Happy New Year. Wishing you health and happiness for 2026. As usual, we have a range of activities this month.
On Monday 12th January, we have our monthly meeting. Once again, we will be downstairs in the Forest Hall at Brockenhurst Village Hall. Arrival is from 7pm for a 7.30pm start.
Our speaker is Ken Fowler, talking about ‘The Islands’. It is a follow-on talk from his previous talk,’ A Race to Scotland’.
We will also be voting on what resolution we would like to put forward for the 2026/27 campaign. The 5 resolutions were published in the December edition of WI Life and are also here. If you won’t be at the meeting, please take a look at the resolutions here email us know your choice by 16th January and we will add it to our votes.
The ‘Competition of the Month’ is a ‘Hellebore or Snowdrop in a vase’. There will also be a raffle, so don’t forget your purses!
By the way, we raised £160.50 for Honeypot charity at our December meeting from our sales table, so thank you for your support for this.
Forthcoming Events
The darts team continue to practise on Thursday mornings at the Forester’s Arms from 11am. They are always welcoming of new people joining them, so why not give it a try.
This Friday at 2pm is the first meeting of the Craft Group at Carole’s house. This month the craft are learning rag rugging. This was one of the suggestions from a member when we did a survey last year, so if it was you, or you fancy giving rag rugging a try, do go along. Please contact us for the location.
Kim is running a cross stitch group and there is a session on Friday 16th at 2pm and these sessions are open to all our members. Please contact us to book your place and for the location.
Rita and team continue to make bandages for Ukraine on Wednesday mornings from 10am
The village pantomime is on this weekend from from 9th-12th January. Our very own member Judy is involved with the panto. I’m looking forward to going! Tickets are still available from Spencers or online here.
There is a village litter pick Saturday 10th January. Meet up Bowls club from 9am-11am.
On Saturday 10th January, there is also the Mother’s Union Gift Swap from 10-30-12 at the church hall.
On Monday 12th January here is a free trial ‘Gentle Movement’ class at the church hall from 3.30-4.30pm.
Lunch Club – Christine has organised a special 2 course lunch at Barton Golf Club on Wednesday 21st January for 12 noon. The cost is £27 for two courses, coffee, mints and gratuity. Lifts can be arranged. There will be a sign-up sheet at Monday’s meeting or contact me for more details or to sign up.
If you are looking for a new hobby, The WI Learning Hub has lots of courses and talks which are free for WI members (if you sign in with the email address that you used to join the WI). Take a look here.
On 22nd March the Brockenhurst Group of WI’s (Brockenhurst, Sway, New Milton Sands and Barton Bees) along with the Salterns Group are holding the 75th Brockenhurst Group Show at 10-3.30pm at St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Lane, New Milton BH25 6QL from 10am with the prize-giving at 3pm. Last year, we won the overall cup and 2 other cups! 32 members from Brockenhurst WI entered. This year, we would really like to keep the cup(s) and get even more members to enter!. The categories can be seen on the schedule here.
At Monday’s meeting, we will have schedules and sign up sheets so please be prepared to have arms twisted as to which categories you are going to enter.
Hampshire WI work hard to put on a range of events which we are able to attend. If you haven’t signed up to receive their monthly email, you can do so here .
We look forward to seeing you at some of the above events.
Brockenhurst Women's Institute 