This year, it was Brockenhurst WI’s turn to organise the Brockenhurst Group social event.

The theme of a chocolate evening was decided upon.

On Wednesday 4th October WI members from Barton Bees, Sway and New Milton Sands joined Brockenhurst WI members at Brockenhurst Village Hall.

The evening started with a cuppa and a chocolate themed word search as an ice-breaker. Guests were mixed up a bit, with two Brockenhurst members at each table.

Miss Witt, a world-renowned local chocolatiere and teacher, talking to us about her career in the food and restaurant industry, then specializing in making first-class chocolate.  She told us about the different grades of chocolate to obtain the best result and taste, and about her travels to Ecuador to see the cacao being grown and processed.  We were shown how to melt chocolate, pipe into moulds, seal and cover with more chocolate, which we all then tried for ourselves.  This created much conversation and laughter as some of us were more skilled with a piping bag than others, but we all enjoyed ourselves.

This was followed by a cup hot chocolate and brownies or tiffin.

Guests then had to think hard for the chocolate themed quiz, with sections on literature, history and music.  It seems chocolate has played quite a role in many aspects of British life over the years, and who could remember when Marathon became Snickers? The quiz was won by Christine K’s table! The prize was… a bar of chocolate each!

The evening finished with a raffle with some great prizes donated by local businesses. The jewel in the crown being a voucher for lunch at The Pig Hotel.

Thanks go to all those attending our evening.

Thanks also go to all the Brockenhurst helpers who made brownies, cut them up, ladled hot chocolate, sold raffle tickets, registered guests and entertained them at tables, as well as being waitresses! 

Thank you to Britta and Christine K for the photos.