2026 ACTIVITIES
SEPTEMBER
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For our annual much anticipated outing this year on the 14th September 28 members and their guests visited Knole House in Kent (the birthplace and childhood home of Vita Sackville West.) After welcome refreshments, we were able to visit the 600-year-old estate with its courtyards, showrooms, and Gatehouse Tower and explore the beautiful grounds with its herds of wild deer.
AUGUST
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On Monday 17th August nine of our members enjoyed a blustery walk from Brighton Pier to Hove and back stopping at The Lawns Café for refreshments. We are planning to follow this up with another walk on Thursday 8th October.
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On 10th August Ovingdean WI celebrated its 48th birthday with a delicious homemade cream tea and birthday cake. We were very pleased to welcome several guests including Gill Norman our Link Trustee from the East Sussex Federation of WIs and Melissa Green the CEO of the National Federation of WIs.
Members were able to browse interesting scrapbooks, artefacts and photos detailing the history of Ovingdean WI over nearly 50 years..
JULY
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On 11th July 2026 Ovingdean WI ran the cake stall at the local Farmfest. An abundance of cakes and other goodies were provided by our members and other local bakers. Many thanks to helpers who were Rosemary Smith, Sue Harvey, Ros Halls, Angela Lintott and Angela Pamely. Also to all our bakers.
Our July speakers this year were Angie Lintott and Barbara Quin (our local WI climate ambassadors and Ovingdean WI members) who gave us a very informative illustrated talk about how climate change is affecting us and what we can personally do to mitigate its effects.
JUNE
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About twenty of our members enjoyed a lunch out at the Modelo restaurant in Hove
APRIL
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Some members of the craft classes and examples of their work.
MARCH
ESFWI Annual Meeting donated basket
March Meeting speaker - Lady Poisoners of Victorian England
FEBRUARY
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At our February meeting Amanda gave a talk on crochet showing various items like blankets, rugs and handbags.
MEMORIES OF 2025
DECEMBER
At our November meeting we were challenged to create a Christmas hat from decorations that we had at home. Nothing new could be bought and the creations would be judged at the December meeting. Our craft leader produced an example of would could be achieved. Here are the entries and the winner.
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NOVEMBER
At our craft session members made standing Christmas decorations designed by our craft leader.
Everyone produced one to take home.
OCTOBER
At our craft session members learnt and made boxes which could be used for travel memories.
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SEPTEMBER
Our annual outing to Penshurst Place. A very interesting day out.
MAY
Group photograph of members celetrating VE Day. Members were asked to dress in red, white and blue.
Cake and dancing at our VE Day meeting.
APRIL
Ovingdean WI provided the April lunch at Ovingdean Hall. Here are some of the cooks and helpers. All affiliated groups choose a month to participate.
Helpers manning the cake stall at the village Green Farm Festival.
Easter Egg decorations created by members at a craft meeting.
The basket donated by Ovingdean WI to be sold at the ESFWI Annual Meeting. Other WIs in the Federation also produced baskets.
MARCH
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Walk from Rottingdean to the Greenwich Meridian monument.
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NOVEMBER 2024
During November we held a craft session making Christmas decorations, collected donations for our local Food Hub and went for a Christmas lunch. See photos below
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OCTOBER 2024
Our speaker this month was "From Sheep to Knitting Wool". This was the process from the wool from sheep to when it is spun into knitting warn.
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SEPTEMBER 2024
Our annual outing was to the Weald & Downland Museum at Singleton. 40 members boarded the coach at Ovingdean on a dry and warm day (the weather hadn't been good until then). On arrival most went for a refreshment break before exploring the houses located in the museum. We saw what rural living was like with over a 1,000 years of history to explore, and over 50 relocated historic houses to visit.
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AUGUST 2024
At our August meeting we organsed a birthday tea to celebrate the 46th year of Ovingdean WI. After some delicious scones with jam and clotted cream followed by a variety of cakes we settled down to play Beetle. A good afternoon was enjoyed by all.
MAY 2024
8 members met to enjoy a walk in Stanmer Park. It was a a sunny day culminating with coffee and cake in the cafe in Stanmer Village.
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MARCH 2024
15 Members attended the Annual Meeting of ESFWI in Eastbourne. The two main speakers were Patrick Grant from the Great British Sewing Bee and Emma Holland-Lyndsey, NFWI Head of Public Affairs.
APRIL 2024
Each affiliated club at Ovingdean Hall takes a turn to provide a lunch on the first Sunday of each month. It was Ovingdean WI's turn in April and here is a picture of members who were involved.
MARCH 2024
Members at East Sussex Annual Meeting held in Eastbourne
MARCH 2024
Our craft project this month was to make fabric Easter Eggs. We were ably led by our Craft Leader. Here are some of the results of the session.
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OVINGDEAN WI TABLE CLOTH
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Ovingdean WI has a tablecoth, made many years ago, which contains the names of members. The cloth is used to cover the officers' table at meetings. Jackie, one of our newer members, has updated the cloth by adding the names of recently joined members. Each name was handwritten on and then embroidered to complete the task.
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MARCH 2024
Members enjoying time together for lunch at the Mekan restaurant in Hove.
FEBRUARY 2024
A winter walk from Rottingdean to Saltdean on the Undercliff Walk. After stopping for coffee in Saltdean, we were fortified for our return walk to Rottingdean
JANUARY 2024
Several members knitted bonnets to be used at the Special Baby Care unit at University Hospitals Trust. These have an opening on the top through which any tubes attached to the baby can be passed.
This is an on-going project as once the baby is well enough to go home they take the bonnet with them. Therefore there is a constant need for the bonnets.
DECEMBER 2023
At our craft session we were shown how to make these ovely tree decorations. The materials were prepared beforehand by oour trainer who is one of our members. Everybody was able to complete a tree and purchase a pack to complete at home if they wanted.
FEBRUARY 2023
At our craft meeting members were shown how to make Easter cards. Each member was able to make three differeent Easter cards and here is a photo of their results. Another session is planned for the Autumn when the theme will be Christmas cars..
FEBRUARY 2023
Ovingdean Village Hall hold a Ploughmans Lunch on the first Sunday of the month. In ~February it was the turn of our WI to provide and serve the meal. All proceeds go to the running the village hall.
JUNE 2022
Several members visited Rotingdean Bowls Club to learn the rules and playing tactics of green bowls.
AUTUMN 2021 CRAFT
At our October session we made Christmas Baubles ready for the festive season and in November we made marzipan fruits and chocolates. Both sessions were enjoyed by members.
