stanhoe.org

Stanhoe & Barwick WI Annual Report 2023
2023 must have been one of our busiest ever years, with nearly 30 teas, walks, visits and crafting sessions on offer to our members, as well as our monthly meetings and Christmas lunch.

We have once again increased our membership, welcoming 9 new ladies during the year. We ended 2023 with 44 members, which is more than twice our number just 7 years ago. An average of 3 visitors joined us each month, having seen us in the media or coming along with a friend; the majority of these ladies became members.  

Our President, Nicki Smith, has headed a committee of 7, having welcomed Jane into the fold. Julia has remained in the Treasurer’s post, Valerie as Secretary and Kath, Mary and Jan as Vice-Presidents. Jane has continued as Programme Organiser, aided, since Marie’s resignation, by Kath.  The committee held 10 meetings throughout the year.

The full number of 12 monthly meetings were held, with an average attendance of 27 members. This included the annual Garden Party, in our President’s garden, held once again on a beautiful sunny afternoon and with the traditional surfeit of tea and cake. We also had a feast after our May meeting, in celebration of the King’s Coronation. Out came the vintage crockery again!

We welcomed diverse speakers, all clearly enamoured with their subject. Some demonstrated their craft, such as Claire Howard with her silver jewellery; some enlightened us, such as Juyna Lewis with her history of Norfolk’s Indian Princess, and some allowed us a taste – thank you, Mrs Temple!  As often happens, we went on to pursue these talks further, taking two guided tours of King’s Lynn after Michael Aldis spoke to us, and a full Soundbath session, following Sally Collins’ introduction.

There was only one emergency meeting, caused by the illness of our speaker, but, instead, members spent an enjoyable afternoon immersed in various quizzes and puzzles, supplied post-haste by committee members.

This year saw the introduction of our Book Club, with quarterly meetings. It has proved to be a great success, with a core group of members enjoying the books and the coffee and cake that accompanies the discussion.

The annual Women Walk the World event saw 14 members and friends wandering the fields near Bircham Windmill, before enjoying a warm drink and cake there. Cake featured after our visit to Dale Farm and to Binham Priory, as well as several visits to local tearooms.

Our crafting sessions have been in Geli painting, decoupage and glassmaking, the latter being run by our own members and proving so successful than further sessions were held.  

The committee continues to support our fellow WIs, accepting invitations to meetings at Wells, Anmer, New Hunstanton, Snettisham and Ingoldisthorpe. We were pleased to be joined on one of our walks by members from Snettisham.

On a wider WI front, 6 members attended the Federation Annual Meeting and thoroughly enjoyed Esme Young’s amusing tales from her working life. We were pleased to be joined by our new adviser for our September meeting.

Through targeted publicity, efforts have been made to recruit from Stanhoe itself, there being only 4 members from the village at present. However, we are proud that our reputation as a lively and friendly WI extends far and wide, with members currently drawn from 19 different towns and villages. We begin 2024 with a strong membership, healthy finances and the promise of many more enjoyable meetings and outings.