Hannington W.I.
Contact: Mrs Pat Wythe 01635 297609
WI Ladies 1958
WI members & guests 2008
Hannington W.I . meets on the 1st Thursday of the month in the village Hall. Meetings start at 7-45pm. New members are always welcome to join our small, friendly group. Just come along to one of our meetings, or contact me, Pat Wythe (President).
Tel 01635 297609 Pat@tonywythe.force9.co.uk
Programme 2009
8th January The Vine and Craven Hunt Mr William Crosbie-Dawson
5th February Basket Making Christine Brewster
5th March Safe Driving Mr David Challoner
2nd April The Queen Mary’s Story 30 years of Ocean Glory Mr James Montgomery
7th May Resolutions Meeting
4th June Story of Beatrix Potter Mr & Mrs M Sheppard
2nd July Walkabout Quiz of Kingsclere
6 August Bishops Sex and Money Mr Tony Strafford
3rd September Jubilee Trust Judith Emtwiste
8th October Spinning Patricia Collins
5th November A.G.M.
3rd December Christmas Celebration
Hannington W.I. Report for October 2008
“A Journey through Cambodia” was the talk that Ross Macmurchy gave to the W.I. in October, about his and his wife’s experiences of travelling through the country.
He began talking about the tragic recent history of the country when the Khmer Rouge took control and imprisoned and killed 2 million people, mainly the educated, to create a peasant state. When a person was arrested, Pol Pot insisted that all of the family from the youngest child to the oldest living relative was also interred. Ross showed photographs of the Tuol Sleng Museum, formerly the Tuol Svay Prey High School and renamed Security Prison 21" (S-21) during the Khmer Rouge time, where people from Phnom Penh and surrounding areas were taken to be tortured to get confessions. Like the Nazis, they kept detail information of each person and took photographs of everyone when arrested and even after torture. These people then were sent to the “Killing Fields” where they were clubbed to death, bullets were too expensive, and put into mass graves.
On a much happier note, he then talked and showed photographs about the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat site covering some 400 square kilometres. From Angkor Wat, which is a kilometre square and is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world and the best preserved temple on the Angkor site, to the Ta Prohm, still being recovered from the jungle, with the giant trees, at least a hundred years old, towering overhead growing from walls and corridors, to the small Chau Say Tevoda temple undergoing extensive restoration.
Ross then told of the visit to Sihanoukville on the coast, where the beach vendors sold everything from Giant tiger prawns to fruit, massages to pedicures and the locals swam fully clothed.
For much more details visit www.southasianholiday.weebly.com
Barbara Macmurchy
HANNNGTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE CELEBRATES BEING 90
Hannington W.I. is 90 years old this year. A celebration garden party and supper was held on July 3rd, when current members welcomed 5 ex members, and the Group Advisor, Sue Atrill, as their guests.
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes was formed in this country in 1915, and the Hannington branch commenced in 1918. Previously the Hannington Mothers Union had been functioning locally, but as the W.I. began to flourish in the parish, The Mothers Union was dissolved.
During its formative years, Hannington W.I. went from strength to strength. Women who were very busy running their and homes and families, and were unable to travel through lack of time and transport, were delighted to enjoy the freedom of a social time together, with others in a similar situation.
Meetings were suspended during the war years, but by 1946 Hannington W.I. once again had a flourishing membership, although ladies wishing to join had to be vetted first by the committee. Meetings in those days still had a very formal structure. Members wore hats and gloves to meetings, and Jerusalem was sung at the commencement of each meeting, and usually The National Anthem at the end. Practical skills, particularly in cooking and craft, were taught, and members enjoyed working together using simple ingredients and materials, and were proud to take home something they had made. Other skills taught and enjoyed were appropriate for countrywomen, such as gardening, poultry keeping, bee keeping, and making jam, beer and wine. Entertainment was very much “in house” as drama and singing groups were formed.
By the end of the last century, the format of monthly meetings had changed considerably, to reflect the change in women’s lifestyles and social activities. They were now better educated, and as well as being wives, mothers and grandmothers, were not only managing their homes, but were also pursuing successful careers. Meetings were now much more informal and designed to meet the interests of the members. Outside of the monthly meetings, social activities were planned, and days out were organised and well attended.
Hannington W.I. 2008 is still going strong. Although we are a small group of 25 members, we have a wealth of talent and expertise to share. Members come, not only from Hannington, but also Baughurst, Kingsclere, Whitchurch and Basingstoke. We meet on the 1st Thursday of the month, at 7-45pm, in the village hall, when we are entertained by a selection of very diverse speakers, are still learning new and practical skills, and enjoy a social time together. We campaign on issues that matter to us and our community, and play an important role in many outside activities. We organize regular walks and pub lunches, visits to the theatre and cinema, as well as days out to various places of interest.
In 2008 it is important to record that the traditional values of the W.I. –Friendship and Support remain the same as in 1918.
New members are always warmly welcomed, just come along to one of our monthly meetings.
Pat Wythe. President.
Hannington W.I.
Jam and Jerusalem?
Contrary to what some believe, we do not sing Jerusalem at our
meetings, but we could…If you wanted to
We do not teach you to make jam at our meetings, but we could…If you wanted it
We have not posed naked for a charity calendar yet, but we could…We do have game ladies
We believe in being active and that a good walk deserves…Lunch and a drink at a pub
We believe we should keep up-to-date with the world of film…We visit the cinema monthly
We believe in laughing by entering competitions…Such as skittles and quizzes
We believe in being entertained…By having interesting speakers at meetings
We enjoy days out…having dinners…garden parties…and having fun
Would you like to see if you would enjoy our company…go on…give us a try…we don’t bite
Contact: Mrs Pat Wythe 01635 297609
WI Cake Break
This was held in the Village Hall on 25th April in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and it raised £230.46. Thanks to all who baked and those who came along to enjoy.