Well, that’s summer done and dusted. I do hope you enjoyed the sunshine. We are now into meteorological autumn and, if you’re like me, hoping for an Indian summer!

Before continuing, I must congratulate all those who entered into the WI competitions at the New Forest Show. So many successes and a few disappointments but, when all is said and done, it is the participating and supporting our WI that matters. There is always next year to try again and defeat some of those judges! You can read more about the New Forest Show here.

Between now and Christmas, we have so much going on in our WI lives starting with the meeting on Monday 9th September. The meeting agenda will be turned on its’ head with the Speaker, Di Fletcher, starting the proceedings at 7.30, followed by the business agenda, birthdays, beetroot judging, Raffle draw and refreshments. Often our speakers must wait some time while we do the business before they take to the stage by which time they (and sometimes we) are ready for bed! So, let’s give it a try and see how it goes.

All those folk who have been growing beetroot for the competition, please bring them along for judging by Britta (last year’s winner) at our monthly meeting on Monday. She has given the following guidance for how to present your beets:

• Present your beet(s) on a named plate.
• They should be cleaned, and all leaves left on.
• The judge assumes permission to cut each beet during the judging process.
• Points will be awarded as following:
• Number of different colours achieved 1-4 points
• Number of healthy leaves counted 1 point per leaf
• Largest overall circumference of a beet 1 point
• Healthy internal appearance / juiciness 1 point per beet.

Di Fletcher is our speaker on Monday. She will be telling us all about “Brockenhurst – A WW1 Hospital Village.” An ideal opportunity to learn more about the history of our lovely village!

Other business:

Thank you to all who gave suggestions for raffle prizes. The results have been analysed and will be shared
with you by Karen Welch. Suffice it to say at this point, we are a boozy lot!

Speaker Selection Day: HFWI will be holding a Speaker Selection Day at the Village Hall on 18th
September, and we have agreed to serve refreshments throughout the day between 9.00 and 16.30. Don’t
panic, we are not asking for contributions of cakes! The organisers are supplying tea, coffee, milk and
biscuits. We just need volunteers to serve for a couple of hours on a rota basis. Please sign up if you could
help (sign-up sheet at Monday’s meeting or contact us to sign up). Anyone who volunteers can stay and watch the presentations free of charge.

Clean Rivers Week: Julie has worked hard to plan activities for us to recognise and promote Clean Rivers Week from 16th – 22nd September. She will tell you more about the events and have Sign-Up sheets for you so that you can take part. Dates of events are listed below. It would be so good to get a good turn out as a BBC South representative is hoping to join us to find out about the challenges faced by Clean Rivers Campaigners and the potential outcomes of the campaign.

Woodpeckers Macmillan Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 25th September, 2.00-4.30pm: We have been invited to attend this Macmillan event and to display some of our craft items along with the craft items produced by their residents. If you would like to display any craft items, attend and contribute to the Macmillan fund, you will be more than welcome. Sign-Up Sheet available at Monday’s meeting or contact us for more information.

St Saviours Christmas Tree Festival: We have signed up to contribute a decorated Christmas Tree to this event which will take place between 29th November and 2nd December 2024. It is hoped that village organisations will donate over 20 trees each one themed to the organisation’s activity. Our 5’ tree will have a theme of WI campaigns: Clean Rivers, Stem Cell Donation and Dental Health.

As Issy will tell you, work has already been started to make Christmas decorations, but we need more helpers, please, and we are offering workshops and materials to show how the simple decorations can be made. Tooth Fairies, Red Droplets, Bead Icicles and Stars are all waiting for your nimble fingers, so please sign up on Monday!

Lunch Club: Christine has booked the Walhampton Arms for lunch on Monday 23rd September at 12.30. Sign-up sheet available at Monday’s meeting or contact us for more information.

Even More Crafts: If you would like to learn a new craft or you could offer to teach a new craft, it may be possible! We would like to extend the fantastic work undertaken by Carole and Kim in their regular programmes and offer other one-off, or series, of sessions across a range of crafts in which you may be interested. To this end, you will find a Questionnaire attached to the email with theNewsletter for you to complete. The information received will help us to try to set up craft opportunities for your 2025 New Year Resolutions.

On Saturday 2nd November, World Textile Day will once again be helld at Brockenhurst Village Hall. Brockenhurst WI are running the refreshments stall at this event. In due course, we will be asking for volunteers and cake makers for this event.

Brockenhurst Group Show: Saturday 30th November 2024 between 10-15.00 at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, New Milton. Schedules are now available for those who would like to make Christmassy-type things. It is our turn to provide a refreshment service – tea, coffee and cake (we can buy in the cakes and be reimbursed for them) – so we will be calling for volunteers for the event). I understand that the organisers also need Stewards to assist the judges on Friday 29th November between 9.00 and 13,00. Sign-Up Sheets available. For more information, please contact Evelyn before 4th October or Julie thereafter. The schedule can be found here.

Brockenhurst Group Social Event in Sway: On Thursday 7 th November 2024, Sway WI will be offering a screening of the film “Calendar Girls” in Sway Village Hall starting at 6.45 and the film starting at 7.15. Each WI in the group is offered 25 tickets costing £10 each for their members (not £5 as stated in the email from Liz). Refreshments available during the intermission. Anyone attending is encouraged to dress in “twin set and pearls” or fuddy-duddy tweeds! More information is available via Evelyn.

A Murder Mystery Event is planned: Get ready to be amazed, amused and awestruck by a Murder Mystery Play at our Christmas Party on Monday 9 th December! There will be a cast of 10, including committee members but there are opportunities for members who fancy themselves in a memorable “Am Dram” performance to participate. No thespian skills required just a sense of humour and ability to learn or read a few lines! Our first Read Through will be on 16 th October at 7.00pm. If you are interested, please let Liz know.

Skittles: If you have signed up for the Skittles event, please contact Karen Welch to pay £14.00 which will include a small fish and chip supper. Prizes will be given for 1st and 2nd places plus a booby prize for the also ran.

Singing of Jerusalem before each meeting: A sensitive issue, I know, but I would like your opinion about whether we should continue with the tradition of singing Jerusalem before meetings. Should it be sung before every meeting, less often or not at all? There will be a show of hands at the Monday meeting after which a decision will be made. So sorry, I will not be at the meeting, but my vote would be for less frequent singing!

Birthday Girls: Belated birthday greetings go to April Chantler and Barbara Wilson who celebrated in August. The only September Birthday Girl is Sally Marshall. Love and best wishes from all your WI friends!

Village Christmas Fun Evening: Evening on Friday 6th December 2024. We will be having a stall at this
event. Exactly what we will be offering has yet to be decided but it would be good to offer something
Christmassy which will generate a little bit of funding, be enjoyed by children and adults and present the WI
in a light-hearted manner. So far, a re-run of last year’s Fruit Machine with prizes, sale of hand-made Christmas decorations, and Christmas food items. All suggestions in writing to members of the committee by the 20th September, please, so that we can stake our claim with the Village Events Committee.

I think this is quite enough for going on with! We have a very busy and enjoyable time ahead of us! Great
for team building!
Thanks for all you do for WI life and for Brockenhurst.
Liz xx

Further September Activities

If you would like to purchase a WI 2025 Calendar, please add your name to the sign-up sheet at Monday’s meeting or contact us by 20th September to order one,

Bandage making for Ukraine continues during September. Please Note that the session on Wednesday 11th September 2will be at Jan V’s house. The dates are below.

Dart practice will continue on Thursday mornings during September. The dates are below.

The Craft Group will resume, starting on 6th September at 2pm. Please contact us for more details and for the location. Or see Carole at Monday’s meeting.

Forthcoming Events

Wednesday 4th September 2024 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Thursday 5th September 2024 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Friday 6th September 2024 – 2pm-4pm Craft Group – Planning Meeting for the coming months.  Please contact us for more information, to book a place and for the location.

7th September: Alresford Show

Monday September 9th 2024 Monthly Meeting with speaker Di Fletcher -“Brockenhurst – a World War I Hospital Village’. At Brockenhurst Village Hall – arrival from 7pm for a 7.30pm start.

Wednesday 11th September 2024 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Jan V’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Wednesday 11th September 2024 Bunting Making at 2pm at Julie’s house. Come and decorate a piece of bunting for our Clean Rivers Campaign (or decorate it in your own home). Please contact us for more details.

Thursday 12th September 2024 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Friday 13th September 2024 – 2pm-4pm Craft Group meeting  Please contact us for more information, to book a place and for the location.

14th September 2024 Romsey Show

16th – 22nd September Clean Rivers Action Week – click here for more information of what we have planned.

Monday 16th September 2024 Clean Rivers Action Week –Litter Pick at Balmer Lawn Car Park (AKA Brock Beach) at 2pm on There will be a sign-up sheet at the WI meeting on 9th September. Please bring your own litter picker (if you have one) and gloves. Please contact us for more details.

Wednesday 18th September 2024 Hampshire WI Speaker Selection Day. Brockenhurst Village Hall. Sessions at 09.30 and 13.15. Click here for more information or to book.

Wednesday 18th September 2024 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Thursday 19th September 2024 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Thursday 19th September, Clean Rivers Community Awareness Walk starting at 2pm from Whitefield Moor car park, off the Rhinefield Road in Brockenhurst. We will walk for about an hour at a pace to suit all. Tea and cakes will be served afterwards. There will be a sign-up sheet at the WI meeting on 9th September. Please contact us for more details.

Friday 20th September 2024 Clean Rivers Action Week ‘Citizen Science’ Water Testing Great UK WaterBlitz. We will be undertaking water testing in a few locations around the village. There will be a sign-up sheet at the WI meeting on 9th September. Or contact us for more details.

Lunch Club: At Walhampton Arms on Monday 23 rd September at 12.30 There will be a sign-up sheet at the WI meeting on 9th September. Or contact us for more details.

25th September 2024: Hampshire WI’s Visit to Gilbert White’s House.

Wednesday 25th September 2024 Bandage Making for Ukraine 10am-12 noon at Rita’s house. Please contact us for more details and location.

Wednesday 25th September 2024 – Skittles Evening at The Huntsman 6.30pm for a 7pm start. contact us for more details.

Thursday 26th September 2024 Darts practice 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.