Hassocks WI
  • Welcome!
  • News
    • More news
  • Groups/Extra
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Photos of other events
    • More outings
    • More photos
  • Current Programme
  • Last Year
In July we had a fund raising stall at the Age Concern Fayre. The photo below shows some of our members hard at work at our stall!
Picture
Picture
Our June meeting was a talk by Paul Green, entitled 'Step Back in Time' He used to work for the Argus newspaper and so had access to their archives. He entertained us with stories and artifacts on show. The Argus was first published in 1880 and he had a copy of the first edition. The print was tiny!
  May 
​'Manners Please'
was the title of an informative yet funny talk by David Allen. We were asked to bring a tea cup and saucer, teaspoon, paperback book and a fan to the meeting. David explained how these items were used in Victorian times. It seems the fan was useful for women to give private messages to suitors. Shame on you if you separated cup from saucer when paying an afternoon call to a friend (by appointment and only 15 minutes allowed for each visitor). We've come a long way since then!

49 members and 1 guest attended.
Picture
The photo on the left shows a member practicing walking upright by placing a book on your head.
The photo above shows members trying out fan messages


Picture
Our April meeting was an interactive introduction to the ancient Chinese exercise of Qigong led By Ali Leftwich. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we forgot to take photos (note to self..Must do better) 56 ladies attended

During April some of our members tested the water in the stream at the end of Woodsland Road for nitrates and phosphates. This was our second session as citizen scientists for the Waterblitz survey. We first did this last September. The water quality of this site remains very good. 
 The results can be seen on https://www.freshwaterwatch.org/pages/great-uk-waterblitz-results#RESULTS  
The photo shows some members checking the results


​

Our March meeting was 'Fun at the Pub' but not a real pub! We had a variety of pub games on offer (some seldom seen these days) and a bar which offered a small range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus pub snacks. Unfortunately no photos were taken but a good time was had by the 46 ladies who attended.
Picture
You may have noticed Knicker bunting in various places around Hassocks. This is to draw your attention to ovarian cancer. The WI nationally is raising awareness of the symptoms of this disease to help people to be alert to it's symptoms. As with all cancers, an early diagnosis increases the chances of a good outcome.​​​




​
​Our February meeting was the AGM. 46 members and 1 guest attended. This was a good turn out for an AGM. Perhaps they were enticed by the entertainment that followed - Belinda Sharp, accompanied by Dave Farmer on the keyboard sang love songs for us. (It was close to Valentine's Day).She had also devised a quiz based on the songs. This was very well received. Belinda has a lovely voice and the quiz provided extra interest. I regret that as everyone was having such a good time, no one remembered to take any photos!


​Our January meeting was the annual debate as to which of the National federation of WIs proposed resolutions for the forthcoming year was favoured by our members. We went for 'Bystanders can be Lifesavers'. This decision is put to the NFWI who will collate the decisions from all WIs  and a final vote will be held at the national AGM. After the discussion we made cushions for breast cancer patients. These cushions are heart shaped and fit snuggly under the arm. 70 were completed on the night. This is something we have been doing for some years. No photo was taken on the night but  photos taken on a previous occasion are in he gallery. 47 members and 1 guest attended.
Our ​December meeting was a talk by Andy Thomas entitled 'Christmas, a Festive History'. It was so well received we've booked him again for our October meeting. After the talk there were festive snacks and our very popular raffle of Christmas hampers. There were about a dozen of them to be won. 55 members and 3 guests attended.
Picture
Our November meeting was Line Dancing led by Lesley Orford. This was a very popular event. 45 members and 6 guests attended. The photo shows some of the ladies in action!

Picture
 This poster was set up in the memorial Garden to highlight our campaign 'No More Violence Against Women and Girls. We also had a talk by professional speakers and a candlelit vigil. The campaign continues.

Picture
​Stella made these post box toppers for Halloween
​and Remembrance Day

Picture

Picture
    Nicky made   this     impressive cake   for   our   October     meeting   which   celebrated   Hassocks WI's   15th   anniversary.   It   tasted   even   better than it   looked. Several   members had     seconds

Picture
  •     A happy time was had   by all!

Picture
The photo shows one of our entries for The South of England Autumn Show, which had a Christmas theme. We were very pleased to be awarded 3rd prize. Shirley got 2nd prize for her collage entry ( sorry, no photo!)

Picture
Picture
 3 members in the stream         gathering data


Hassocks WI does Citizen Science!
We took part in the September Waterblitz survey by analysing the Herring Stream as it passes the end of Woodsland Road. The results can be seen on https://www.freshwaterwatch.org/pages/great-uk-waterblitz-results#RESULTS    This shows the stream is in very good ecological condition. The photos above show the scientists in situ!

Our September meeting was a talk by Sarah Oldridge 'Marianne North - a remarkable Victorian flower painter'. Some of you may have visited Marianne's gallery at Kew Gardens. It was a very interesting talk and so good to hear of a lady in Victorian times pushing the boundaries for women!

Our Afternoon Tea for Breast Cancer Now

On August 7th we put on an afternoon tea in the Green Room of Adastra Hall. The aim was to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now and also to remember Judith, who was a much loved member of Hassocks WI and also of the choir. The turn out was fabulous, we could have used the bigger hall! At 3pm the choir sang.                                                               We raised £560                   

Picture
We had more cakes available to replenish the table as cakes were sold. Thanks also to Bake Out who provided the scones.

Picture
The choir sang some of Judith's  favourite songs.

Picture
The ladies in the kitchen did a great job and were busy all afternoon
Picture
 The members of Hassocks WI enjoy outings.
Theatre trips are very popular. In July 18 of us went to the London Palladium to see 'Hello Dolly'.

We made our own arrangements to travel up by train, doing so in smaller groups. We booked a restaurant for after the performance. It was a lovely, sociable day and Hello Dolly is a real treat.

 More photos are on the 'More news page and several photos are under the Gallery heading.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Email us at: [email protected]