Report written by Elaine about the Hampshire WI Spring Council meeting:

Last Wednesday Evelyn, Maureen and I attended the HCFWI Spring  Council Meeting and AGM at The Guildhall, Portsmouth.

The event was not well attended despite the NFWI Chair as Guest Speaker.  This was a shame as you all know her face and article from the WI magazine!

The usual AGM business went through with our Hampshire Chairman’s address.  The presentation about Virtual WI groups was extremely interesting reaching ladies from all over the world.  Disabled and ill ladies can also enjoy this type of WI if they cannot get to a meeting in a hall.  Lindsey Peters was a breath of fresh air and it was great to learn of this rather than hear about it.

A member, I cannot remember her name sadly, left in her will a legacy for the Hampshire WI.  It was decided that at each AGM to give £100 to a club for education purposes.  All the WI’s in Hampshire entered and a WI was drawn out of the hat by the daughter.  Brockenhurst WI was not chosen.  Another year  perhaps ……..

Then The NFWI Chair spoke.  Well, WI is  very fortunate to have this lady at the top.  A Welsh lady – she proudly told us she was the first Chair fluent in Welsh!  A hill farmer’s wife from Wales who spends her days working on the farm when not on the road for WI business.  A good communicator and passionate about the WI.

The most important part of her speech was about Denman – as you know Denman was sold for about £8 million and less expenses etc there is slightly less.  The new plan to go ahead with the proceeds has been sent to The Charity Commission for approval. She told us that “as soon as they have given the approval, every WI will be told”.  So she refused to take any questions on this.

After a picnic lunch and walk around to the raffle and various WI stands , the afternoon session started.  Michael Edwards, Eddie the Eagle – was the guest speaker.  A ski jumper and Olympian who in 1988 competed and although did not win a Gold jumped both 70m and 90m ! Considering the total lack of funding the plasterer from Cheltenham really achieved a lot at the Winter Olympics in Calgary.

We departed after singing The National Anthem home. 

A happy day, an interesting day and for me to see the NCFWI chair in the flesh rather than in print.  Certainly worth going to a meeting once and chatting to other WI members.