Team SHWI pull papercutting out of the bag

My last meeting as WI President summed up the best things about being in Seven Hills WI - teamwork and friendship.

Sometimes, planning a smoking hot programme of activities and speakers a year in advance comes a cropper and we have events that fall through. A week before our meeting, our plans came undone.

But instead of taking the easy option and filling in with an easy back-up meeting, my crack team of dedicated commitee members decided that a papercut workshop was something we could pull off ourselves.

Cue desperate googling off templates, trips to a high street stationer and certain individuals ordering hundreds of scalpels online. 

When we arrived at St Andrews before the meeting, it was fantastic to see so many members arrive early to help move tables and chairs. We got ready in super quick time!

Members mingled and chatted about the month's news and helped themselves to Vicky's awesome vegan courgette cake.

It was fantastic to be visited by WI friends from around the country - Joanne Croxford from Cambridge was in Sheffield prior to our trip to the Good Life Experience, as well as ladies who are setting us a new group, Wellbeck WI.

The meeting soon began and we ran through WI business. My amazing committee members presented me with a surprise bunch of flowers and asked me to give a speech! I was not prepared at all. In fact, I'm still President until next meeting but I won't be able to make the October or November's meeting. Apologies for mumbling a strange thank you! 

After a quick break, it was time to start papercutting. Laura and Grace decided to put the skills they have learned at Denman College to good use and lead the workshop. They showed members how to use templates to practice their designs or simply come up with their own patterns. I was amazed to see some of the fab designs people came up with in such a short amount of time. 

Soon enough, it was time to get packed away too. Another big thanks to everyone who helped clear away.

Being President has been fantastic. I have got to be involved in so many things I would not have had the chance to - a judge on the Great British Menu, a guest on BBC Radio Sheffield, and help fundraise thousands of pounds.

I'm really excited to take a break as President, continue to support the group and campaign for change in the organisation that we are a part of and the society we live in. 

Kirsty Bowen

President 2014 - 2016

Another New Wave weekend at Denman College

Last weekend, 10 SHWI members went to the 'New Wave weekend' at the WI’s own Denman College.  Some of us had been before, a couple of years ago, but for others, it was our first time to Denman, and we didn’t quite know what to expect.  What we found was a glorious Grade II listed Georgian house, filled with around 70 women from other WIs, and the most accommodating and friendly staff (except for one slightly disrespectful barman, but he was more than made up for by the lovely Matt!).

Joanne, Lauren and Lucy outside Denman

Once we’d settled into our comfortable rooms, Friday evening started with a welcome talk and cocktails.  The slight tardiness of the cocktails (don’t keep a roomful of thirsty women waiting for free drinks!) was thankfully no indication of the organisation of the rest of the weekend, as everything ran like clockwork.  Dinner followed, and although not Yorkshire portions, was delicious.  After a cookery demonstration by Peter Lien, Head of the WI Cookery School, the evening drinking could begin in earnest…

The SHWI gang enjoy the food and wine

After a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning, we separated to go to our workshops.  We each got to choose three activities from a range including making textile decorations, biscuiteering, Bollywood dancing, meringues and vintage corsages.  To ensure our energy levels didn’t drop during the day, there were plenty of coffee breaks with homemade cakes and shortbread, a lovely salad bar or hot meal for lunch, and another three course dinner.

I found all the workshop tutors to be excellent, although they each had their own teaching style.  I enjoyed all of the sessions I attended, even if biscuit icing turned out to not be one of my greatest skills! (They still tasted good, though).

Grace's iced biscuits

I also really enjoyed the tour of the house – it gave some fascinating information about the history of the building, and sneaky peaks into some of the other bedrooms!  Most of the rooms on the first floor were quite grand, with original features and large windows.  My room was on the second floor, in the old servants’ quarters, and featured the call bell for the previous owner inside the wardrobe.  Luckily it didn’t ring whilst I was in residence!

Laura made this at the papercutting workshop

Saturday evening split our group between the two entertainments laid on.  Some partook in the lively salsa/zumba dancing, whilst others entered the quiz.  After the organised entertainment was over, it was back to the bar for some more drinking!  SHWI managed to be last up on both nights, and I heard stories of a game of hide and seek in the early hours.

Sunday morning gave us time for one more workshop, then, after lunch, with our waistlines and horizons broadened, and new friendships forged, it was time to say farewell. 

I feel like I am running out of superlatives, but I really did thoroughly enjoy the weekend, much more than I was expecting to.  My main question now is 'can we go again next year?'

Mary Beckingsale

SHWI Member

Fancy a WI-filled weekend away?

Some SHWI members at Denman in December 2012

Denman College Trip – New Wave Weekend

Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November 2014

This November, members from Seven Hills WI are heading to the WI's very own residential college in Oxfordshire for a 'New Wave Weekend'. This is a Denman course especially aimed at new wave WIs, giving us a chance to get away with the girls and experience a selection of workshops at Denman such as drumming, vintage corsage making, biscuiteering, meringue-making, bollywood and burlesque dancing as well as textile decorating.

Having been before, I can speak from experience and say that it is well worth making the trip. A few SHWIees went to the New Wave Weekend in December 2012 and we absolutely fell in love with the charm of the place. The building and grounds are stunning, with each room adorned with handicrafts from the different federations of WIs up and down the country. As well as a choice of workshops and two nights' accommodation, we were also treated to welcome drinks, breakfast, lunch and three-course dinners during our stay! 

The cost of the course is £255 for members or £295 for non-members - which we are sure you will agree is an absolute bargain once you've been and enjoyed the classes, the food and the accommodation. 

We have made arrangements to make a group booking with Seven Hills WI for 15 people. After this, any additional people who sign up will be subject to Denman having spaces remaining. If you would like to come, please bring £50 deposit to our next meeting on Thursday 18 April.

Come and see me (Jen) at Thursday's meeting with your cheque (payable to Seven Hills WI) or cash to make sure you bag a space! We will also need your name, address and contact details so if you bring this on a piece of paper that'll make it quicker and easier. 

Some practical info:

• Prior to the course, students will be contacted to choose three workshops from Drumming for Fun - Heather Summers, Make a Vintage Style Corsage - Louise Simmonds, Biscuiteering - Natalie Green, Making and Decorating Meringues - Kelly Mauger, Dancing Bollywood and Burlesque - Annabel Brash, Textile Decorations - Pat Lumsdale 
• To make administration easier, cheques should made payable to Seven Hills WI and we will make payment to Denman College for the whole group. 
• The remaining balance is payable by September’s meeting at the latest, this is Thursday 18 September  2014. 
• If at least 10 people sign up there will be a 5% discount
• You are responsible for travel costs to get to and from the College, and for any spending money you need whilst you're there (this would not be much on this course as all meals are included in the price. You would just need money for any drinks at the bar or things you might buy in the shop). 
• We will make arrangements for travel nearer the time. Last time, we arranged car shares and we split the cost of petrol, so you can expect something similar.

Jen (VP)

Seven Hills WI visits Denman College

We've all heard lots about the WI's very own residential college in Marcham, near Oxford, and we were intrigued to find out more. So, just before Christmas eight Seven Hills WI members set out on a trip to Marcham to attend a New Wave Weekend - a chance to sample the delights of Denman College and meet women from other WIs across the country. 

In the sewing class with May Martin (centre)

We all had our reservations about what it would actually be like but we are pleased to report that it was wonderful, we loved it! Okay, so it might not seem the cheapest weekend away at first glance, but when you add it up it's really quite good value for money. We got two nights' accommodation, welcome drinks, breakfast, lunch and three course dinners, loads of tea and coffee, the best shortbread we've ever tasted, and three workshops for just over £200 each!

 
The workshops were great, I made a charm bracelet, some Christmas decorations and a door wreath (gave the latter to my mum, she loves it!) and I was impressed with the quality of the tuition. Our sewing class was taught by the fabulous May Martin who will be appearing on TV in March as the Mary Berry-style judge in new programme The Great British Sewing Bee!

We also met some lovely women from other WIs (hello Clare and Becki from Birchgrove WI, India from Gloucester Road WI, Meryl from Old Dalby WI, the ladies from West Ealing WI and our wonderful college host Sally!) and it gave us a great chance to talk about our groups and pick up tips and advice from other branches.

Now we've been to Denman we can see that the charm of it really is the old house and gardens (it's like being in Downton Abbey, seriously!) so the news that the national federation are looking at selling the house and gardens, and just retaining the new part, is really sad. 

There is lots of history to the college which you can find out about here, but basically the house dates back to the 17th century and was the former manor house of Marcham. It was bought by the WI with money raised by each WI branch throughout the country contributing £10 over three years - seems reasonable to me! 

Denman College, named after the first chairwoman of the WI, officially opened in 1948 and has been a big part of many WI members' lives since then. Each of the bedrooms in the main house are decorated by federations so each is unique and just being there really makes you feel that you are part of something.

We would love many, many more of our members to experience Denman College but we feel this experience will be much poorer if the house and gardens are sold. The national federation are currently consulting on the future of the college and we'd urge all WI members to complete the short online survey before 11 January. 

Kim on the beautiful Downton-style landing!

You can also help Denman College by attending courses there. It is open to anyone, not just WI members, and there really is something for everyone, see www.denman.org.uk  for more details or email us at sevenhillswi@live.co.uk if you have any questions (I'll try and help!).

Lindsay
SHWI President