Things To Do
GFWI Things To Do 2020
- please contact WI House for information about late availability -
LADY DENMAN CUP 2020
The Lady Denman Cup Competition is an annual writing competition run by NFWI. This year’s theme is ‘What I heard on the bus …’.
Using no more than 500 words, WI members are invited to submit a piece of writing, either comical, serious, fact or fiction, based on a conversation they have overheard, or imagined they had heard, on the bus. Have some fun with this! It’s a great theme!
Applications forms and more information can be found on MyWI - the NEW closing date is Friday 18th September for members to submit their entries to their Federation office, and then Federations have until Friday 16th October to select up to three entries to go forward for national judging.
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
TERRACOTTA POT PAINTING - THURS 17TH SEPT - 10AM TO 12.30PM
Join in via Zoom as you watch. You will need: 2 terracotta pots (new, in a manageable size), acrylic craft paint - a variety of colours (suggested is red orange green blue and purple), masking tape, round tipped brushes (a finer one and a thicker one), a pot of water, a saucer/palette for paints, towel/rag to dry brushes and paper to practice designs on.
Cost £10 - Application form with your WI Secretary 
ELIZABETH FRY, THE ANGEL OF NEWGATE - TUES 22ND SEPT - 11AM TO 12:30PM
Our own Federation Chair, Janice Cole, tells how she walked past a statue of Elizabeth Fry every day when at work and realised she knew little beyond that she was called the ‘Angel of Newgate’. Research showed she was so much more than that.
Join us to hear about a truly inspirational 18th Century woman who did so much more than helping the women prisoners in Newgate. She helped others young and old, both at home and in Europe whilst bringing up a large family, acting as hostess for her husband and suffering from mental illness. She was also an elder of the Quakers and was a woman who stood up to the men who controlled the country, perhaps I should say world, at the time. In line with our principles she taught the women to value themselves and showed them they had a voice, providing reading and craft materials as well as education for the children.
Tickets £4 via Eventbrite - click here.
OCTOBER EVENTS
MAKE A FESTIVE WREATH - MON 1ST OCT - 11AM to 12:30PM
Make a stylish festive wreath which can be made with a colour scheme of your choice.Whatever you are celebrating Christmas, Easter, Weddings, special birthdays or an all year round decoration for your home this is a delightful addition to any celebration.
Claire Salmon is the tutor and a list of the materials will be sent to you when when you apply to join this zoom workshop. You can participate or just watch the demonstration.
Cost £5.00 - Application form with your WI Secretary
THE WOMEN'S EURO-ARABIAN NORTH POLE EXPEDITION 2018 - TUES 6TH OCT - 2PM TO 3PM
Misba Khan was a member of the international team of ten women from across Europe and the Middle East that skied the last degree to the North Pole in April 2018. The expedition faced many physical challenges like temperatures down to -38°C and shifting pack ice, but the core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures. In addition, the expedition inspired many women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fulfill their own ultimate life ambitions.
The women were diverse in age, experience, background, culture, occupation, family and perspective, the intention was to create a truly representative group of women to take on the challenges of the Arctic together. Misba Khan is a finance manager and chaplain in Manchester. The team were accompanied by a three-woman film crew who were looked after by two women guides, the resulting feature length film ‘Exposure’ is due for release in 2020. The team also undertook two scientific studies during their ski to the top of the world. Both studies will contribute towards research aiming to make human spaceflight and interstellar exploration possible in the future. One looks at the impact of extreme environments on the body, while the other looks at the consequences on the human mind.
Tickets £4 via Eventbrite - link coming soon, or search GFWI within Eventbrite.
REVERSE PATCHWORK AS YOU GO, WITH MARGARET BROW - WED 21ST OCT - 11AM TO NOON
Making a small piece of four blocks, which will be joined together. You may wish to go on and make a larger item such as a throw or lap quilt. This is a good technique to use up scraps and is a manageable way to make a quilt of any size. The front and back are quilted at the same time, as you go along, so no large pieces of wadding and backing fabric are needed.
Requirements of materials will be send out with the booking confirmation.
Tickets £10 via Eventbrite - click here.
JOURNALING - THURS 22ND OCT - 7PM TO 8PM
Jackie Sumerfield is an artist Living in Helmshore, Lancashire. She paints mainly in watercolour but tries mixed media too, and has been keeping journals since 2005 - she has about 30 to date and counting! She loves sharing what she does and showing others how easy it is to keep a beautiful journal they can be proud of. And no, you don’t need to be able to draw, or be an artist to start, the important thing is to have a go.
From Jackie: "I’m so pleased to be talking to you in October so you are able to start on that journey, with a bit of inspiration and lots of ideas. I did eleven double pages in my journal during weeks of lockdown so there is plenty to see and share, and hopefully lots of inspiration. I talk about layout, lettering, ideas, use of collage, text - all sorts!".
Tickets £4 via Eventbrite - link coming soon, or search GFWI within Eventbrite.
NOVEMBER EVENTS
THE STORY OF ANDREW CARNEGIE, WORLD’S RICHEST MAN, A TALK BY JEREMY HOLMES
- TUES 3RD NOV - 2PM TO 3PM
Andrew Carnegie came from a slum in Dunfermline, Scotland, made his fortune in America as a ruthless steel magnate, then at the start of the 20th century gave it all away by setting up philanthropic foundations all over the world. In his day he was worth more than Bill Gates and earnt so much interest on his wealth that he couldn’t give it away fast enough. This talk explains his rise, his motivations and his unique personal story, in the context of the dramatic industrialisation of America. The speaker was a trustee of the Carnegie UK Trust for many years.
About Jeremy: Jeremy had a career as a management consultant before becoming CEO of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and then taking on a senior role in higher education. He is now semi-retired, devoting his time to trustee and non-executive roles as well as playing in a local orchestra (when allowed by COVID restrictions!) and giving talks like this one.
Tickets £4 via Eventbrite - click here.
2021 Planning
MOKUNE GANE WORKSHOP 
- 17th February
PEARL STRINGING WORKSHOP - 10th March
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING - 24th March - Cheltenham Town Hall
BOOK BINDING WORKSHOP - 7th April
NFWI ANNUAL MEETING - 19th April - Royal Albert Hall, London
CREWEL EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP - 5th May
WALKING WEEKEND - 7th - 9th May
SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT FINAL - 20th May - WI House
ROYAL THREE COUNTIES SHOW - MARQUEE ONLY - 18th to 20th June
ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA TRIP - 6th July
SWISHING EVENT - Spring 2021