Welcome to the Abbotswood (Romsey) WI page. We are a friendly, vibrant bunch of women who meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm at Abbotswood Community Centre, Abbotswood Common Road, Romsey, SO51 0BX.
As well as our monthly meetings, we have a range of regular groups, including a lunch group, dinner group, craft group, book group, gardening/garden visits group and a walking group. We also take part in the annual inter-WI skittles tournament and quiz, get involved with Hampshire WI events (such as WI Fest in 2018), plus work on entries for the WI Tent at the Romsey Show. So there’s lots to get involved with if you’d like to!
We’re pleased to be known as a friendly WI and we’re always happy to welcome visitors and new members. It’s free for visitors (a donation for tea/coffee and cake is welcome), and you can come along to three meetings for free before signing up to join us. If you’d like any further details about meetings, please email – abbotswoodromseywi@gmail.com.
We hope to see you soon!
2019 Meetings
- 12 March – Upholstery
Join us to hear Mike Smith, from Sofa Smith: Handcrafted Furniture, giving an insight and demo into how to put a spring into your soft furnishings.
- 9 April – King John’s House
Discover more about the fascinating history of Romsey’s hidden treasure, King John’s House and Heritage Centre.
- 14 May – AGM and Ploughman’s Supper
Your chance to shape your WI, join the committee and cast your vote on this year’s resolution.
- 11 June – Gift of Sight, Beating Blindness
An insight into vision science and research being conducted in Southampton. With Ailsa Walter from Gift of Sight.
- 9 July – Square Dancing
Come and join us as we celebrate our 3rd birthday with the Testvale Square Dancers.
- 13 Aug – No Meeting: Outing To Be Confirmed
- 10 Sept – History of Knitting
How much do you know about knitting? Come and hear our speaker, Mrs J Meader, as she gives us an entertaining yarn about the history of knitting, from 1800 to 1945.
- 8 Oct – An Owl Experience
Learn about and meet some of these wonderful birds, with this talk and visit by the BOPH Barn Owl Project.
- 12 Nov – The Bootleg Years
Nigel Knott will share his experiences from 40 years worked with HM Customs & Excise.
- 10 Dec – Christmas Party
Celebrating the season, including a chance to take part in a challenge to transform a chocolate yule log. Are you up for the task?!
Follow us on Social Media
Find out more about what we’ve been up to recently by following our social media accounts:
Facebook – Abbotswood Romsey WI
Instagram – AbbotswoodRomseyWI
Twitter – AbbotswoodWI
Photo Gallery
Some of our past meetings have included…
- 12 Feb – How to Thrive, Not Just Survive!
Alison Rosen, physiotherapist, talked about how to value yourself as a woman and learn to thrive. We enjoyed taking part in various activities, including meditation and mindfulness.
- 8th Jan – What The Butler Saw
Life in the Big House in Victorian time, with speaker John Pitman.
- 11 Dec 2018 – Christmas Party and Festive Crafting
Celebrating the season with Christmas crafting, a Secret Santa gift exchange, mulled wine, mince pies and musical entertainment.
- 9 Oct 2018 – Florence: The Story of Florence Nightingale
Chester House Productions gave us a theatrical insight into the life of Florence Nightingale, one of Hampshire’s most famous women.
- 11 Sept 2018 – Fundraising Quiz
Fundraising quiz to raise money to buy a projector.
- 10 July 2018 – Second birthday party and talk about the creators of Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss
Jack Wilson joined us at our second birthday party and gave us an illustrated talk about Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, the famous creators of Noggin the Nog and Bagpuss.
- 12 July 2018 – Graphology, your character in your handwriting
Graham Birchmore gave us an interactive and fascinating insight into what aspects of character can be revealed in handwriting.
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