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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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SEPTEMBER 2023
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Our annual outing this year was a visit to the National Trust property Poleson Lacey. Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian house and estate, located on the North Downs. Margaret Greville, a well-known Edwardian hostess lived there and her collection of fine paintings, furniture, porcelain and silver is displayed in the reception rooms and galleries. After spending time looking around the house members were able to visit the shop before returning home.
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AUGUST 2023 BIRTHDAY MEETING
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the inauguration of Ovingdean Village WI we had a birthday tea organised by the committee. A pleasant afternoon was spent with sandwiches,cakes and a special birthday cake. This was followed by a general knowledge quiz.
Here are some photos of the afternoon.
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JULY 2023
Our July meeting was a musical entertainment with Rosie Page who has a wide variety of music, from Musical Theatre, to upbeat 60s, to opera! She sang songs from the musicals and other popular femail artists. A very good afternoon was spent listening and dancing to Rosie's performance.
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JUNE 2023
At our monthly meeting the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Serv ice gave a talk about Safety in the Home. This covered various issues that we might be aware of including testing fire alarms, planning espace routes, not overloading electric sockets and extension leads. Afterwards we were given a tour of a fire applicance and shown all the equipment that it contains.
FEBRUARY 2023
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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..
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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.
OCTOBER 2021
9 Members met at the Brighton Marina for a walk along the sea front to the Palace Pier and back. However iIt was a cool, windy day and we declined to venture onto the pier but we did stop on our return to the Marina for coffee at a restaurant on the beach.
SEPTEMBER 2021 - OUTING TO ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW
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Our annual outing in September 2020 was planned to be a trip to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew but this had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. We decided that once regulations were relaxed we would still go to Kew. The coach company kept our original booking and also the agreed price from 2020 and once the Covid regulations were relaxed at the end of July we contacted Kew to book our entry tickets.
On the appointed day 31 members plus 11 family/friends travelled on the coach to Kew. The weather was ideal and we were able to walk freely around the gardens looking at the specialised plant houses. The geranium colours were stunning and there were many unusual plants to look at in the ‘houses’. We returned to the coach for our journey home feeling a little more ‘normal’ having spent an interesting time together.
AUGUST 2021 - BIRTHDAY MEETING
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This was our first face to face meeting since the beginning of the pademic in March 2020. It was great to be able to meet up and celebrate the 48th anniversary of the opening of Ovingdean WI. We started the meeting with a demonstration of hand bell ringing in which some members took part and this was followed by refreshments. Sue had made a delicious birthday cake covered in fruit. Below you can see photos of our bell ringers, the birthday cake and 6 of the 7 committee members who had kept the Institute going throughout the pandemic.
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AUGUST 2020 - ZOOM BIRTHDAY MEETING
Once everyone had checked in, Maureen (our President) welcomed us all. She gave us a brief history of other birthday meetings starting in July 1978 and every ten years to date.
Members had been asked to show a flower decoration in a small container, which they then talked about and why they had chosen them. Members were also asked to wear a hat and a give little snippet about the one they had chosen to wear.
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2020 CRAFT
Although we have been unable to meet due to COVID 19 members haven't been idle. Several members made PPE for the NHS including scrubs, scrub bags and masks. Some have been knitting bonnets for the Travor Mann unit at RSCH and others created a patchwork quilt for Project Linus.
APRIL 2020 - ZOOM COMMITTEE MEETING
As we were all socially isolated due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we were unable to have a face to face meeting. It was therefore decided to hold our committee meeting on ZOOM. After a couple of teething problems we managed to get through the agenda in the allocated 40 minutes. Here is a photo of us during the meeting.
MARCH 2020
On a beautiful sunny day some members (+ 2 dogs) met to go for a walk on the Downs. This was the last meeting up that we will have for the foreseeable future due to the restrictions imposed on us because of the Coronavirus pandemic. WI meetings have been postponed but we're looking forward to getting together safely again once they are resumed.
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