Mid-Summer Picnic in the Meadows

 This was the second Mid-Summer Picnic in the Meadows, and once again we were lucky with the weather.

Food glorious food. Janice admires the spread…

 And the picnic begins

Andrew Snowden with Bracken, who was behaving well until he knocked Andrew’s beer over!

 Ben tucks into his new diet...

 And shows off his new mug we presented to him in thanks for his help. 

 The Virgin balloon makes an appearance having taken off from The Great Danes Hotel.

 Jane Orgill recites her poem. If I remember correctly it was by Rudyard Kipling...

 And gets a well-deserved applause.

Jean Talboys recites her poem.

This was the first of the 114 trees visited. If the trees sponsor was present, and if willing, they read the plaque out loud and gave a short history as to why it was sponsored. As each tree concluded an electronic candle was laid at its base.

Tree number 49, a Whitebeam, and our tree. And yes we all sang Jerusalem.

ON 11 OCTOBER 2015

THIS TREE WAS DEDICATED 

TO CELEBRATE 90 YEARS

OF THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

IN HOLLINGBOURNE

AND 100 YEARS

OF THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

IN GREAT BRITAIN

As the sun set and dusk fell, the candle lights came into their own, giving an almost mystical appearance.

A picture of Adriana, at the very limit of my camera, with the lights disappearing into the distance.

WI News May 2018

Our May meeting was our Annual Meeting, when we discussed the Resolution ‘Mental Health Matters’ which will be put to the AGM of the National Federation of the WI, this year held in Cardiff..  Jane Orgill organized the lively debate amongst our members and we voted to back the resolution.

This was followed by our elections which was overseen by two Tellers from Leeds WI. Janice Butler was re-elected as President and has agreed to serve for another year with additional help from all the members. Nine committee members were elected and their roles will be decided at the next meeting.

Janice and I took the number 13 bus to Leeds to join a District walk led by Sadie, around Leeds footpaths, to admire the bluebells and the truly stunning views of Leeds Castle. A delicious cream tea at the George rounded off a great afternoon.

Our darts team attended the final of the Federation Darts Tournament at Tovil Working Mens’ Club.  Whilst we felt that our scoring was as good as the winning team from Catford we are seriously thinking about getting some coaching help!  It’s the doubles you know.

The Lunch Club really enjoyed their visit to the Pepperbox at Ulcome, thanks to Sue’s organization.
We spent a great morning at the Sugar Loaves watching the Royal Wedding – brilliant audience participation followed with a nice Barbeque in the evening.

Jenny, Janice and Leslie represented Hollingbourne WI at the West Kent Federation Centenary Garden Party. Dressed to the nines they enjoyed the gardens of Marlborough House School at Hawkhurst. There was a craft and produce display, an exhibition of memorial books with hand painted pictures representing all the Federation WIs (including Rosemary Pollock’s page for Hollingbourne). They were entertained by the Lindy Hop Dancers and a talented soprano singing well known classics

Four of us sang at the Proms in the Park in Maidstone on a sunny Saturday in May as part of the Hazlitt Choir.

We enjoyed Hollingbourne’s Fete in June, dressed as Suffragettes, following the Heroes theme! Our Hook a Duck was really popular again and the highest score was hooked by Hadley, who won Penny Smith’s Duck Cake to share with her family! Thank you to everybody who had a go.

On Tuesday 17th July at 8.15 The Blackthorn Lyres will be demonstrating their modern handmade instruments in a programme of short pieces. The lyre is a chamber instrument which lends itself to quiet listening – soothing the soul, beautiful and therapeutic. We would love to share with you this rare opportunity to enjoy a unique musical experience. We advise that you phone 880433/382 to secure a seat.

Report by Val Williams

Secretary Hollingbourne WI

Games afternoon in the Sugar Loaves

On 8th of May we held a games afternoon in the Sugar Loaves.

There were six ladies and the games played were Ludo, Othello, as well as Tiddlywinks which Jane cheated at. 

A lovely afternoon with of course cake and biscuits.

WI News April 2018

Mary Henderson organized an evening at the Hazlitt Theatre to see Maidstone's Amateur Operatic Society's production of ‘Guys and Dolls'. Nothing amateur about this production. 'Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat! was rendered with so much gusto - terrific!

Our March meeting was a lively two-hander — a presentation by Shaun Cardwell and Ben Williams about the history and daily work of the Meadows Trust. We realised how lucky we are in Hollingbourne to have such an enterprising and forward-thinking organization looking after our green spaces.

Janice, Jane Deaves and Jane Orgill went to the Federation's ACM in Tunbridge Wells. There was the usual rigorously-presented 'business' report of the year followed by the exciting speaker, Baroness Floella Benjamin - actress, presenter, broadcaster and parliamentarian. So inspiring.

Our quiz in March was a jolly affair. The Quiz Master, Cat Brown, suffered a nasty attack of laryngitis on the day, but her parents, Jackie and Chris, came to the rescue. From setting up the technology to presenting the questions, the whole event ran very smoothly - including the newspaper, foil and sellotape creative round. A good time was had by all.

Lunch Club ventured to the Fish on the Square in Lenham; an attractive restaurant with wonderful murals! The charms of Lenham include an antique shop, and a bakery, which seem to have a licence to cook the biggest buns in Britain.

Having caught the Quiz Bug we sent a team to the Loose W.I. to try our luck. We have close associations with the Loose ladies, born of the W.I. Darts' competition.

Sue Woodhouse and I attended a Home Economics Day at Ditton, We heard Craig Brown, of Fare Share who distribute supermarket goods to charity, Gillian Waines Perry who told us the fascinating history of Afternoon Tea, and a talk about Sustainable Fish, with a fish filleting and cookery demonstration.

As I write, we have heard the bad news that The Blackthorn Lyres have cancelled their appearance with us due to illness, so we are organizing a members-only social event.

Our meeting in May is a members' only affair when we elect our committee and President. We discuss the annual Resolution — Mental Health Matters - which will be voted on by The National Federation of W.I.’s at the ACM in Cardiff.

We look forward to seeing you all at our Hook-a-Duck Stall at the Hollingbourne Fete. It is a test of skill for all ages, with lovely badges, and of course - if you are really lucky - you could win a family cake to share, designed and baked by Penny Smith.

Report by Val Williams

Secretary Hollingbourne WI

Centenary Show

Hollingbourne ladies appeared in the show. They were " The Jazz Scarves"

A most enjoyable show and evening.

Quiz Night With The Loose W.I.

Janice, Mary, Jane, Edna and Christine attended quiz night at Loose W.I. We had a lovely evening where we had tea and cake and we didn't come last!!! We came 6th out of eight teams and we only had five people on our table. Most tables were eight plus.

Jane deep in thought.

WI News March 2018

In February, before the snows, Jean Talboys and I went to the Older People's Forum (i.e. over 55, so by that definition you are bound to be older than somebody) held at the Hazlitt Theatre. There were presentations by The Citizens Advice, Stroke Association, The 'Involve Choir' and the Border Agency. The latter gave a riveting talk about how our borders are protected and illegal immigration is detected. 

Our March speaker was suddenly taken ill. However, her family rallied round and her father, the well-known orthopaedic surgeon Mr Clifford Stossall, took over the role of describing the work of Kim's Hospital. We also enjoyed a far- ranging question and answer session which addressed a lot of members’ individual queries. 

Our 'Jazz Scarves' dance team went to The Rose Bruford Theatre for a run- through of our forthcoming performance in April for the Federation Centenary Concerto. How can a 4-minute and 1 ½ -minute routine seem to be so long? Mary Henderson and Jane Orgill put us through our paces and the Round Stage does not seem so scary now. 

Snow stopped play as it did for us all, but we were able to enjoy the fabulous photos of the Pancake Race in the Kent Messenger, Early March saw seven of us having a Pamper Evening at the kind invitation of the Leeds WI — Body Shop foot soak and facials with sandwiches, tea and cake. We danced home on our pepper-minted feet. 

The Blackthorn Lyres are a friendly group of amateur musicians who are certain to charm and delight. They will tell us about the history of the ancient lyre and demonstrate their modern handmade instruments in a programme of short pieces. The lyre is a chamber instrument which lends itself to quiet listening as the sound is described as both beautiful and therapeutic. We would love to share with you this rare opportunity to enjoy a unique musical experience. Tickets are £3 on the door. We start after 8pm when the business part of our meeting is over. We hope to see you there.

Report by Val Williams

Secretary Hollingbourne WI

Quiz Night In The Village Hall

A great evening with 11 tables and lots of fun. Alverston Green were the winners and the Loose WI sadly the wooden spoon winners.

The contestants start to arrive and settle themselves in.

Joyce selling raffle tickets.

And the raffle prizes.

Each table of the eleven table was allocated a name of a plant.

The food platters waiting to be served to each of the tables.

The scorers Mary and Hilary

And the quiz prizes. Wine for the winners & wooden spoons for the losers.

The creative category. Tables were provided with aluminium foil and newspaper. The intention was for each group to make an outfit for one of its team members. The hilarious results can be seen below...

Jane reading one of the props!

The scores are totalled.

Wine for the winners (Alverston Green).

And wooden spoons for the losers (Loose WI). 

Leeds W.I. Pamper Evening

The Leeds W.I. pamper evening on the 8th March, attended by eight Hollingbourne W.I. ladies. We all had our feet pampered and two ladies had facials as well. We had to take a washing up bowl and towel along with us. A lovely evening ended with sandwiches and cake. (Of course as it is the WI there has to be cake!).

WI News February 2018

Our January meeting saw us welcoming our first 'Inspiring Woman' of the year when Philippa Joyner of Hollingbourne spoke to us about how she started writing her children's books –‘The Anouka Chronicles’. The protagonists are based on her own children and the story-line evolves as she travels on her daily commute to London. She must be one of the few commuters actually to welcome a delay! She read extracts from her book and a kaleidoscope of observations of her fellow travellers, which might well form the basis of another book. It was a privilege to meet such a charming real-life author.

Four of us enjoyed a larger than life performance of 'Cilla' at the Dartford Theatre — bringing back memories of a recent trip to Liverpool. 

The Lunch Club started the year at the Sugar Loaves’ in January. 

The ‘Sugar Loaves’ was also the venue for our darts matches against both Allington and Loose WIs, although, while enjoying the blazing log fire and a sausage and chips supper, we could not appreciate two defeats in a row and being knocked out of the Federation tournament. Mary, Penny and Janice produced some game-winning doubles to save our honour. 

We thought the Wizard of Hozz was the best-ever panto with a wide range of colourful characters and we just loved the songs.

The sun shone brilliantly for the Pancake Race on Thursday, 8th February. The Playgroup and Hollingbourne School were feisty competitors, running with such energy. The school's VIPs - a team of year 6 pupils - acted as race judges, winners' escorts, pan returners and generally good eggs. The races would not have run so smoothly without them! 

Our next meeting on Tuesday, 20th March, feature the Hollingbourne Meadows Trust. We all know about the Trust's imaginative work which has created tranquil, accessible green spaces around Hollingbourne. Their vision has given us an opportunity to enjoy a unique environment which has been recognised nationally as an exceptional amenity. Ben Williams and Shaun Cardwell will remind us what the Trust does and the plans for the future. They promise a 'practical touchy-feely element of some sort during the presentation' - difficult to resist on a spring evening. Tickets are £3 on the door. We start after 8pm when the business part of our meeting is over. We hope to see you there.

Report by Val Williams

Secretary Hollingbourne WI

WI News January 2018

It seems like only yesterday that we were enjoying our Christmas Party in December. The tables were decorated with Penny Smith's classy centrepieces. Thomas, a young magician, entertained us on arrival with intriguing card tricks performed so close up that we should have been able to spot the sleights of hand! Our members cooked the delicious hot supper of chicken casserole, fish pie and steak-and-kidney puddings and further excelled themselves when it came to desserts. Five Gentlemen washer-uppers were conjured up and seemed to spend a lot of time laughing over their task! We enjoyed Christmas Readings, singing together in rounds and, by accident, one carol to the tune of another'. The Secret Santa produced some creative gifts, which we have eaten or sprayed or written in. Mickey the Magician did not really saw off Mary's head, but we had a good scare in the process — his act was very funny.

We were pleased to be invited to read a lesson at All Saints Carol Service and we enjoyed more caroling at the Sugar Loaves. 

We are seriously busy now rehearsing for the West Kent Federation Centenary Show, which takes place on 28th April at the Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Sidcup. I am proud to tell you that Hollingbourne WI has been invited to open the show and perform another dance number. Both pieces were choreographed by Mary Henderson and Jane Orgill involving feather dusters, tabards, then glamorous silk scarves and sparkly flowers — all this on a circular stage…

Our speaker on Tuesday, 20th February, will be Louisa Coomber, who will be talking about KIMS Hospital, the story of its founding and its ethos. There will be a presentation of an interactive tour of KIMS hospital. This will show the audience all areas of the hospital, how they work and what services are provided. The talk will be kept open and interactive to allow the audience to ask as many questions as they would like.

Tickets are £3 on the door. We start after 8pm when the business part of our meeting is over. We hope to see you there.

Report by Val Williams
Secretary Hollingbourne WI