2022 WI MEETINGS

Join us on Tuesday 21 June to hear Helen Allinson talk about the History of Hollingbourne. The talk starts at 7.30 but, if you have photos, info to share, Helen will be there from 7pm. There will be no WI meeting but info will will be in the WI Newsletter

Tuesday 23 December 2014

WEST KENT DARTS TOURNAMENT - Sarah in good form.

Each Winter we try to enter a team in the Federation Darts tournament and this year is no exception..  It is started with competion between teams in our Local District and we play in various Pubs in the Holllingbourne, Bearsted Area usually.

This winter we have beaten  Madginford WI and Bearsted 'A' WI at the George in Leeds, though Bearsted 'B'  WI did get the better of us.
                        

Our Team from the left is is Sarah, Janice, Val, Rita and Christine

At our last game at The Bird in Hand  Bearsted we had a great victory over Madginford.  Sarah was the heroine by winning two out of three of the games with a double one finish and a double two.
(Normally both teams end up trying to get  a double for maximum 5 minutes, then the captains throw for nearest to the bull)  SO THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER!

After the game - Madginford and Hollingbourne the best of friends.

WI Lunch Club

The Lunch club was started this year and we get together each second Tuesday of the month in a local hostelry at 1pm. and has become very popular.   If we are going out of the village we meet at the Village Hall Car Park, ten minutes before and lifts are arranged for those without cars.




For Christmas we lunched at the Parkgate for a very pleasant meal.   
(Same table photo taken from different ends)  
Perhaps you would like to join us in the future.

WI Evening Christmas Party and Lunch

At our WI party we won't be crafty and arty
we won't make jam - we don't care a damn
we will eat, sing and chat in our Old Time Hat,
and hope we don't look to tarty!

So ran the poem in one of our ' to a WI friend'  anonymous Christmas cards
which are given at our party.   We did just what it said -
and the hats were a competition - see
Barbara below who one the prize for the Best  Dressed Old Time Hat.
                                 

Some members had cooked a meal  for us with lots of lovely puds, while we wracked our brains to come up with answers for the Quiz. We played a few games with 'Ping Pong Bingo a special request.

Finally we finished with Christmas songs and carols
                               

Three long suffering husbands donned aprons and did all the washing up,
so a good time was had by all (At least by the ladies)

See you all next year. 

Wednesday 3 December 2014

100 years of WI - Baton in Kent.

 The NATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMENS INSTITUTES
 IS CELEBRATING ITS 100TH YEAR with many events.
A Baton containing pictures from each county has been moving around the country, beginning in Anglesey where the first ever Institute was formed.    There are 54 English Counties and 13 Welsh Counties, and the baton is well on its way to Cornwall the last County. 
This week, the Baton was handed from Essex to West Kent, traveling by Lifeboat, and is in West Kent for a week.  Today an exhibit was staged in The Mall Maidstone, for all to see, 
with Members of the executive committee in attendance.

Margaret Weaver of Hollingbourne WI had the to chance to see it first hand.  The photographs inside on a memory stick, represent evocative places in Kent.   The baton was also taken along to the North Downs District WI's Christmas Carol Service where each Institute had its Christmas Tree
They were supposed to be no bigger than 2 foot, (though some were)  ours however was a delicate one foot specimen, made of crochet by Sue Weightman  a member with talent!

Sunday 2 November 2014

Art and Craft Ditton

West Kent Federation finds amazing speakers for this annual event, and today was no exception.
We 6 from Hollingbourne managed to grab seats in the front row, and our first speaker 
Fred Lamont told us all about the Flemish Weavers in Kent. 
They had emigrated to Britain  in 1100's and were far superior in the methods they used and they cloth they made to our own british weavers though our wood was the best in Europe.     However  time came when their religion did not fit the protestant religion of Britain and they moved off to Scotland and Wales.  However Britain in 1337 called them all back when it realised that our wool was being exported with high taxes  and then the finished cloth had to be imported again at hight taxes.  The Flemish Weavers would get our balance of payments on the level again! We were growing the wool, weaving the cloth and exporting it.   They were given the 'Kings protection anywhere in Britain, and were told that their daughters could be married to the highest in the land.     All over Kent Flemish Weavers set up their looms, (Wide looms) making Broadcloth. to a strict specification.   The areas used were clearings in the vast woodland, and these were given names starting or ending in DEN or HURST.  Except for Cranbrook which was the largest Weaving town, and very rich.   There were 30,000 people living in the area and 26,000 of them worked in the Weaving and allied trades.  .

 
As well as the weaving, the finished cloth had to be 'FILLED, enormous hammers, run by water mills hammered down on the cloth to make it smooth.  FULLERS EARTH was used in this process, coming from between Hollingbourne and Leeds.   There were 13 of these filling mills on the Loose river. 
Silk weaving also started in Canterbury and you can still see the Weavers House, next to the river. 
However all things come to an end, and Queen Elizabeth in 1500's had a problem. We were having to pay enormous export taxes, and it was decided to impose taxes on the importing countries (a bit like Russia today and the sanctions we are imposing) As a result  no one wanted our  cloth - recession!
The flemish weavers were not dismayed and  though it took time, they set up other businesses in Britain instead, and flourished.    
NOTE - DNA investigations recently have found that a large part of our population is descended from Flemish People
It was so interesting and Fred Lamont was a clear and unhurried speaker,later our Members had time to chat with him, and Hilary Lucette advised him that her forebears were Huganots who had come to Britian during the period he talked of. 

SECOND SPEAKER. - REBECCA HAWKINS - SCULPTER.
 Rebecca was a joy to listen to, her subject interesting and unusual, and her diction was imaccculate.
We followed her career from  A level student to the Present day. The main medium she works in is metal using all kind of hand and electric machines to assist her.  She showed examples  - one being an enormous  'COBWEB' built high in the trees as a commission for Frank Williams (racing cars) in his garden. Although we saw a picture we are unlikely to see the actual work unfortunately.
She also told us about the times she had been in Nepal and the inspiration she had obtained from the circular movement of the saris worn by the ladies, who seemed to do everything while their men did little.  This statue is a combination of a tree shape and a lady in a sari.
One period in Nepal was working at the Esther Benjamin Trust, where they rescue young Nepali women who had been sold by their parents into India and  suffered degradation of every kind. They had been trafficked and had no confidence or feeling of self worth. At the trust she taught them various forms of Art and craft to enable them to support themselves and was so happy with the change they were able to undergo. 


She then went on to her current project.  She has been commissioned by the Gurka Regiment to sculpt a Gurka in Afganistan battle dress, carrying his rifle.  It will commemorate 200 years of the Gurkas.  The statue will be 6 foot tall, and on a 6 foot plinth. It will be sited in Folkestone in about three months time.  The picture above shows her working on the statue which will then be cast in a metal which hopefully will cope with the onslaught of the sea air, and the local seagulls.   This is a very brief note of her work, and an internet search of Rebecca Hawkins will prove very interesting.

THIRD SPEAKER. - LUCY GOFFIN, TEXTILE DESIGNER. 


 Lucy's career has taken many turns, on leaving Art School she realised that what she had learned would not really keep her in a steady income and she went back to the needlework she had learned from her mother and grandmother,  but she was soon 'discovered' and she has worked with Jean Muir for many years, designing the 'extras'  - embellishments that are found on the  Jean Muir collections.   She has also developed quirky types of waistcoats. - see above and below.  Each piece being unique and made to the owner's specifications.
 Below is a coat which had to be made of extremely light fabric as the owner had a skin complaint, but needed something special to wear for an important event.

Lucy like Rebecca  had found time to visit (on a continuing basis) the far east spending time in Jaipur India where she works with ANOKI,  a company which produces fabric, designs, and embroidery using local talented women.  This is a two way project with both Lucy and the local women benefitting from this arrangement.

She also told us about WONDERFUL WORKSHOPS - In Jaipur, India- a bit far for a craft outing, but there may be one or two Inspired WI women, who following her talk, enrol and discover a new world out there. 

Apart from these three magnificent speakers, there were craft stalls and details of new projects ahead, we are so lucky  to be able to attend such events in a local venue. 

Friday 31 October 2014

SPORTING PROWESS

CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING.

 Deep in the countryside of Paddock Wood, two members spent a gloriously sunny morning learning the skill of clay pigeon shooting, with members from other WI's.  We moved around different stands where the clay pigeons were thrown up in a variety of trajectories, such as that of Skeet, Pigeon, Rabbit etc.  We had five shots with the 20 bore shot gun for each target before moving on.
The Instructor was patient and persistent, ensuring that we all hit some targets.
As you can see Val is in control of the gun (broken) and it is rumoured that she was the best shot.


PETANQUE  - watch out,  our members mean business. 

 What better place to learn to play Petanque than at Istead Rise Petanque club on 1st September when Joyce Janice, Christine and Val joined 28 other WI members at a West Kent Federation event.  We were told about the history of the game and the rules.  We were divided into teams of 3 to play very competitively.  Tactics being the name of the game! We played all day and finished the afternoon with a mini tournament.  Istead Rise club were very patient and encouraging and even made cakes for our break assuming that we would only eat home made refreshments!

Not just tactics, but CONCENTRATION   from Janice. 

Sunday 7 September 2014

Safari Market 2014 - New Pop Up stalls

Our 6th Year and around 45 sites, with lots of new stall holders popping up. 
 
Two prizes this year, 
1.   - Lucky Map was won by Mr & Mrs Ballard of Roseacre Lane Bearsted.

2. -  The people who won the prize for the most stalls  visited, were Mr & Mrs Strover of Ashford.
On fact 17 people visited all the stalls and handed in their answer paper
and the Lucky winner was drawn from these 17.

Having lived in the village for nearly 30 years, I had never visited  this house before.

 This leafy garden is right on the main road through Hollingbourne!

 The Ralph grandchildren  had decided it was time to  'cash in'  on their toys.
 Kim - deciding whether to carry on selling, or just dump it all in the skip
 Detling WI CAKE STALL was new this year and a great success, it was completely full to overflowing at the start, and at 11.30 all but sold out - lets hope  they will be with us next year. 
 Teas and Coffees flowed all day, - with of course the hot bacon and sausage rolls in great demand

 The Bellringers had a stall to make money for a new Hollingbourne Church bell. 
Bill was practicing for the RIDE AND STRIDE - on 13th September - see the yellow notice in the background  - a' round the parishes' sponsored walk and bike ride.
 Another new spot, with plenty of exercise equipment, and a  wood shredder for sale. 

We all know that some peoples' trash becomes other peoples treasure trove. This stall however was  a 'cut above' with classical  and Operatic C.D's  & DVD's all set out in an easily accessed way.  

Walking from the playing field to the church was a country  stroll through the woods. 
,
There were UGLY things to see - with two and one eyed mini monsters and all kinds of cuddly and original  things on the stall on Muskett Green. 
                               
and finally a most beautiful stall, with streamers flying high above it, to entice buyers in . 

All in all a most enjoyable, successful and busy day.   The Playing field was packed with  far more cars than in other years, and we thank  Alan Smedley  of The Meadows Trust who ably assisted with the parking.  All morning,   we could see the happy buyers walking up and down the village, clutching large bags of 'goodies' 
 Thank you all for coming -  without you there would be no safari.    
See you next year!!

Tuesday 15 July 2014

A necklace fit for Titania?


NORTHDOWNS DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING. 

The 9 institutes in our District got together in Hollingbourne Village Hall, with the chance to meet old friends and find out what was happening around the Institutes   We also heard plans for the 100 birthday of the WI (in addition of course to HOLLINGBOURNE's own  90th Birthday in 2015)

The competition this year was for an  Edible Necklace
There were some made of sweets, one of chillies,  vegetables etc, and the best one of all was - 


A necklace of wild strawberries.   It stood out amongst all the others!
Who made it?  - Hilary Lucette of course from Hollingbourne, 
who always has good ideas and the ingenuity to carry them out. 

Our speaker was Ray Spiller who played music and had a good line in old fashioned jokes.   His music was from the 50's and 60's and brought back many happy memories of our youth.

Monday 14 July 2014

Doddington Gardens Kent.

Twelve of us set off from Hollingbourne in convoy, so as to qualify for a discounted group admisssion.
we arrived in bright sunshine in stark contrast to a very wet start to the day.

 As we approached the house the path opened up into a lawned area where people sat picnicking whilst listening to live jazz music.
 Surrounding this grassed area were numerous stalls selling various wares - from fruit liqueurs, flowers, butchery, crepes, cheese to paintings.  Quite a few of us were tempted to part with our money.
Away from the popular events there were quiet corners to contemplate the beauty of the gardens.
After exploring we all met up in the tearoom where most of us indulged in a cream tea, or at the very least, tea and cake.  An afternoon enjoyed by all.

Thursday 19 June 2014

ELTHAM PALACE, AND THE LADIES OF ELTHAM WI


Eltham WI, visited our Safari Market last year and asked us to join them in a visit to the Palace.



We  joined four members of Eltham WI for a pleasant lunch  on a lovely day, at Tudor Barn in Well Hall Pleasance which was built in the 16th Century. It was owned by William Roper who married a daughter of Sit Thomas Moore - Lord Chancellor of Henry VIII, it  was also the home of Edit Nesbitt (Author of the Railway Children)  A Flying Bomb exploded nearby in 1944 . Through its life it was built and rebuilt with the final restoration in 2002 and the Tudor Barn was back in Business.    The gardens were lovely and it was hard to believe we were so close to London. Four other members joined for the second part of the visit.


We moved on to  Eltham Palace, the original of which was the childhood home of Henry VIII, since 1930  it was owned by the Courtauld family  who built on to it and  travelled the world collecting ideas for their home.  They were keen horticulturists and this shows in the 19 acres of garden.  The Palace reflects the glamour and allure of the 1930's fashionable society. The bedrooms had built in furniture, the bathrooms had sunken baths.  There were telephones in every room.  Even the Racoon had his own room! We were able to watch old cine films of the family and their guests which brought it all to life  - it was fascinating.   Hollingbourne's 7 members are now firm friends with the  8 from Eltham and we hope to see them at the Safari on 7th September.

Wednesday 16 April 2014

ALL THINGS EASTER (April 2014)

Our Easter meeting, started with reminiscences of a Trip 7 years ago with Inge Hack  to Nuremburg, and Egglofstein when we visited the Easter egg villages of the area.  The weather had been perfect and it was one of those lifetime experiences we will never forget. 
We started with a choice of Easter Bonnets made by Hilary and Margaret, which sat daintily on our heads all through the meeting (and on the trip home, to the surprise of our other halves) 


Following on, Mary led us singing a  round of 'hot cross buns' finally culminating in a 4 part round - we were then in the mood for a story.
Margaret read us two Easter items from her father's  WW2 book 'My War' - firstly making Hot Cross Biscuits from dry Army Biscuits., and secondly in Epirus Greece, 1945,  as part of a support group , when the Local people celebrated Easter with Easter Lambs and coloured hens eggs, having finally rid themselves of the occupying forces.

 Some Craft work came next - 'Faberge' egg decorating. Hollow plastic eggs, originally from Joyce's hens, were decorated with many kinds of 'stick ons' - from gold and silver strips, to flowers, rabbits,, cats and 'diamonds' or every hue.
 Sadie, had cycled 26 miles earlier this day, and in a couple of days time reaches a very special day- we sang  her 'Happy Birthday'.   Hilary was one of the main Crafts tutors and she gave help when needed.
                           
Two finished eggs -  worthy of  Faberge?
 Special refreshments - Lenten Pies -  an old recipe  from Janice's family, 
and Mini Simnel cakes (from a Lakeland recipe) of Margaret's
And finally the ultimate chick and the ultimate Easter Bonnet.   - Rita had knitted 28 chicks - all it seemed with different expression, and containing a Cadbury's Cream egg.  
We went home very contented with our evening  - except for Rita, who was home ill in bed!



Tuesday 25 March 2014

Ascot Races and Michael Portillo - all in one week.

Ascot race course was the venue for 500 WI presidents recently - (actually 1000 as there were 2 days of 500 each)  This was just in the South of England, and other parts of the country were hosted in other top spots.
Hollingbourne's joint presidents Ria Moon and Val Williams went along and of course a major talking point was the food provided - Posh sandwiches.


The background of this picture has an advert for tote betting, so maybe they had a flutter, who knows?
 
 
The sign says 'do not sit on this statue'   - Rita  had just dismounted  luckily, and appears to be feeding it as a reward. for loyal service, and not being bucked off  (Apologies, when I manage to move this picture 90 degrees you will be able to see it properly)

The purpose of the day(s) was to review all aspects of managing our WI and spoke of new initiatives in IT training. They  were introduced to all the Board of Executives of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, and told of plans for the 100th Anniversary of WI in England. This is to be in 2015.
 (2015 is also the Anniversary of 90 years of WI in Hollingbourne.  Watch this space in the next 18 months, for our own celeb rations)
 
                        - - - - - - - - -
 
A few days later West Kent Federation held it's AGM in Tunbridge Wells Assemby Rooms, and three of our members were there, including our delegate, Jean Talboys.   It gave us an update of affairs  financial and general in West Kent, with Hollingbourne being mentioned.   
The mental capacity of Val Williams and Rita Moon has gone up in our estimation as they won First and Runner up prizes in the Written Quiz that has been circulating for several months
The Gift Box that Hollingbourne donated was snapped up quickly for £10. It contained a Kit for a Japanese Patchwork cushion provided by Margaret Weaver. 
Our first speaker was Joy Kemp who gave a comprehensive background to Midwifery in Britain and abroad in support of our recent resoslution regarding the necessary increase in Midwives in this country.

Then finally Michael Portillo  -
A charming man, with who came resplendant in one of his famous coloured jackets.- and advised us that he had two new ones awaiting him at the tailors.   He told us of his career and  the workings of Westminster with some anecdotes of MP's. He was not afraid to answer difficult questions and
finally -
 
This is the picture you have been waiting for -
 
??????????????
A picture of MICHAEL PORTILLO'S leg.
 
Presumably the brown boot, slim trouser and  pink jacket.   The story goes that Hilary had chatted to him about childhood friends they had in common, but the platform was high and Hilary is short, and  the photographer made a boob!
 
We always have excellent speakers at these events and he was no exception.