Come and meet us from 7pm on the third Wednesday of the month at St John’s Lecture Hall, George Lane.
About the Group
Loddon W.I. was formed in 1930, making 2010 our 80th anniversary.
Those early monthly meetings were held in Loddon’s Lecture Hall on a Tuesday afternoon, when 65, or sometimes more, ladies attended and listened to an uplifting or instructive speaker.
This was followed, of course, by tea and cakes.
Over the years, unfortunately, our numbers dwindled, not because our speakers are any less interesting or our cakes less tasty, but many of the surrounding villages have set up their own W.I.s, and ladies have left to join their local group.
However, we have recently welcomed some new, younger members and at many of our meetings non-members, and even husbands, come along to join us as visitors.
We usually have a Trading Stall each month – a bit like a Bring and Buy, except the ‘bringer’ gets the money (with a small commission to W.I. Funds).
Several of our members play scrabble regularly, entering the Norfolk Federation Competition…and even coming runners-up one year! And, yes, we use all the silly two letter words, but no proper names…yet.
If ladies would like to join us, either as prospective members, or visitors, just come along and say hello.
You might know that, over the years we have met, as a group, in several local venues, but that now we have moved back to the Lecture Hall in the St. John’s Complex on George Lane. I bet it is warmer now than in 1930…. and also how those original members would have been astonished by a slide show presentation filling the whole of the back stage wall!
Since the turn of the year, we have made some changes – the most important is that we shall now start our meetings at 7pm, with a cup of tea and a chat, before welcoming our speaker at 7.30pm. W.I. business will be conducted after the speaker, from 8.30pm. Friends and visitors are welcome to join.
The first of what we hope will be regular social event in the White Horse at Chedgrave took place in January. We meet on the first Thursday of the month for Knit and Natter, and the second Thursday for Board Games. For Knit and Natter, whilst most of us knit, crochet or sew, some of us just natter! On the board game day, Scrabble, Rummikub and Mahjong are on offer, and Cribbage too, if enough people want it. Some of us are getting quite good at Rummmikub….even if the details of the actual rules may not have been fully mastered. Mahjong comes with instruction of course. Anyone is welcome to join us at 2pm., you don’t have to be a WI member, and there is no charge. However, as the landlord is happy for us to use his facilities for free, we do usually buy a cup of tea or coffee (£1.50) or even a little gin and tonic to keep the brain cells active. The next Knit and Natter will be on Thursday 6th June, bring your knitting etc …we’ll even offer to teach you if you’ve always wanted to knit, but never learnt how. (Two ladies have mastered crochet since we began these little get togethers). Board Games on Thursday 13th. Please come…the more the merrier.
Our meeting is on Wednesday 15th May could have been a disaster as, due to a combination of ’other commitments’ and amnesia, both our Resolutions Representative and our booked speaker were unable, or failed, to turn up! Luckily we all like to chat and drink tea, and our competition was a plate of ’Small Homemade Cakes to Eat’, so we were content enough. Our President had brought along another of her intriguing ’Spot the Icon’ puzzles, so time passed very happily.
Our meeting on June 19th will be a talk by a retired umpire at Wimbledon (amongst other places , entitled ‘At the Top of the Steps’. Members are reminded that the competition is ‘Some Sporting Memorabilia’……this is only a fun competition to get people involved and chatting. Visitors are more than welcome, just call in The Lecture Hall at 7pm. and take it from there.
We have entered the modern age ….. and now have our own email contact details! Write to loddonwi
gmail
com for information on meetings, or forthcoming events.
Speakers
Details of forthcoming speakers are also published in Contact Magazine and on local posters.
