2025 started with the annual Brockenhurst Pantomime (oh yes it did!) with WI member Judy taking part in ‘The Pirates of Pen’s Aunts”.

At our January meeting we had speaker Sandy Shore, the first female Forestry England New Forest Keeper in in 940 years! You can read about our meeting here.

We signed a letter to our MP for our Dental Heal Matters Campaign and a ‘Tooth Fairy’ made by Jayne J was sent to our MP.

We have voted for our choice of Resolution to go forward to Hampshire WI and ultimately to NFWI.

Our Craft Group had a planning meeting and also a session entitled ‘Fun with Paper” where Carole inspired us with lots of ideas for ‘Fun with paper’.

Britta led a session teaching members how to crochet.

Rita and team have continued to make bandages for Ukraine on Wednesday mornings. New volunteers are always welcome.

Janette and team have resumed their Darts sessions on Thursday mornings at The Foresters. They have a forthcoming friendly match against Barton Bees this spring. New members are always welcome at these sessions.

Lunch Club was at The Filly. There was lots of chatter and camaraderie, despite it being chilly.

Kim has hosted Quilting sessions and those attending have learnt how to make a quilting block with ‘flying geese’ and are now working on an ‘Ohio Block’. The sessions are friendly and supportive and tea and Kim’s homemade cake are the alyays enjoyed at these sessions.

Our January Walk was cancelled due to storm Eowyn and 50+ MPH winds were forecast!

Ann H who has a longstanding link with The Queensland Country Women Association and received this message:

Hi Ann, Thank you for your WI news again, always interesting reading that I forward on to girls. Your activities are always so interesting & I am in awe of your member numbers. I can imagine from your visit to Marie all those years ago that you would have a picture in your mind of Kingsthorpe itself being a little Country Village surrounded by farmers & their wives who were interested in CWA. Now it changed so much with with new housing developments that are within easy commuting distance to Toowoomba & the people seemingly have little interest in their community, sadly such is life. We will be having our first meeting for the year on Thursday 20th Feb. So hard to imagine we are into February. All the very best to Brockenhurst WI girls for a successful & happy year of friendship, Regards, Del & all the Kingsthorpe girls. 

We look forward to February and our 107th Birthday.