“This is the last newsletter, but by no means least for 2024, so here goes!

November went out with a joyous bang – at the Brockenhurst Group Show where we won 4 (yes, four!) cups for the seventy entries into the all the classes. A just reward for all those members who worked so hard producing evidence of their talents. Congratulations to everyone who took part, even if you were an “Also Ran” like me! Special congratulations must go to Julie, who submitted the most entries across all the WIs involved, and to Kim, who won a cup for her Christmas Apron. We should also thank Kim and Julie for all they did on the organising committee, receiving all our entries and transporting them to the venue and making sure that they were all arranged for optimum effect! This one sentence does not do justice to the reality of Julie and Kim’s efforts on our behalf, but I hope they will accept the tribute knowing that there is such a lot more that could be said. Thanks go, too, to the team of volunteers who made cakes and/or helped serve refreshments on the day. As always, there were many compliments from the customers.

The Christmas Tree Festival during the last week of November was also a great success for all the organisations who participated. Our tree came fifth out of over forty trees displayed in St Saviour’s Church – based on the value of the donations made by the visitors for their favourite tree(s). The Mothers Union raised a magnificent £1300 during the festival. Some of that total will cover refreshment costs but the rest will be donated to the four nominated charities in due course. Those members who participated in the team making all the decorations for our tree, for setting up the tree, or even for taking it down again know how much hard and enjoyable work was involved, for which we are so grateful. The workshops were ideal opportunities to learn new skills, display those skills, to chat and make friends with other members. Let’s do more!

Moving on, December offers us three more events, starting with the Brockenhurst Group Carol Service in St Saviour’s Church at 2pm on Friday 6th December – followed by tea and cake in the Church Hall afterwards Please do come along and sing carols at the tops of your voices, listen to the readings, take time-out from Christmas preparations, and enjoy the tea and chat with fellow WI members. Please be aware that Brookley Road will be closed from 4.00pm, so do not park there! Family and friends are also welcome!

Hot on the heels of the Carol Service will be the Brockenhurst Fun Evening. We will be setting up our stall from 4pm for which we already have enough helpers. However, more volunteers are needed to man the stall during the evening from 6 – 8.30. Please let me know as soon as possible if you could spare as little as 30 minutes to be part of the Human Fruit Machine, to give out prizes or sell a range of Christmas Decorations, and other Christmas goodies. The stall is supporting a very worthy Women and Children’s Refuge. So please help!

Our thanks go to all those members who have responded to the invitation to the Christmas Party Meeting next Monday. So far, forty members have said they will be coming, and it is not too late to claim your place if you haven’t already done so. Just let me know by Friday so that we can lay on the right amount of Mulled Wine, Christmas Nibbles, and chairs! The Sway Handbell Ringers will be playing Christmas music for us to sing along to; the Trimming Troupe will stretch your investigative skills to solve the “Mystery of the Christmas Cracker Killing” and there will be a bumper Christmas Raffle – don’t forget your purse! If you have Christmas cards to distribute to members, there will be a table for you to put them on. If a WI meeting is not a meeting for you without the singing of Jerusalem, I do hope that you will forgive us that, on this occasion, we will not do so – timings are tight throughout the evening, and we need to be out of the room by 10.00pm at the latest. Feel free to don Christmas hats and other apparel but don’t forget to wear the white ribbon given out by Julie at the November meeting to support the campaign to reduce violence against women and children.

The following ladies will be celebrating birthdays during December: Catharine B, Brenda H, Jayne J, Janette S, Karen W, and new member Christine H. Please join me in wishing them all a very Happy Birthday!

The Competition of the Month for January is a picture in any format of a Post Box!

An important notice! The January 2025 Meeting will start later than usual at 7.45. We had to do a deal with the Yoga Group so that we could have access to the room earlier for the Christmas Party. The room will be set up between 7.15 and 7.45 and doors will be open for members at 7.30. The first 15 minutes will be given over to business followed by the speaker, Sandy Shore, talking about life as a New Forest Keeper. The Competition of the Month will be a small picture in any medium representing your Christmas!

That’s all for now, folks! Other than to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. Liz xx“

Other Activities (please check the Diary Dates page for last minute changes)

Darts practice will continue on Thursday 5th and 12th December 11am at Foresters Arms, Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. All welcome to join in. Please contact us for more details.

Bandage Making for Ukraine – please see the Diary Dates page for updates.

On Saturday 7th December 2024 Hampshire WI are holding an update and discussion on this years shortlisted NFWI
Resolutions. Tickets £5 Book and pay here. At WI House, Eastleigh

On Friday 13th December 2024 – Craft Group 2-4pm. Please contact us for more details and location.