"Welcome to Filkins and Broughton Poggs WI website page.
Over the last 12 months F&BP WI has gone from strength to strength, growing from an average attendance of about 16 to over 30, something must be right! The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall and normally has a guest speaker on each occasion with very diverse topics, for example 'Unusual Aromas and their Theraputic Properties' - not a lavendar and rose smelling session as you might imagine but a talk given by a professional about her work in using obscure aromas in her prison therapy work. Then there was an evening of archive wartime films encouraging us how to make ends meet and be imaginative over feeding the family (maybe not irrelevant in the current climate). Be glad you were brought up in the last century because a talk in July explored child rearing and treatments over previous eras and it was grim; its a wonder anyone survived. Helen and Clare Blackett recently gave an account of their experiences of living in Uganda and our most recent meeting was particularly well attended to listen to a talk on the Ernest Cook Trust; it is active in our village of course, but it was interesting to learn how the trust came to be established and of the ethics behind their work in the countryside.
Meetings always have time for socialising over tea or coffee and some evenings are certainly totally hedonistic with a Safari supper, a social evening and a Christmas meal to come. Members' Meeting in February is run by volunteers of the group - anything could happen here - but its usually a fun evening. We're also proud of our darts team - they won the Oxfordshire County trophy for 2009.
And that's not all. Elaine Smith and Lucille Jones organise monthly walks, daytime or evening, depending on the time of year, and these always include a pub stop for lunch or supper. Whilst these sure footed ladies are WI members, the walks are open to anyone, no charge, although help with lifts is always appreciated. Do contact us for more information. There are also events and outings organised on a wider scale by the Oxfordshire WI Federation and information of these is available via the monthly magazine and at meetings. Also we are fortunate in being situated not far from the WI College near Abingdon where a wealth of residential and day courses are on offer.
Our last 'event' was The Autumn Fayre at the beginning of October, well attended and supported, so thanks to everyone who came.
Should you wish to join now, membership is £29 per annum (this will take you through to January 2011) or come as a visitor for £3.
January 20th's talk will be 'Whatever happened to the Rainforest,' February is Members' Meeting and March hosts the AGM with the issue of the following year's programme. All in at 7.30 in the Village Hall.
Further information is available from Hilary Ward, WI President, on 01367 860430, or indeed ask any member from the villages."
