Womens' Institute
SHERIFFHALES W.I. JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS.
2012 was the Diamond Jubilee year of Sheriffhales W.I. and we were proud to celebrate at the same time as Her majesty the Queen, who was kind enough to send her congratulations to us. Our party brought together current and former members for a splendid meal.
The W.I. has an educational aim and we were all to learn a great deal from Primary School headteacher Sally Lill who enthralled us with her experiences in St.Helena, we learned about the history of perfumes from Anita Murphy and about the Associated Country Women of the World to which the W.I. belongs and supports through projects around the world.
A new venture for Sheriffhales W.I. this year has been our walking group, we are going on monthly walks and hope to bring in some shorter walks for those who cannot go cross country.
Fund-raising has seen us catering for various village events, we also had tea parties to raise money for Denman College, the W.I.'s own learning centre.Two of our members joined the county weekend visit there to study literature and art respectively.
Members of Sheriffhales WI enjoying a Fund Raising Tea for Denman College.
Our charity this year was the Air Ambulance and we heard about it in detail when Maria Jones explained whilst collecting our cheque this Autumn.
We had two outings in the latter part of the year: Bodenham Arboretum near Kidderminster and a wonderful production of Calendar Girls at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. A county organised visit to the Olympics was greatly enjoyed by President Diana Ellis and her husband.
We look forward to lots of experiences to be shared next year. We welcomed three new members in 2012 and would like to see many more ladies visiting or joining us in 2013. you will find a great welcome!
HISTORY OF THE WOMENS INSTITUTE
The W.I. was formed in 1915 and is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the U.K. It has an unrivalled reputation as the voice of reason, integrity and intelligence on issues that matter to women and their communities
The W.I. campaigns on a wide range of social and environmental issues such as ending violence against women, food, farming and currently the protection of honey bees.
Denman College is the W.I.'s own college in Oxford offering learning opportunities ranging from arts and crafts to information technology and public speaking.
Sheriffhales W.I. began meeting in May 1952 and has a steady membership of around 25. Speakers are invited to meetings to talk to the members on a variety of subjects - covering both serious and light-hearted themes though at all times educational. Group outings are frequently arranged visiting places of interest or the theatre.
The W.I. I s not about making jam and cakes - as delicious as they are - we have been fund raising - last year we supported the New Village Hall Fund and this year we are arranging events to raise funds for the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre.
Why not come and visit us - you might be pleasantly surprised - the venue Sheriffhales Village Hall - 7.30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month.