CHARITY COFFEE MORNING - 8 May 2018

On Tuesday morning 8th May the three W.I.s in this area,Cookham W.I.,Dean Rise W.I., and Cookham Dean W.I. held a coffee morning at the Cricket Pavilion in Cookham. About  32 members attended for coffee,a raffle, and delicious cakes provided by members.

The aim was to raise funds for Denham  and we made £205 to send towards the Denman Appeal. It was a good social event for members of the three W.I.s to meet up and socialise and the gloriously sunny day enabled us to move outside and enjoy the lovely views from the Pavilion.

VISIT TO WOMEN’S LIBRARY - 26 April 2018

On April 26th six of us paid a visit to the Women’s Library at the London School of Economics to see their current exhibition of Suffragette memorabilia. We had a guided tour from the librarian Debbie Challis whose commentary enhanced and brought to life what was a really interesting and moving exhibition. 

Behind the scenes we were able to see and handle other archivematerial not on general display. Seeing letters, campaign postcards, meeting leaflets, newspaper cuttings and otherdocuments of the period was a special treat.

The  exhibition runs until August and I recommend it highly. The Library is just a 5 minute walk from Holborn underground station.

We had intended afterwards to visit the newly unveiled statue of Millicent Fawcett but, having lingered too long over our lunch at Belgo’s in Kingsway, we decided to save this for another day.

REPORT ON BFWI SPRING COUNCIL MEETING - 4 April 2018

Seven of us attended at the Reading University get together. After the formal business was conducted Baroness Julia Neuburger spoke with wit and insight on the subject of loneliness. She made the point that Governments acknowledged the problem but rarely made manifesto promises about it as change would involve organising a lot of volunteer activities. Recruiting the necessary volunteer coordinators would be difficult to achieve. She thought the WI could help and outlined ways of reaching isolated and lonely people. Causes of loneliness include loss of driving licence, and hearing loss. Lunch clubs, book groups and, surprisingly, tea dances seemed quite successful as was Silverline, the 6pm glass of wine +telephone chat Next a speaker from Reading Ark Project explained how a double decker bus fitted out with a dozen beds had housed Reading’s homeless street sleepers over Christmas and winter and had had the spin off effect of identifying and helping drug users. Jan Guiver, our ACWW rep. told us about the small charity BFWI were committed to helping. This is the Public Welfare Foundation based in Narowal, Pakistan. It teaches destitute women the skills necessary to earn an income from small businesses. As well as training the charity provides equipment such as sewing machines, materials and links to local buyers for the products. BFWI aims to raise £1500 towards this. This comes out as just 50p per BFWI member. Thanks were given to retiring secretary Val Hudson. We all clapped as Ruth Daniel received her trophy for making a decorated box. Next year is BFWI’s centenary and two doll mascots will be touring the county and having their photos taken at WI branch activities. The deadline for submitting entries for the Berkshire Village Book is the end of May. A paragraph or two about current village life are needed. Photos may be included.

SEPTEMBER BOAT TRIP - 6th September 2017

The members of Dean Rise W.I. decided to celebrate their 25 th anniversary with a boat trip up the River Thames. About 50 members signed up for this and before the date, 6th September, fingers were crossed for fine weather for our outing . We were not disappointed for when we gathered at Boulters Lock, the sun was shining and although the forecast included intermittent light showers, all seats were undercover so a few drops of rain were not a problem.

Most of the group sat on the upper deck which gave a good view of the river but at lunch time we all gathered on the lower deck to eat our packed lunches and enjoy a drink or coffee from the bar. Some of the members who 25 years previously had been at the very first meeting were with us. Ruth Daniel, a founder member, made an anniversary cake for the occasion and we were all able to enjoy a slice.

Richard Poad from the Maidenhead Heritage Centre gave us a most interesting commentary about places we passed as we went up river towards Marlow. Few of us knew that Cock Marsh had been a landing strip during WW2.

 We arrived back at Boulter`s Lock at 4 o`clock and all agreed we`d had a most enjoyable and memorable day. Our thanks to French Brothers for their excellent organisation which allowed everything to go without a hitch.

AUGUST 2017 GARDEN PARTY

The President

The Bookstall

The Cakestall

The Plantstall

WIs GET TOGETHER AT COFFEE MORNING - 24 September 2015

All three Cookham WIs joined forces for a bumper Macmillan coffee morning on Thursday 24^th September at the Cricket Club in Cookham Dean.

More than 40 people turned up to the event, raising more than £400.

Annie Panton, Vice President of Dean Rise WI, said; “ It was an absolutely beautiful morning and was a very pleasant event indeed. Everyone was in very good humour and very willing and eager to make donations. I think we will certainly have to do it again.”

CENTENARY BATON REACHES BERKSHIRE

In this, the centenary year of the Women’s Institute, from town to countryside, coast to coast, Women’s Institutes around the UK are welcoming and passing on the Federation Link Baton. As it makes its way to the Royal Albert Hall on 4th June for the Centenary Annual Meeting of the WI.

Since January the Baton has journeyed around England and Wales and in April it is passing through Berkshire, resplendent on it’s Centenary Cushion designed and made by local WI member Ruth Daniel. 

On April 13th the three Cookham WI’s will welcome the Baton at a celebration tea in the Cookham Dean Cricket Club Pavilion. Special guest will be Mayor Richard Kellaway whose wife, Mayoress Mary-Lou Kellaway is a long standing member of Dean Rise WI.

Annie Panton, of Dean Rise WI, said: ‘We are delighted that this occasion is being celebrated in Cookham, where we have three branches of the W.I. We are all looking forward to the next century of the W.I. and its continuing inspiration towomen around the world’