Our centenary banner is nearing completion: here’s a work in progress image from the MFWI office where the Craft team has been laying out the contributions from WIs.
And—shhhh—You’ve not sent yours in yet? We look forward to receiving it as every WI is an important part of Middlesex Federation!
From Emma Watson, Middlesex News editor
The March 2022 issue of Middlesex News marks the 33rd issue since I took over production of our monthly newsletter from Lorraine in May 2019. I couldn’t believe Lorraine would be editing the newsletter while carrying out the duties of Chair—so raised my hand to help out. It’s been a journey!
Whilst you see Lorraine’s Chair’s Chat each month, she is there behind each issue with ideas, checking and proofreading, and most of all providing much-appreciated moral support without fail, when we’ve both been busy with other commitments or occasional flagging energy at deadline time.
Thank you so much Lorraine for your support, friendship and (never-ending!) humour as we piece together this l’il archive of activities of our Federation. It’s been a joy to work with you on it and whilst I will miss our little team, I feel certain you will enjoy a break from this aspect of your MFWI role. Thank you, and best wishes Lorraine!
From Sarah Endersby, MFWI Treasurer
When the 2018 MFWI Annual Council meeting finished, and the Board of Trustees met to vote in a new chair, little did we know what a challenging role Lorraine would be taking on.
During her tenure as chair, a new technology, Microsoft 365, has been introduced, to make our roles more streamlined, new trustees encouraged to join our Board and we’ve had two years of uncertainty with enforced lockdowns with no Federation Secretary in place. Lorraine has continued without faltering to be responsive to all of our members, has promoted MFWI at every opportunity and most importantly has been incredibly supportive to her fellow Board members.
I know Lorraine will welcome the time to spend with her family, without having to deal with WI issues at short notice however, I am positive she will miss the network of colleagues and friends she has frequent contact with, but not as much as we will miss her.
On a personal note – thank you Lorraine for not only being our chair for an amazing four-year rollercoaster but for being a true friend.
Hello everyone and from me, a sad farewell. This is my last Chair’s Chat before I stand down at the March 2022 Annual Council Meeting following a four-year term of office.
The past year has been a disappointing time as we have not been able to take you through a planned celebratory milestone of our centenary year due to one restriction or another.
I wish all the very best to whoever is appointed your new Chair. The decision will be made after the ACM on the 9th of March, by the Board of Trustees (without me present) as per the constitution, so I cannot let you know who that will be.
I had no intention or aspiration for the role of Chair and my first year was a very steep learning curve as can happen when starting a new job, and there was a lot on the ‘to do’ list, so I hit the road running. To be honest, I had no idea how I was going to fit everything in, given my existing commitments, and was surprised at my nomination. I need not have worried as I had a very supportive team in both Sarah Endersby as Treasurer and Jules Hall as Vice-Chair.
I cannot thank them enough for helping us to move MFWI into the 21st century, making us more eco along the way, and a lot more efficient across the Federation and within WIs. Digitally, there are very few WIs which do not use their officer emails and SharePoint now. For those still floundering, it is beneficial and is a great help, especially as new officers are voted in.
I have not been flavour of the month at times and I have had to wear many hats along the way as covid and other circumstances within MFWI dictated, Federation Secretary being one of them. This made for some very long hours, but if you care about what you do, none of that matters. It is also about doing what is best overall.
I am looking forward to getting back to a lifestyle which is my ‘normal’ and to get back to more crafting. Thank you to all for making the past four years memorable in more ways than one.
Take care, keep well and see you at some point in the future.
Lorraine x
Here’s our newsletter for March 2022, and its a special one. It’s Lorraine’s final newsletter as Chair, just ahead of our 2022 ACM. Lorraine and I (Emma) have worked on 33 newsletters together, and I’ll miss our monthly messages as the MXN is compiled, as well as Lorraine’s eagle eye—she’s a great Chair but also a very good proofreader!
Thank you for all your support with the newsletter, and best wishes Lorraine as you enjoy a bit more free time… or will that be crafting time, maybe…?
Congratulations to the winners of our December 200+ Club draw!
Southbourne WI
2nd prize – £20
Penny Shervill, Hayes Town
3rd prize – £15
Mary Fraser, Halliford
Well, here we are fast-tracking through 2022 already. It’s February and the daffodils are out; my snowdrops have been out since December, and I am struggling to keep up with climate change bringing the shift in seasons, not knowing when to sow seeds or prune various bushes in the garden. It is that time of year where the sun is playing havoc showing up the state of my windows and reminds me that a full spring clean is imminent if I get the time between WI activities. Hmm, it’ll be a choice between crafting or housework—I think I know which will get the most of my attention!
It is resolution voting time, and I don’t know about others, but I did my share of demonstrating and banner waving before I got to the stage where I cannot walk the distances, can’t hold a banner for long etc, as the body tells me not to (and yes I did burn my bra too—saved lots of money over the years!).
There are some who believe campaigning on resolutions is just linked to those activities: it is not; that is just a small part of it. As we know there are many members who do not wish to (or can’t) show their support in that way. It does not mean you can’t do anything—you can raise awareness at a local level with smaller, less physical actions.
What are you all doing for the Show The Love campaign? We would love to see all your green hearts: it is a great way of bringing awareness to people, especially in February. Many are used to seeing red hearts, but green hearts create a good conversation starter. The same goes for the Canary Activism (you will have seen the links to this in my monthly mailing) of simple yellow canaries—all create awareness of climate change.
Keeping on the thread of campaigns (resolutions), why not look at Nikky Cussen’s knickers on page 8. It is another action relating to a campaign that is very easy to use to raise awareness with locally. All of these things just take a little time at very little cost, and certainly easy to do as a fun group activity at your meetings and in the wider community.
Of course, everything I write is irrelevant if members do not read, it so if you got as far as this, thank you! It would be appreciated if you could encourage your fellow members to not just read this newsletter but also to submit articles on behalf of your WI. The newsletter is spread far and wide and is another way of advertising yourselves, so why not use it?
Lorraine x
We had originally booked tea and a tour of The Beck Theatre in Hayes for April 2020 then along came the covid lockdown… all change to 2021, and we booked Jack & the Beanstalk with Anne Hegarty of The Chase.
30 members immersed ourselves in Pantoland, we hissed, booed, clapped and sang. The cast was brilliant ad-libbing; there was so much laughter!
HTWI was given a ‘shout out’ as being on ‘the king’s wedding guest list’ prompting a big cheer and waving from us all. Everyone said it was the best panto they’d seen. It certainly lifted their spirits, and we definitely need that!
After my posting about the panto on my Facebook I got a ‘like’ from Anne Hegarty herself. Oh yes I did!
I also received a message from Beck Theatre to say how lovely it was see smiling, happy faces in their theatre again; and it made them smile wishing us all Happy Christmas.
Please support your local theatre in these difficult times.
December 16th was party time at HTWI, with plenty of dancing, lots of Christmas cheer and sparkle, with entertainment by Anne Nightingale, looking very festive in her red cloak.
We invited Alan and Bill, partners of the late long-serving members Viv Beckett and Joan Kimber, as the WI had been a big part of their lives too, and they duly did the honours and cut the Christmas cake.
It certainly means a lot to our committee to later receive an email from a new member thanking us and letting us know we know how to put on a party!
For everyone’s effort this year and to all our WI’s hard-working committee members, it is so good to get lovely positive feedback!
Wishing all MFWI members a happy, healthy 2022.
Happy Birthday to our WIs celebrating in February
Iver Evening 8 February 1962
Hillingdon 19 February 1919
London West End 21 February 2006
The Alexandra WI had a stall at the Hornsey Vale Community Centre Green Christmas Fair in November. The stall sold numerous items – cakes, hand knitted items etc and raffle tickets for a gigantic bear. Some of the takings from the raffle will be donated to the local Food Bank.
The Hornsey Library Charity Knitting Group, a charitable sub-group of our WI, was set up by me on 13 June 2017. We make items such as twiddlemuffs, shawls, lap blankets and cannula sleeves for dementia patients.
This is the second year we will be donating hats to the homeless. One of our members, a prolific knitter who lives in West Sussex, made 98 hats this year with thick or odd yarns which the members find hard to knit with. Lynne Storrar blends these yarn and made these lovely hats. We selected 25 of her hats and sewed on ‘The Alexandra WI’ labels, and I am pleased to say 20 unique hats were sold at our stall.
My new neighbour, Kim Wolf bought two; she loved it so much that decided to get another two for her friends; so warm and cosy. Tilly Williams, Trustee of Hornsey Vale Community Association bought three, two of them very quirky, to match the recipients. Don’t you agree that the hats are gorgeous and well made?
Four hours on the feet was not easy but it was fulfilling making so many sales!
