex WI members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of halting the decline in local bus services. Our next meeting will be to discuss whether we want this resolution, together with a second resolution 'Don't Fear the Smear', to be adopted by the national WI.
Results of the resolutions vote at January's meeting were as follows:
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Improving Plant Biosecurity in the UK – 4 votes
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Trees – Improving the Natural Landscape – 5 votes
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Pelvic Floor Education – 1 vote
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Suffering in Silence – why we need to end the taboo around menstrual health – 1 vote
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A Call against the Decline in Local Bus Services – 14 votes
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Don’t Fear the Smear – 2 votes
As a campaigning organisation the WI is putting forward the following resolutions for the consideration of its membership:
2018-19 Resolution Shortlist
Improving Plant Biosecurity in the UK
In recent years, trees and plants in the United Kingdom have come under threat from diseases introduced from imported and infected plants. The NFWI calls on the Government to implement a mandatory plant certification scheme to assure the public that the plants they buy and the soil and containers in which they are sold have been screened and are infection free.
Trees – Improving the Natural Landscape
To improve air quality, mitigate climate change, reduce flooding and erosion, and visually enhance the environments where we live, work and visit, the NFWI calls on WI members to take action and plant trees, protect trees and woodland, enjoy the opportunities for nature in their local environment – and inspire others to do the same. The NFWI also calls on the Government at both national and local levels to make a strenuous effort (and legislate where necessary) to increase the number of trees planted.
2018
From Paddy: I have the sad news to share that Molly Fishwick has died. Molly had been a member of our WI for almost 30 years, was a regular member of the Monday darts group and led our singing of Jerusalem for many a year. Molly celebrated her 90th birthday in August and three of our members were guests at her birthday party. At our August afternoon tea we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Molly and gave her flowers which she really appreciated.. Her funeral is on 7th January at the crematorium.
Thursday's skittles event promises to be a fun event, and I don't think anyone is taking the scores very seriously! If you would like to leave a gift for the homeless on that evening details are available in Paddy's latest email. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Do you fancy 'Another Chance to Natter'? If so, join Sharon at Julia's Kitchen on Tuesday 4th December at 10.30am. There's no agenda - just the opportunity to have a coffee or cuppa amongst friendly faces. All welcome.
October's meeting 'Take Six Cooks' has been cancelled and has been replaced with a talk on 'The Secret Life of Hedgehogs'. Graham Bowring of St Francis Animal Care gave us a tremendously entertaining talk, ably assisted by the lovely Harvey, and his daughter Holly, a newcomer to the art of public speaking, but who stole all our hearts. Thanks to Graham for a wonderful talk at short notice.
It was fantastic to see so many WI members at the sheep fair this year, as
buyers, sellers and announcers! This is a great tradition for the village and it
is wonderful to see the day go from strength to strength, with 40 farms
bringing 250 very well turned out sheep. Congratulations to all concerned.
Having been displayed in the antiques shop window, a buyer has purchased
the wonderful knitted shop produced by Knit and Natter for the South of
England show. £50 into the coffers!
Lady Crabtree will be advising us on 'How to Grow Old
Disgracefully' at our next meeting on 12th July. Personally I
can't wait to pick up some tips!
Following our very successful walk to Bramber Beeches you may like to know more:
Bramber Beeches is our Federation tree plantation situated on the South Downs north of Lancing. 600 sapling trees were planted in 1980 following a time when the county had lost so many trees to Elm disease.
Our Federation, in conjunction with West Sussex County Council and the Passmore family, the landowners, contributed to the environment, and our WI wood was established. Thanks go to WI members in 1980 for their vision of ensuring West Sussex WI has a permanent place in our West Sussex landscape.
Our Craft Day was greatly enjoyed by all concerned, and we are very grateful to all those who worked so hard to make it such a success. We hope to offer a visit to Mark Sheath from Jengers Craft Bakery, Billingshurst (who made the lovely hot cross buns) in the not too distant future.
The votes on our resolutions have been counted and forwarded to the next decision-making stage. The results were as follows:
Positive body image in a digital age – 2 votes
Stop female genital mutilation – 7 votes
Raising awareness of modern slavery in the UK – 12 votes
Mental health matters – 15 votes
Healthier mouth, healthier body – 2 votes
For further information on what happens to our votes, and the timetable for decision-making about 2018s resolution/s click here.
£1800 was raised for Children in Need at St Paul's, Worthing at the event below. Mark from BBC Radio Sussex sent this message:
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you and all of the lovely ladies who gave up their morning on Saturday for our annual Give A Gift event.
I’m delighted to announce that we raised £1,800 for BBC Children In Need, making it our biggest and best yet!
Quite simply, we couldn’t have done it without you.
Best wishes
Mark.
On Saturday 13th Jan members from nine WIs sorted and displayed items donated to BBC Radios Surrey and Sussex for sale in aid of Children in Need. Findon Village was very pleased to be able to help this great cause, and had a really enjoyable morning. Well done to Renaissance WI in Worthing for organising it.
