News

What no snow! Yippee and the first meeting of 2009 when several of our members who had been unable to get to the hall because of the previous bouts of snow and ice were able to join us in a very fun meeting.

Every effort was made to keep business to a minimum; however it was felt very important to remind the ladies of two forthcoming events the “Resolution Lunch” set to take place prior to the May meeting and a trip to Hampton Court Palace on Tuesday 23 June. The trip to HCP is open to non WI members and so if you are interested in finding out more about it please contact Linda on 01303 891734.

Carole, our president, welcomed Andy who was going to explain and demonstrate exercises to keep us supple as we get older. What happens – an earthquake - and the hall shook!

Carole was of the opinion that Andy had made the ground move for us all – and he blushed! It set a really light hearted tone to the rest of the afternoon and once we had stood up and sat down a few times and rotated this joint and that joint we were all nicely warmed up and ready for the next phase – charades.

These proved really popular with much laughter and banter echoing round the hall – a very enjoyable meeting.

Birthday greetings had been extended to just three members this month; Audrey Godden, Pat Blanks and Pat Lamb and the monthly competition for “An Unusual Purse” was won by Christine Allard.

Next month, on Tuesday 7th April, we are going to hear about “Saving Canterbury Cathedral”. The meeting starts at 2pm (finishing by 4.15pm) in Hawkinge Village Hall and newcomers are made very welcome, so please if you are free come along and see what we have to offer.

For more information please contact either Carole Seabrook on 01303 891420 or Margaret Charlton on 01303 892721.


Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

Lots more snow fell just before the February meeting and again the pessimists amongst us wondered if any of our dear ladies would risk an outing – and again were dumfounded by the excellent turn out.

Hettie Quinn, vice president, took the meeting as Carole was spending some time with her grandchildren in America and obviously avoiding this further cold snap! Sadly she had to start the meeting with a minutes silence for Pat Marshall. We will all miss Pat’s friendship, warmth and loyalty.

The birthday girls were Phyllis Leonard, Ros Allen and Christine Allard – however only Christine had managed to get to the meeting so she was joined on the Birthday Table by our speaker and some of the members who had missed out on their “turn” to be special for a day! The cake, baked by Hettie, looked delicious and I really envied them.

Although we had hoped to finish the meeting sooner rather than later due to the weather situation there appeared to be masses of business, the main topics were the Council Meeting in Margate and the trip to Hampton Court Palace on 23rd June. The cost for this will be; WI member £25.35, Non member £32.35, based on forty sharing the cost of the coach (a 49 seater – so plenty of room) and should you be interested in going please contact me on 01303 891734 for more details. (Perhaps we can fill the coach or is that wishful thinking?).

Oh and of course THE JUMBLE SALE, taking place on Saturday 14th March from 10am to 11am in Hawkinge Village Hall. Please don’t forget to bring Tombola prizes to the March meeting ladies.

We then settled down to listen to a wonderfully informative talk on the Bayeaux Tapestry given by Imogen Corrigan. Not only the history of that time but who had actually commissioned the tapestry, who had designed it, who had sewn it and some lovely irreverent pieces of info on the characters depicted therein. The slides were exceptionally clear and the unshaven bishop and the soldier having rocks dropped on his head were highly amusing. Can we please go to Bayeaux with Imogen and see the whole thing?

The monthly competition for “Any Piece of Hand Made Needle Craft” was won by Christine Allard – a nice birthday present for her!

So, just to remind you of the JUMBLE SALE on 14th March – come early for the bargains!

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 3rd March at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall when, contrary to the printed programme there will not be a play, we will instead be learning a few stretching exercises, but will be playing charades.

Please come along and join us, we have had several new ladies join us recently, or for further information contact Carole Seabrook on 01303 891420 or Margaret Charlton on 01303 892721.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

Snow lay everywhere, cold and crisp and even – would any of our members brave these dreadful weather conditions to help make the January New Year’s party go with a swing?

Well, of course they did and thirty seven intrepid ladies arrived to greet each other and join in the afternoon’s fun.

Although Carole promised us not too much business there was a fair amount to be brought to everyone’s attention and at last it was time to start the “Beetle Drive”.

Initially there were the usual moans and groans and quite a few “how do we play this?” to be heard but it didn’t last and soon everyone was shouting for a six or a five or a four or a three or a two or a one to be thrown to get their beetle drawn. How can so few people make so much noise? It was wonderful to hear and certainly chased those January blues away.

After ten games had been played – yes ten – it was time to declare the winners and losers; who were – winners (highest scores); Christine Allard and Diane Lowe and the losers (lowest scores) well it has been decided politically correct not to name them! However all four players received a prize!

Then time for tea and to partake of a shared buffet and more importantly time to catch up on all the Christmas and New Year gossip. Meanwhile the Drama Group prepared to entertain with a short Panto – but I won’t say more as our roving reporter, Janet Cripps, is writing a review and you should find it elsewhere in the magazine.

I promised in the last report to let you know who had a birthday in January and at the beginning of the afternoon we had sung “Happy Birthday” to Gillian Philcox, Hettie Quinn, Margaret Prior and Hilary Clark. The monthly competition for anything starting with the letter “C” was won by Barbara Pemble with a beautiful fancy hair comb.

Carole had reminded us that there is to be an outing to Hampton Court Palace on Tuesday 23rd June, so please put it in your diaries. This will be open to WI members, family and friends and if there is room any odds and bods interested in going. If you would like more information regarding this trip, please contact me on 01303 891734. The cost will be in the region of £35.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 3rd February in Hawkinge Village Hall, starting at 2pm. The speaker is Imogen Corrigan who is going to tell us all about the Bayeaux Tapestry.

Several new ladies were made welcome in January and so if you have the first Tuesday afternoon in the month free why not come along and join us. For more information please contact the secretary Margaret Charlton on 01303 892721 or our president, Carole Seabrook on 01303 891420.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

It was a relief to wake up on the morning of our December meeting to see the sun shining at last.

I had begun to think that the rain would never stop but there was to be no battling through gusty rain for the ladies; it was a pleasure to walk to the hall.

Lots of activity greeted us at the door though as two Parish Councillors were busy erecting the village Christmas tree – a real start to the festive season.

Only one birthday in December but sadly Ruth Prior was not present to have us sing to her and so as there is no birthday celebration table in January Carole invited those birthday ladies to enjoy the tea with her. Of course I shall be mentioning them in the New Year and don’t want to spoil your enjoyment of reading about them then!

One item of note in the business section was that Christine Hamilton will be the speaker at the Federation Council Meeting in March. Can’t wait, I’m sure she will be very entertaining.

Soon it was time for our first entertainment of the afternoon; Dennis Lee spoke very movingly of the life of George Formby and also played and sang his songs. We were encouraged to sing along and everyone joined in – some didn’t even have to refer to the song sheets!

Then after a very welcoming cup of tea and seasonal mince pie the second entertainment began. Aladdin in ten minutes!! This certainly got the ladies laughing and guessing who was playing which part!

Did I really look like a bloke in drag?

All the players were excellent, even though some of the lines got a bit muddled which really just added to the fun. Well done Drama Group! I think that a very pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by all. Only one week now to our Christmas Lunch when some fifty ladies are going to Folkestone Bowls Club – yummy, yummy!

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 6th January 2009, when we have a Beetle Drive and “yes” you lucky people another play will be performed by the Drama Group – oh yes it will.

The meeting starts at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall. Why not start off the New Year with a new venture and come along and find out about our WI. We are a friendly lot, and during the month there is also a craft club and walking group to join. Our main outing next year will be a visit to Hampton Court Palace (planned for Tuesday 23rd June) – you could go on that as well.

Should you want any more information or just a chat please don’t hesitate to contact either Carole Seabrook (president) on 01303 891420 or Margaret Charlton (secretary) on 01303 892721.


Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

So you have to ask yourself what can you do to spice up the Annual Meeting which can be a bit heavy with all the business to be dealt with – “Yes” that’s the answer – have a Curry Lunch before the main event!

Carole Seabrook very kindly offered to cook and did us proud. She produced a truly delicious meal with a “non-curry” choice for the faint hearted. I am sure that all the ladies who attended would wish me to thank Carole on their behalf:

“Thank you Carole”.

The Annual Meeting can be somewhat complicated as the normal meeting’s affairs wrap themselves around it. Therefore we had the minutes of last month’s meeting before those of the Annual Meeting held in 2007. I won’t weary you with the plethora of info they contained merely as a joke against myself as my name seemed to predominate – if I ever rule the world I won’t get as many mentions as I did yesterday! Of course when the minutes were read from the Annual Meeting of 2007 everyone agreed they were a true record as we could all remember it quite vividly!

This year’s meeting went quite seamlessly with the Financial Statement and Annual Report both being adopted, Carole then gave a short speech mainly thanking everyone for the support, in whatever area, the committee and members had given to her over the last year and special thanks to Pam Hoy who was standing down from active service on the committee. It was then time to announce the new committee and hold an election for the position of president.

The committee is as follows: Carole Seabrook, Margaret Charlton, Christine Wethered, Daphne Hitchcock, Christine Allard, Hettie Quinn, Barbara Whitehouse, Christine Mortimer, Maire Griffiths, Eileen Blythe and Linda Barnes Carole was elected as president for a further year and Margaret Charlton has taken the position of secretary.

The overall winner of the monthly competitions was Brenda Smith (awarded a very nice cup which had been donated by Pam Hoy) – but she didn’t pull off a double as this month’s winner for a “Potato Head” was Janet Cripps.

Earlier in the afternoon birthday greetings had been given by the president to Barbara Bell, Glenys Palfreyman, Avis Readman, Diane Shepherd and last but by no means least - herself. These ladies and our guest, Ann Lockwood, (WI Adviser) all took tea on the Birthday Table during social time.

It was decided that after all that eating and sitting down the ladies would like a bit of movement and so a quiz was produced to that effect. Names of celebrities and people in the public eye were put on labels and stuck on your back, then by skilful questioning of one another you had to guess just who you were – I failed completely and I had, with Christine Allard, compiled the list!!

Before the meeting was closed members were reminded to meet outside the Marlowe for our theatre visit to see “Calendar Girls” (some forty of us); outside the Village Hall for Group Carols on 1st December and that there was still time to get your name down for the Christmas Lunch (9th Dec) – so far forty six ladies have signed up – a really good turn out. We started the afternoon in true WI spirit with a fine rendition of Jerusalem and at its close a very warm rendition of the National Anthem.

Well we are solvent, have a strong committee, a smashing president and can confidently look forward to a super year enjoying WI life. Please don’t hesitate to contact Carole on 01303 891420 or Margaret on 01303 892721 for more information. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month, starting at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

After the absolutely splendid meeting in September this month’s meeting could have been something of a damp squib. But any such worries were unfounded as under the excellent guiding hand of our president the afternoon proved quite delightful.

Only six of our ladies had birthdays!; Joan Basset, Pam Hoy, Ann Orchard, Daphne Sayer, Tricia Sherratt and Margaret Wood who joined the host of ladies from September on the Birthday Table. The cake, made by Hettie, looked really delicious and I’m sure it was enjoyed by all.

There was masses of business to be got through; with updates on recent resolutions adopted by national WI; information on the next Group Meeting to be held at Whitfield, the competition then is for “A Fan in any Medium” and Hilary Clarke has made a stunning one for our entry; reminders of both the Curry Lunch being offered before our November meeting (as a fund raiser and cooked by Carole) and the Christmas Lunch in December – have you got your name down?

There was also a report by those ladies who manned “the gazebo” at Hawkinge Fun Day. They were very pleased with the interest shown which was generated mostly by the archive board that was on display celebrating our 80 years, this proved very popular and jogged quite a few memories - or was that due to those two gentlemen opposite in their military uniforms?! Talking about uniforms the Craft Club has knitted 100 hats for the troops in Afghanistan – very well done ladies.

At last business came to a close and it was time to settle back and listen to Joan Finney telling us about her journey to and living in New Zealand.

The original speaker had been obliged to drop out and as we had all enjoyed Joan telling us about her young life married to a Royal Marine bandsman at an earlier meeting she was asked to return and carry on with her story. And wonderfully entertaining it was too.

Joan is a master of the understatement; regaling us with the difficulties in getting a visa, her train journey from Ramsgate to London to catch the ship, the six weeks voyage, (I won’t mention the cabin!) and arrival and housing once there. All this was undertaken with two very young children in tow; (oh yes and after the cabin another one on the way!). Of course her husband had “eighteen men to look after” and couldn’t understand that she found it all rather overwhelming at times! I’m sure she will be invited back to resume her story as the “trailer” had us all wanting more.

Once again Brenda Smith was the winner of the monthly competition with a lovely arrangement of autumn berries. You could be taking that trophy home Brenda!

Next month, on Tuesday 4th November in Hawkinge Village Hall, the Annual Meeting takes place when the Financial Statement is presented, a review of the year’s activities given and a new committee elected. But prior to this at 1230pm there is to be the Curry Lunch (non-curry choice if you prefer) and if you haven’t already said that you would like to come for this lunch please contact Carole on 01303 891420 to get your name on the list.

The meeting proper will start at 2pm. For any more information or if you would like to come along on that day please don’t hesitate to contact Carole on 01303 891420 or Margaret (Assistant Secretary) on 01303 893294.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

A very pleasant afternoon was spent by some forty five ladies, which was not a bad turn out during the holiday month, for our August meeting.

It was opened by our president, Carole Seabrook, and Jerusalem was sung. The August birthday girls were Ann Wilson, Mary Vine and Barbara Whitehouse who were invited to the Birthday Table along with some ladies who celebrated in July and some from September (no Birthday Table then as it is our very own Birthday Party – 80 this year!).

They all enjoyed the really scrummy cake provided by yours truly – perhaps I should point out that each committee member provides a cake and the flowers at meetings throughout the year – thank you committee ladies!

Loads of business to plough through (there being very little at the Garden Party) and ladies were asked to listen up in case they missed something!

Carole informed us that there had been a good turn out for the Treasurer Hunt that our WI had hosted the previous day for the Temple Ewell Group (to which we belong). The clues had been prepared by her and Barbara Whitehouse and they were thanked for all the hard work that had gone into that. Our own Tricia Sherratt was the winner with most correct answers – I think those twins in the pushchair must have given her the edge!

And we were all reminded that our trip to Shoreham WI (West Kent link) was to take place on Wednesday 13th August. Thirty two ladies have booked on what promises to be a very interesting outing.

We were all riveted by the entertaining speaker Pru Anderson who gave a talk on “Her Friend Sally”. This was a warm and amusing account of her short friendship with Sally that took place at the end of the war around 1947 – 1948, when their families lived in Dulwich. Unfortunately Pru lost touch with her and I think we would all have liked to know just what happened to Sally in later life. Pru was accompanied by her beautiful Silver Cross dolls pram and dolls which made up a part of her talk. Most enjoyable.

Of course there was the ubiquitous short quiz – winner Joan Bassett and the winner of the monthly competition for an object starting with the letter A was Barbara Whitehouse with a beautiful piece of amethyst.

Next month, on Tuesday 2nd September, if you have been paying attention, we will be celebrating our 80th year with a Birthday Party. Friends from the Temple Ewell Group and from East Kent Federation will be joining us when entertainment will be provided by “Wandering Minstrel” Barry Daniels and our own Drama Group with a short and funny play.

Do come along – even if you haven’t been before as you would be most welcome (the current president’s first meeting was just such a one – but please don’t let that put you off!)

We start promptly at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall and aim to finish about 4.15pm.

Looking forward to seeing you there and if you have any queries please phone either Carole on 01303 891420 or Margaret on 01303 892721.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

Sunshine, strawberries and a super tea made the annual garden party a roaring success.

Fun was had by the playing of boule; croquet; solving anagrams on Stately Homes hidden in the shrubbery and a garden quiz; and of course hats off to the ladies who participated in the egg and spoon race on the hottest day of the year (so far!).

I say “hats off “ but it was actually hats on in order to celebrate our 80th year and everyone looked truly lovely in an assortment of wonderful head gear.

We were very fortunate to have the use of Christine Allard’s delightful garden for this year’s party; it looked splendid – thank you Christine and Tim. Carole Seabrook, our president, opened the event with the singing of Jerusalem and accorded birthday greetings to Mesdames Barnes, Brisley, Charlton, Hart, Hitchcock and Voyce.

No business of note as this is a relaxing meeting made over to fun and frolic, catching up with friends in a shady spot and partaking of the splendid tea. Many thanks to all the ladies who baked a selection of truly delicious cakes – it all looked (and tasted) wonderful.

Gillian Philcox was the winner of the monthly competition of a short summer poem. Just before the end of the meeting a group photo was taken to mark this auspicious occasion – a truly memorable afternoon.

Please make a note, ladies, that there will be a Treasure Hunt in Hawkinge on Monday 4th August starting at the Mayfly Public House at 1000am. It is for all members in the Temple Ewell Group, so please come along and lend your support and perhaps take this opportunity to catch up with some old friends.

The next WI meeting is on Tuesday 5th August, starting at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall when the speaker will be Prudence Anderson, her talk is called “My Friend Sally”. So come along and join us if you are not a member yet, we would love to meet you and make you welcome.

For more information please contact either Carole on 891420 or Margaret on 892721.
Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI

A truly smashing afternoon was enjoyed by all at the June meeting.

The feel good factor was palpable and attendance was again very high.

After a rousing rendition of Jerusalem our president, Carole Seabrook, accorded birthday greetings to Mesdames Moore, Wethered and Banks, who were invited to join her at the birthday table later in the proceedings; Jean Brisley and I were lucky enough to be included (our birthdays being in July) alongside Doris Bailey who was unable to be with us last month; I say lucky because I had seen the cake baked by Margaret Charlton – ladies, it tasted as good as it looked! Thank you Margaret!

Once business was concluded, during which Carole had brought our attention to the many and various outings and events being arranged by the East Kent Federation and perhaps more importantly our own forthcoming trip, planned for Wednesday 13th August, to visit Shoreham WI - have you got your name on the list? – she introduced Liz Holt our speaker.

Some eight years ago Liz attended a course on patchwork/quilt making and has not stopped since. She is a natural in communication (she says she likes talking and certainly her asides had us in stitches – forgive the pun) and her quilts certainly have the real “WOW” factor. They were such a pleasure to see and sigh over.

However, she did say that they can take over your home and most of the time her dining room table is covered by a “work in progress” - for up to a year at a time! Ably assisted by her friend Anne, who is also a quilter, she raised our spirits and thoroughly entertained us.

The monthly competition, in keeping with the speaker’s theme, was for a piece of handicraft and attracted some twenty entries – they made a lovely display and it was hard to decide who to vote for. Avis Readman was the winner with a beautiful piece of framed embroidery.

Well done everyone who entered and especially Avis. In fact the hall looked splendid with Liz’s beautiful handicraft on one side and the members equally beautiful work on the other – a really lovely sight.

In July we have the annual Garden Party, this year being held in Christine Allard’s delightful garden. For those requiring transport please be at the Village Hall car park by 1.30pm, Tuesday 1st July.

Should the weather be inclement the meeting will take place in the hall. I have mentioned this before but will say it “more than once” our WI is celebrating its 80th year and so to mark this special anniversary the members have been asked to wear hats for the occasion.

Should you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact either Carole Seabrook on 01303 891420 or Christine Allard on 01303 863146.

Linda Barnes
Committee Member
HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI