December 2011 Check the website: wansteadwi.weebly.com E-mail us at: Wanstead-WI@hotmail.co.uk

Hard copies will be available at Members’ meetings and will be sent to members without email access.

Page 1

Wanstead WI : news and events

Coming up Xmas party! 15 December Mooching? Munching? Making? whatever your preference, there’ll be something for you at our final get-together of the year. We’re going to get crafty, making our name badges for future use at meetings and some Christmassy bits and bobs: please bring your own scissors plus any colourful cloth and trimmings you have handy, and a ‘Secret Santa’ cracker gift. Food is being coordinated by Alison Russell - if you haven't yet told Alison what food you will be bringing, please email her at alison.russell.42@btinternet.com. And as for the rest – just bring yourself!

Competition: Bling!

December’s tea/coffee makers are Shirley Turrell, Linda Andrews, Annie Salmon and Sandra Webb. If you can’t come please let us know or better still find a friend to take your place.

Bottle tops A big thank you to everyone who collected bottle tops for Age UK, who receive a donation for each one collected, as it avoids landfill. The Xmas party is your last chance to hand in any tops to Christine Toogood.

Last month’s news Congratulations!!!!!!! Wonderful news from Frances Cowper Holzhausen. When many of you donated your old black tights to Frances, little did you realise the amazing use she would make of them – so amazing that it won the National WI “Little Black Dress” re-made/up-cycled category, on 1 December. Frances cut up all those old black tights, made them into yarn, and then knitted into a versatile and gorgeous little black dress. And as the final accolade, her drawing was used for the front cover of the catalogue. Frances, Wanstead WI is proud of you!

Annual Meeting If you missed the AM, you missed another occasion to feel proud – this time of ourselves, as the outgoing committee took us through everything we’ve done over the year, and new committee members stepped up to replace outgoing members. AGMs can be dull affairs, but this one was a typical sociable and interesting meeting. The winner of the Quilt Raffle (which raised over £100 for Woman’s Trust) was Gillian Thackeray (on the right in the photo, receiving the quilt from president Christine Toogood).

New Committee is President: Christine Toogood, Secretary Pamela Morgan, Treasurer Maggie Widdecombe, Vice President Carol Massey, Programme Planner Gladys Shuckard-Rowe and Assistant Secretary Susanne Leaman. Susanne will continue to organise Theatre Trips, alongside Christine Knight. Many thanks to outgoing committee members Hazel Welch (who will be taking over from Linda Boot as Refreshment Coordinator), Joy Pite and Frances Simmons, for all your hard work and contributions to our vibrancy and success.

Line dance: pictures speak louder than words! What more is there to say than: a good time was had by the 70 or more who came along, £400 was raised for Woman’s Trust, and thanks to the organisers (top picture) for all their hard work

December 2011 Check the website: wansteadwi.weebly.com E-mail us at: Wanstead-WI@hotmail.co.uk

Hard copies will be available at Members’ meetings and will be sent to members without email access.

Page 2

Dates for diaries

Cuckfield Social Evening, 7 December from 7.30pm Meet up for a chat and a drink in convivial company at the Cuckfield in Wanstead High Street on Wednesday 7 December from 7.30 onwards. We usually book the large table to the right side of the door next to the bar

Coffee Social, Belgique, 22 Dec. Linda Andrews has started a new Coffee group at Belgique in Cambridge Park in Wanstead. Next session is on 22 December at 11.00am so come along if you are free and sample the cakes and conversation.

Theatre trips 29 March, Midnight Tango: Alison Russell has organised a trip to see Midnight Tango at the Aldwych Theatre on Thursday 29 March 2012 for those members who signed up. 28th April, Sat matinee: at the Young Vic: 'The Wild Swans', a new play written for the Young Vic. Susanne has booked 15 tickets and they will be £17.50 each.

2012 draft programme:

Jan 19 Egyptian dance - a taster session

Feb 16 Rebels Infidels and Troublemakers: Bishopsgate Library

Mar 15 The Natural History Museum at Tring

Apr 19 Spring social after an early Easter

May 17 AGM resolutions Jun 21 The Elephant in the Room - financial

planning for women

July 19 Workshop - making use of herbs in your garden

Aug 16 Summer Social Sep 20 To have and to hold - art medals

Oct 18 Second Skin - your clothing and creativity

Nov 15 Making Money at the Tower: Stories from the Royal Mint

Dec 20 Christmas Party

January 19th meeting

Belly-dancing! For our first meeting of the new year, Chloe Redmond will be providing an hour's workshop, teaching and instructing a variety of fun and fit Bellydance movements. The pace will vary to accommodate those who are up for a challenge or who want to take it easy. An ideal way of starting the New Year! We suggest you wear loose, comfortable clothing.

Essex/National LONDON OLYMPIC TOUR COACH OUTING, Wednesday 18th April 2012 £36.50

If you haven’t toured the Olympic site recently (or at all) why not join Essex Federation’s tour. It starts in Woolwich with lunch, then sets off for an eye-opening sightseeing tour including the Artillery Barracks the back drop for the Olympic Shooting events, Greenwich where the Equestrian events will be and the old Millennium Dome (rhythmic gymnastics and basketball). Then on to Stratford and the Olympic Park to get a good look at the tremendous scale of the developments; and then a chance to purchase afternoon tea before the start of the journey home from 4.45/5.00pm. Tickets via our new secretary Pamela Morgan.

Reminder: Essex Pamper Day – 14 September 2012, see last month’s newsletter Campaigns: Libraries, Legal Aid, Race On-Line see last month’s newsletter

Information on these and other events will be put on the notice board or contact Hazel Welch, or visit http://www.essexwi.org.uk/

December 2011 Check the website: wansteadwi.weebly.com E-mail us at: Wanstead-WI@hotmail.co.uk

Hard copies will be available at Members’ meetings and will be sent to members without email access.

Page 3

Refreshment Rota for 2012 Members’ meetings. Hazel Welch takes over as Refreshment Coordinator for the monthly members’ meetings from January 2012 giving Linda Boot a well-earned rest. We are disbanding the Trees and

drawing up a monthly rota and members will have the opportunity to say at the beginning if they are unavailable for any particular date. The basic tasks will be the same as before and reminder notices will be put in the Newsletter and also by phone or email. On the list for

January 2012 are Frances Simmons, Joy Pite and Hazel Welch plus Gill Barton and Gill Wensley. Don’t forget if you cannot make it on that day please let Hazel Welch know via

Wanstead WI email. Thanks .

Other events o f in terest

London Forest Choir Xmas Concert Tue 20 December, 7.30, at the beautiful and historic St Mary’s Church, Church End, Walthamstow, E17 9RJ Tickets £10, concessions £8, available from 020 8531 4837, online at www.londonforestchoir.org , or on the door (arrive early to avoid disappointment, this concert is always popular and packed)

Woman’s Trust Quiz, 27 January 2012 Our 2011 adopted charity, Woman’s Trust, is holding a Fundraising Quiz at The City Tavern near Bank Station: tickets £20 from Woman’s Trust at 020 7034 0303, or see Christine Toogood or Ruth Kaufman at the December or January meeting. More details from Woman’s Trust (www.womanstrust.org.uk). Last year’s quiz was won by a team including some of our members, so do have another go!

Merry

Christmas

one and all!