Whey Aye Women’s Institute

Formed 2006

Our formation Once upon a time……..two Geordie thirty something best

friends decided that they fancied something for themselves outside of family life and work.

Knowing a family member who was involved in the WI, they realised that the organisation was becoming increasingly attractive to younger women, and provided the perfect opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills.

They found a venue, made a poster which read “If Bridget Jones had been in the WI would the soup have turned blue?”, and walked the streets of Wideopen delivering leaflets!

An exploratory meeting was well attended on 31st January 2006, and at our first meeting on 21st February 2006 Whey Aye WI was formed. Ours become a new WI within Tyneside Federation of WIs (which in October 2009 merged with Northumberland Federation of WIs).

Our meeting places The Bradbury Centre 2006 to

2008 Daverson Hall 2009 to

2013 St Columba’s Church Hall 2014 to

date

Our committee membersEmma Barry (nee Robson)Abby Bick Joint SecretaryKaren Christer (nee Wilson) President, Vice, SecretarySarah Fitton (nee Renton)Denise HairDeborah MacLeod (nee McLean) President, Vice PresidentJoanne Patrick SecretaryJanet RobsonKaren Samples (nee Dixon) SecretaryKirsty Spreadbury TreasurerRoz Turnbull TreasurerAllison Underwood PresidentClaire Wallace-WatsonSheila Weddell SecretaryAnne Witton Joint Secretary

Our new skills Learning to play the drums (July 2008) Cookery: summer desserts (July 2006) & BBQ food (June

2010) Debates at our book nights (October 2011 and October

2013) and film night (August 2012)

Our new knowledge Deaf awareness (September 2006) Wine tasting with Oddbins (November 2006) Diet and nutrition (March 2008) Scenes of Crime Officer (February 2009) Bees and bee keeping (April 2011) Indian evening (March 2012)

Our active meetings Bollywood (March 2006) Line dancing (October 2006) Yoga (February 2007) Tango dancing (July 2007) Latin dancing (October 2008) Keep fit (February 2011) Street dancing (Sept 2011) Tap dancing (July 2013)

Our new craft skills Flower arranging (August 2006 & June 2013) Willow weaving (October 2007) Christmas wreaths (November 2009) Painting water colour cards (April 2010) Crochet (April 2013 & November 2013)

Our new craft skills on display

Co-operative entries at Tyneside Federation Craft days inspired by art in 2006, music in 2007, and Shakespeare in 2008

Our numerous other meetings

Poetry Community singing Hedgehog rescue Self defence Physiotherapy Crime Prevention Reiki healing Herbal medicine St Johns Ambulance Garden Design Ten pin bowling

Traidcraft Fair trade Sadie the Bra Lady Sniffer dogs Jewellery making Sea Glass Jewellery Image consultant Christmas wrapping Tyneside Cinema Talk Halloween Party Feminine hygiene products

Our trips around our region

‘High Ropes’ at Kirkley Hall College (July 2007) Tyne River Cruise (July 2008) Newcastle Civic Centre to Quayside quiz & lunch (June 2009)

Our trips around our region

Newcastle City bus tour (June 2010) Tynemouth Lifeboat station visit (June 2011) Fish filleting at Loch Fyne (Sept 2011) Tanfield Railway Cream Tea (September 2013)

Our fund raising Dementia Care Partnership Summer Fair (September 2006) Christmas Bazaar at the Cass Centre (November 2006) Car boot sale (August 2007) Cream teas for Denman College (August 2011)

Our administration Annual Meeting and Resolutions (May each year) Whey Aye’s website with flickr gallery launched in 2011

www.wheyaye.org.uk created and maintained by Anne Witton (Teach Me Tech)

Our links with others Tyneside Federation’s Spring Council Meeting (March 2007) Tyneside Federation’s 30th Anniversary Celebration (October 2008) Visit to North Gosforth WI ‘Land Army Wedding’ (October 2011) DeWindt Grainger’s Pie n’ Peas social with Beetle Drive (November

2011)

Our future Continue to grow our membership (46 members in 2013) Support Northumberland Federation in their activities at

Cresswell House Increase our links with other WIs (‘twin’ with Alnmouth WI) Embrace change whilst being sensitive to the origins of the

organisation and those who devote their time to it - Officer positions at National, Federation and WI level, those at Denman College, WI advisers, our speakers, and most importantly our members!

Celebrate our 10th birthday in February 2016 – looking for ideas!

Our inspiration The WI is women sharing their skills, knowledge and friendship

Wonderful photograph shows Woodlands Park WI taking part in sausage making at a venue in Brunswick Village in 1964. Mrs White, giving the demonstration, was a Voluntary County Organiser (VCO) – later renamed WI Adviser