Our WI was formed in March 1919 and we currently have over 35 members. We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm in the Parish Room, St Mary’s Church, Old Basing, RG24 7DJ. There is parking on the main street with disabled access on an incline leading to the building. A typical meeting normally runs for 2 hours.
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT….
The above photo’s show us at a managed WI picnic we held at a social distance at the recreation ground in Old Basing in the Summer of 2020.
Last Christmas (2020) we managed between lockdowns to hold a Christmas Fair and our wonderful members made, baked and turned up to buy our Christmas goodies. We raised a good amount of money for our funds. With this money we purchased a professional Zoom Licence so we can hold our meetings on line. We also use it for our Committee Meetings and our WI Craft Meetings. We also joined our Parish Church in a Christmas Tree in the grounds. Nothing indoors at this time. We had to get an outside tree and lights as it was outside all over Christmas.
We are now planning and hopefully will be able to hold a summer fair as our Village Carnival has been cancelled again this year. We have also booked The Tea Room for a get together picnic lunch rather than our garden party which we usually hold at a members house. Hopefully it will be dry and warm and we can all sit outside in the Recreation Grounds which we are so lucky to have in the Village.
We have gained 3 new members over lockdown and are looking forward to them joining in with our Zoom meetings so we can at least identify them when we are able to get back together again.
Our Booking Secretary Sandy Scott has been busy finding us speakers for our monthly meetings and we have been invited by a WI in Exeter to join a Zoom meeting with them in March with a speaker from Hampton Court Palace about the Ghosts that walk the Palace.
Old Basing WI is part of Loddon group which consists of 16 WIs. Belonging to a group enables us to network with other members of nearby WIs with the added opportunity to attend group meetings in the spring and autumn. There is an extra small charge to attend these. Loddon group also takes part in the Federation-led group quiz nights and skittles and darts competitions as well as arranging educational outings and event
As members of Hampshire Federation we have the opportunity to purchase tickets to attend spring and autumn Federation meetings held at the Portsmouth Guildhall and the Anvil in Basingstoke respectively. Speakers at these events usually include well known public figures.
The National Federation host their annual meeting at various venues around the country and in Wales. Members from every WI can apply to be a delegate or an observer at these meetings.
As well as our monthly meetings, Old Basing WI also arrange theatre outings, garden visits and day trips to places of interest. We have a craft group which meets once a month and a regular walking group (see details below). As a member you can take part in these extra activities, as well as having access to events and competitions arranged through Hampshire Federation and our National Federation.
Why not come along to one of our meetings? We are very friendly and would love to see you!
PROGRAMME
All Monthly Meetings now on Zoom
- 2nd March 2021 Members Meeting
- 25th March 2021 Joint Members Meeting with a WI from Exeter on Ghosts of Hampton Court Palace.
COFFEE MORNINGS, WALKING GROUP, CRAFT GROUP AND EVENTS
Coffee Morning At Conkers
- Postponed until further notice
Walking Group –
- Postponed until further notice
Lunch Club –
- Postponed
CRAFT GROUP –
- 10th March 2021 with a craft Demonstration making Boxes. (Zoom) 7pm
NEW MEMBERS TO THE CRAFT GROUP ARE WELCOME