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Stone Rangers WI (Leytonstone) marked The Big Green Week in various ways throughout September.

Climate ambassadors Jill Hasler and Jane Ramsell worked together to produce a special edition Green Newsletter – providing simple ideas which members could action locally on an individual basis to reduce, reuse and recycle.

We asked members to consider the MFWI survey points – electric car charging points and tree planting – which led to a lively discussion in our September meeting which we will follow up on with our local councillor.

The month’s efforts culminated in a ‘Pick up Plastic’ walk on the last Saturday of The Big Green Week. 12 members and friends collected 4 huge bags of rubbish and recycling in an hour of pleasant camaraderie on Wanstead Flats. One passer-by commented, “how very community spirited of you, thank you very much.” We considered this a job well done and a month well spent!

 

Happy Birthday to WIs celebrating in November

 

North West London

13 November 2007

Stroud Green

15 November 2011

Congratulations to the winners of our enhanced July 200+ Club draw!

1st prize – £70

Helen Eales, Greenford

2nd prize – £40

Jean Bicknell, Manor Farm

3rd prize – £30

Gwen Hayward, West Drayton

Interested in joining?
Keep your eye out in your email for the application form for the next 200+ Club year. Applications close 30 September!

 

Amongst many things which had to be cancelled last year was a clay modelling course which Laleham president Helen Hurst had planned.

She sent off for the kit anyway and followed a YouTube video instead. As a result she managed to produce these lovely figures at her first attempt .
Really clever and she’s now planning a bigger hare for her garden. Watch this space… (and no pressure Helen!)

Well, who would have thought, we are a year on from the first 2020 lockdown with many still shielding, isolated, working from home and trying to follow those ever changing restrictions.

I have never had an issue about working from home or being alone, so that has come easy to me. However, given my commitments I rely heavily on being able to re-charge my batteries every year with a trip to Cornwall in the spring and a Greek Island at the end of the summer. As with many of you, I have not been able to do that and am sure you, as I do, feel the effects. Memories are good but nothing beats that ‘chill factor’ that you get when away from home. I am hoping that the vaccination programme and the containment of the spread of the virus will lead us to at least be able to see some family and friends again soon.

For me, balancing life with the ‘job’ (which is not a Mon-Fri 9-5 one) has not been easy and I can appreciate and take my virtual hat off to all committees and their members who are keeping things going, at times going the extra mile to keep their members engaged and in contact whilst they maybe working. We cannot replace family, but the friendship that we can share goes a long way to helping those who are not so lucky, to have someone to talk to. Thankfully Spring is on the doorstep so we can appreciate our outside spaces a little more and be able to at least see more people even if through a mask and at a distance.

As there is a chink of light for us all, let’s see if we can’t hang on in there for a bit longer and start to plan getting back with our face to face meetings in the summer, if not before.

It will be a mixed journey for us all and things may not be quite the same as before Covid struck, but the WI itself has not changed its principles or objectives.

Please do keep supporting your WI where possible, especially as it is coming up to subscription renewal. Your WI will need your support to be able to continue. Everyone can have a part to play in that.

Let’s lift the spirits and have a bit of fun, it is our Centenary Year after all! For those who are able to, how about joining us for an Afternoon Tea on Zoom on Sunday 11th April – see our Events page for details.

A reminder that we do need to have your completed banner panels as soon as you have finished them, please. We look forward to displaying them all with pride.

Lorraine x

The NFWI’s annual horticultural competition is back with a twist in 2021. WIs are invited to design a planting plan for a raised 3m x 3m bed that will be displayed within the Community Allotment area at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, 5–11 July 2021.

Entries must reflect both the Festival themes and the vision statements of the WI: Bold and Inspiring, Growing and Relevant Inclusive, Flexible.

The deadline for entries is 30 April 2021. For more information, contact your Secretary.

Congratulations to the winners of our January 2021 200+ Club draw!

1st prize – £35

I Singh, Stanwell WI

2nd prize – £20

Sue Thomas, Hayes Town WI

3rd prize – £15

Jackie Head, Southbourne WI