Last Year
Federation Event
Spring Council Meeting 2024
The Berkshire Federation Spring Council Meeting was held on Friday 12th April 2024 at the Michael Malnick Centre, Leighton Park School Reading RG2 7ED
After the singing of Jerusalem County Chairman Annette Dolphin welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the Mayor Councillor Tony Page .
Following the Business part of the meeting WI Members enjoyed a seated Relaxation Yoga Session with Jenny White.
Sarah Denly Ball spoke about the work of a WI Adviser. Jan Guiver talked about ACWW and Jean Sheppard gave an interesting insight into Resolutions past and present.
The guest speaker was Nicola Chester, who was one of the female pioneers of "the new nature writing" and remains the longest running female columnist for the RSPB. Nicola is also a columnist for Countryfile Magazine and a Guardian Country Diarist, she has written an award winning memoir, on Gallows Down, a love letter to a small corner of Berkshire.
Nicola talked about her great love of the Countryside, her adventures in standing up for wildlife, read from her book and answered questions on how we can all do more, in standing up for nature.
The Margaret Latham Bursaries were drawn, five lucky recipients. The Golden Jubilee Cup was presented to Brimpton WI for their design of a Berkshire Federation Banner, the banner is in the process of being made and will be on display at the 2025 Annual Council Meeting. Birthday Certificates were presented to WIs.
The raffle was drawn and everyone stood for the National Anthem.
Stella Austin Cup Competition 2024
“Memories”
BFWI Arts & Crafts sub-committee invite you to create an item of “Memories.”
Let your imagination take flight! Use anything that evokes special memories – vintage fabrics, beads from a broken necklace, trimmings from a favourite item of clothing, buttons (most of us have inherited at least one button box from a past generation). The list is endless!
You may wish to remember a special occasion, holiday, childhood or hobby. The sky is the limit!
Please include a short description of the mediums you have used to help the judge “build up a picture” as to how you have developed your piece of work. Thank you.
The competition is open to all Berkshire WI members, including Associates. The entry must be the work of the competitor herself. Multiple entries permitted.
Federation Event
Have a Go Archery - Taster Session 2024
This took place on a Tuesday morning July. We all arrived with our waterproof coats and were wondering about our ability to do this sport. 7 members from across the County and 2 husbands took part in the session at the South Oxon Archery Club.
The club members who ran the activity were excellent teachers and they made it fun for all the participants. When balloons were added to the targets, we manged to prove how good we were when each group managed to burst their balloon. The rain held off till the last 10 minutes. This event was very successful and was very much enjoyed by all the participants.
Margaret Latham Bursary Winner 2024
Report by Helen Thomson
I attended ‘An Introduction to Natural Dyeing Course’ on Saturday 29th June. Run by Elka Sustainable Textiles, Mere, Wiltshire
When I received the fabulous news that I had won a Margaret Latham Bursary I knew what I wanted to learn more about! I have had an interest in Natural dyeing for a couple of years but found the process quite confusing. There seemed to be plenty of information online, but I really wanted to have a face-to-face learning experience.
It was a beautiful warm day; the course was run by Claudia from her beautiful home in Wiltshire. For the next 6 hours I was immersed in the world of natural dyeing, we covered the history of using plants as dyes, different types of fibres- plant and animal and then onto the process itself.
It was very ‘hands on’ and we made samples of wool, cotton, linen and banana fibres to dye. We made dye baths using white onion skins, madder, weld and coreopsis. The day ended by learning all about Indigo and the opportunity to make a cotton bag ‘tie dyed’ with indigo.
It was a wonderful day and I now have the confidence to make natural dyes at home and dye both fabric and yarn.