PAST EVENTS 2025
Monday 15th December- Fulshaw Flickers
Ann T kindly hosted a meeting of the Fulshaw Flickers at her house to watch Vera Drake, a 2004 film directed by Mike Lei. All the ladies that attended enjoyed the film. Thanks to Ann for her generous hospitality.
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Monday 8th December - Christmas Party
Our ever popular Annual Christmas party took place and it was all glitz and glamour with a twist. A delicious meal provided by Dee and her team was enjoyed by all as well as a quiz produced by Cathy H which got everyone's brains working plus an opportunity to have a go at the casino tables (all fun with no money lost). Thanks to the whole raft of volunteers who made the evening such a resounding success._________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 4th December - Book Club
A good night was had at Unico enjoying a meal whilst reviewing the books that have been read this year. The most popular was ‘Sweet Mandarin’ recommended by Morag, followed by ‘The Paris Daughter’ and then ‘Love Untold’. Recommendations were also made for 2026 which included ‘The Glass Maker’ by Tracey Chevalier which is now our chosen book for February with the discussion led Ann T. Rosie will lead the discussion in April with ‘The Women’ by Kirsten Hannah. Others recommendations were ‘The Wrong Sister’ by Claire Douglas (Anne Kerr), ‘The Unremembered’ by Mike Smears (Pam H), ‘The People on Platform 5’ by Clare Poole (Rosie), ‘The Bookbinder of Jericho’ by Pip Williams(Jane R) and ‘You are Here’ by David Nicholls (Donna).
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Monday 1st December - Christmas Tree Decoration
Ladies from the Craft and Chat met and enjoyed an absolutely lovely festive session creating their very own foil art.
Jane hosted a wonderful drop-in workshop and they spent a relaxing few hours making some truly beautiful decorations. The results were stunning, simple, effective and full of Christmas sparkle. A huge thank you to Jane for organising the activity and opening up her home.
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Thursday 27th November - WAG Meeting
Another great WAG meeting which was a sherry tasting organised by Jennie B and Diana and which met at Diana's house. Everyone enjoyed the array of sherries, learning about its production and a food pairing with the sherries was an added bonus. Thanks to Jennie and Diana for all their hard work organising and researching for this event.
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Thursday 20th November - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ann T organised a trip to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on at the Evans Theatre which was performed by the Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company. This beloved musical brought to life the classic story of inventor Caractacus Potts, his children, and their extraordinary flying car. With unforgettable songs like 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Hushabye Mountain', and 'Me Ol’ Bamboo', this heart warming tale is packed with adventure, laughter, and plenty of surprises and everyone that attended really enjoyed it. Thanks to Ann for organising it.
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Monday 11th November - Coffee and Craft
A group of crafters met and had a great time catching up with each other and finding out about exciting adventures planned, family happenings and even community events that others might like to join. The creative table included knitting, sewing, repairing, and card making. Other times learning new skills are enjoyed. All Fulshaw WI members are always welcome.
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Thursday 6th November - Book Club
The Book Club meet at Unico Lounge and discussed this month's chosen book, Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse, a true story spanning almost a hundred years, recounting the lives of three generations of remarkable Chinese women. Sweet Mandarin was one of our most popular reads with a plethora of scores of 9. As a follow up to this, it was decided that a visit to the Sweet Mandarin restaurant will be planned for next March. Thank you to Morag for suggesting the book and leading the review.
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Monday 3rd November - Fulshaw Flickers
Ann T hosted a meeting of the Fulshaw Flickers at her house and seven ladies enjoyed watching The Thursday Murder Club, a comedy crime film starring a group of senior sleuths passionate about solving cold cases who get plunged into a real life murder mystery. The film is based on Richard Osman's book of the same name. Thanks to Ann for her hospitality.
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Thursday 30th October – The Lindow Moss Loop
Ann and Jane led a group of ladies on a lovely walk around the new Lindow Loop who found out that it's amazing what you discover when you’re a tourist in your own community. The excellent leaflet (sponsored by Fulshaw WI) and Helen’s wonderful local knowledge made it a brilliant event. There was no rain and everyone enjoyed a peaceful picnic lunch at the Quaker graveyard. Huge thanks to Ann, Jane and Helen for organising such an enjoyable outing.
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Monday 27th October - Christmas Themed Craft
AnnMarie hosted and lead a craft session featuring die-cutting and embossing techniques in making Christmas themed crafts. The session ran from 10.30 - 1.30pm with ladies bringing their own lunch. Thanks to AnnMarie for hosting the event and sharing her fantastic talents.
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Wednesday 22nd October - Meze Meal
Nine Fulshaw members enjoyed a meal at Meze in Handforth with lots of tapas sized plates and dips and some ladies even found room for a baklava for dessert. It was a very sociable evening and already members are asking if it can be repeated. Many thanks to Ann T for organising the event.
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Tuesday 21st October - NECG Autumn Meeting
Another great autumn meeting at Poynton with the fabulous History Wardrobe and Lucy Adlington who gave a talk entitled 'Women at War.' This included discovering what their grandmothers were up to in the 1940's, from home-baking and tea-making to war work in uniform as well as featuring fabulous fashions from Utility clothes to the New Look. But behind the aprons and rank badges, and after VE Day celebrations, there were secrets to uncover and mysteries to solve…" Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the event.
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Monday 20th October - Hilary McCumisky, Behind the Scenes with the Northern Ballet
We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Hilary McCumisky who shared fascinating stories from her time working behind the scenes in the Northern Ballet wardrobe department. She brought along some truly stunning costumes, many of which she had made herself and she even told us about the time she had just 24 hours to create a costume for Rudolf Nureyev. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our members all wore pink, filling the room with colour.
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Wednesday 8th October - Brookdale Theatre, Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls was based on the true story of 11 Rylstone and District WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund following the death of the husband of one of their members to cancer. The ladies that attended enjoyed a superb performance as always at Brookdale!
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Thursday 2nd October - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, in which a fisherman was found dead in the nets of his boat, and a local Japanese-American man was charged with his murder. In the course of his trial, it became clear that what was at stake was more than one man's guilt. The discussion was led by Viv and it was generally agreed that it was an interesting as well as educational read.
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Thursday 25th September - Visit to Shrewsbury
Thanks to Donna who organised a visit to Shrewsbury including a tour of Shrewsbury Prison, which was both fascinating and a little chilling, highly recommended if you enjoy history with a twist. Next was the chance to wander around the town, which is full of charm and plenty to see and do and the sunshine making it even more perfect. For a day out with a difference, Shrewsbury is definitely worth a visit.
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Monday 21st September - Monthly Meeting
Tonight we heard from pilot Jayne Stubbs, who shared her inspiring experience of starting flying lessons at the age of 58. From her first take-off to the challenges of training, she reminded us that it’s never too late to try something new.
Despite the weather and many members on holiday, it was still a really lovely evening. Even better, we’re thrilled to share that over £1,000 was raised at the Strawberry Tea and this will be match funded in October making a grand total of over £2000, a fantastic result and a huge thank you to everyone who supported.
Helen B also brought news of the launch of the Lindow Moss Loop, a beautiful 7-mile walk with brand new leaflets, partly funded by a donation from Fulshaw.
A special thank you as always to all the wonderful volunteers who work behind the scenes to make our meetings run so smoothly.
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Thursday 4th September - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, The Housekeepers by Alex Hay, a story of a dismissed housekeeper seeking her revenge on the night of London's grandest ball. As it was only a small group of ladies present, it was easy to engage in lively discussion. Although it was agreed that it wasn't the best read of the year, there was lots of laughter dissecting the novel and Donna had done a lot of preparation work and so led the discussion well.
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Thursday 4th September - Strawberries and Cream Afternoon Tea
Our President, Jane, kindly hosted a delightful Strawberry Afternoon Tea at her home, Mottram Wood Barn, in support of Smart Works Greater Manchester. The event ran from 1–4pm and welcomed guests throughout the afternoon for tea, cakes, and good company. Members generously donated cakes and raffle prizes, creating a warm, open-house atmosphere. Despite the rain, our car park attendant Maurice and the committee worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. Guests enjoyed strawberries, scones, drinks, and the chance to buy cakes, fizz, and raffle tickets, all in aid of a wonderful cause. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, over £1,000 was raised, which will double to more than £2,000 through match funding. A fantastic result for a worthy charity and a huge thank-you to Jane for opening her home and to everyone who supported the event.
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Thursday 14th August - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge and enjoyed a meal at this 'Readers’ Choice' meeting. Everyone present came prepared to share a few brief comments about a book that they had recently read and enjoyed and why, and everyone went home with a lot of new books on their 'To Read' list. Thanks to Moira for suggesting and coordinating this new style meeting.
The list of books recommended were as follows:
The One by John Marrs
Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesey
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor
Toby’s Room by Pat Barker
Lady in Waiting by Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner
The Seven Sisters (series) by Lucinda Riley
Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer
After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell
My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan
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Wednesday13th August - Mowgli Restaurant
Ann organised a meal at Mowgli Street Food Restaurant, Knutsford and everyone enjoyed the set menu of 'Tiffin Roulette' which was a Curry pot luck with a choice of Office Worker’s Tiffin which consisted of 4 tiers of a meat, veg and carb jeopardy which was chosen by the chef, as happens in India. The food, service and company were all great.
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Monday11th August - Summer Special Craft
A fun, hands-on craft day creating gorgeous felt roses and colourful paper flowers which were inspired by WI camp workshops and the WI Learning Hub with Felicity Jennings. A big thanks to Ann for hosting and to everyone who joined in for the laughter, tea, and creativity.
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Thursday 7th August - By Royal Appointment
A group of over 20 ladies went to the Lowry to watch By Royal Appointment and they were not disappointed. The play depicted the late Queen Elizabeth II who was famous for her discretion but had a way of expressing what she really thought through the clothes she wore. A light hearted and often amusing romp through her wardrobe over the years.
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Monday 21st July - Monthly Meeting
Another action packed Monthly Meeting with our speaker Helen Selwood who captivated us with stories from her days as a 1970s fashion designer, think Mad Men vibes, complete with smoke-filled offices (thankfully a thing of the past!). She also shared inspiring advice on embracing vintage style and sustainable living. Her passion sparkled as she showcased stunning charity shop treasures and clever alterations, proving that great style doesn’t have to cost the earth.
In addition to this was the competition 'Charades in Flowers' where 25 members brought their stunning displays inspired by songs, books, or films. Entries included everything from A Clockwork Orange to Blue Moon, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Daisy Daisy, Dangerous Liaisons and Titanic, the creativity was off the charts!
Huge congratulations to Gail for her spectacular Treasure Island display and to Alison H, who correctly guessed 10 of the titles!
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Thursday 17th July - Australian Crazy Golf
Dee organised a trip to the Australian themed crazy golf in Adlington and 15 Fulshaw ladies had a fantastic time taking on the challenges of the golf course. It was a fun-filled social with quirky courses, competitive putts and even a hole in one! Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a well-earned cuppa and catch-up. Thanks to Dee for organising this popular event.
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Monday 14th July - Afternoon Walk
A group of eight joined Ann T and enjoyed a 4 mile walk and chat in lovely sunshine around Lindow Moss which included a drinks stop at the Plough and Flail. Thanks Ann for organising and leading this walk.
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Monday 14th July - Coffee and Craft
A group of keen crafters met up at the Undercroft Cafe for their monthly get together.
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Thursday 3rd July - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, a tale of two sisters, Fern and Rose, where Rose has looked out for Fern and her quirks all her life, but things may not be as they seem. The lively discussion was led by Cathy and most of the ladies really enjoyed the book.
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Tuesday 1st July - Tour of Stockport Air Raid Shelters
A great opportunity to take an evening tour around Stockport Air Raid Shelters to see the extent of Stockport's air raid preparations and an insight into life in wartime Britain in the 1940's. We will visit areas that are not usually open to the public, including unlit and reinforced tunnelling sections. Places for this event have now been booked. The tour will commence at 7pm and finish at 8.30pm.
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Wednesday 25th June – Art Talk
A big thank you to Donna for her fascinating Treaties to Toilets talk at this Art Appreciation session. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed her engaging portrayal of Māori art and history with the delicious ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who were given these biscuits during WW1) biscuits which were the perfect touch!
Special thanks to Benita for so warmly hosting this wonderful afternoon.
Meet at Benita's at 2pm for a talk by Donna on Treaty to Toilets. This will be a All places have now been booked on WhatsApp poll.
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Friday 20th June – Lunch at Groobarbs
Ann T and Jane arranged a lunch date at Groobarbs Field Kitchen, High Legh and all the ladies that attended had a fantastic time tasting their 2 course lunch which included some incredible dishes created by the talented chefs. The restaurant is nestled in 86 acres of land in Cheshire, and they grew all of the amazing vegetables that were featured on the menu, it is a delightful place to visit. Everyone had plenty of ideas and inspiration to take home, including growing kohlrabi next year! Thank you Ann and Jane for organising this very special event.
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Wednesday 18th June - NECG Trip to Bradford
Nine members from Fulshaw WI joined other WIs from the North East Cheshire Group on a trip to Bradford City of Culture 2025, where there was lots to see and do, and it did not disappoint. They were treated to beautiful architecture, clean streets, rich history, friendly people and fantastic weather. A truly memorable day.
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Wednesday 11th June - Balsam Bash
A group of keen ladies met over the bridge between Hawthorn Lane and the Parish Hall and tackled a patch of balsam along the Bollin followed by a well-deserved a drink from the kiosk. If you were unable to join the group, then remember we are encouraged to pull up balsam plants as and when we see them._________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday 9th June - Coffee and Craft
Another monthly meeting where a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe and there was a great turnout! It was lovely for members to have the chance to work on our own projects plus Jane got everyone using their artistic talents for a special contribution to Wilmslow In Bloom.
It turns out some of our members have hidden artistic flair… and others, well—let’s just say they had a good laugh along the way!
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Thursday 5th June - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge at 7.30pm and discussed this month's chosen book, The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel, a gripping historical novel about two mothers who had to make unthinkable choices in the face of Nazi occupation. The discussion was led by Pam and was enjoyed by almost everyone with most scoring iit 8.5 - 9.
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Wednesday 4th June - NFWI Annual Meeting 2025
A brilliant day filled with inspiration, purpose, and the power of WI women working together. Our President Jane enjoyed an uplifting day acting as Link Delegate at the NFWI AGM. Held via Zoom, the day made great use of technology to vote on important constitutional changes and this year’s proposed resolution: ‘Bystanders can be Lifesavers’ — which passed with an overwhelming 97.7% of the votes!
In addition to this, Two speakers have been announced for this year's Annual Meeting. which commences at 10.00am. These are:- the two keynote speakers were Angela Strawbridge, most known for being featured in the Channel 4 series 'Escape to the Chateau'. Angela is a life long fan and supporter of the WI and she joined as a new official Supporter in 2025 and Emma Bridgewater who now owns a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent (that some of our ladies have visited) which produces more than 40,000 pieces of pottery per week and is one of the largest employers of potters in the area.
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Friday 23rd May - Morning Walk
Wendy M led a 5 mile walk, setting off from Bollington along the peaceful Middlewood Way which ended up strolling beside the canal. The ladies stopped for a cuppa by the water with stunning views of crystal clear countryside stretching out to the Great Orme in one direction and Manchester in the other. Thanks to Wendy for organising and leading the walk and picking such a beautiful sunny day.
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Tuesday 20th May - Wine Appreciation Group
The WAG met at Donna's house and the grape featured was Sauvignon Blanc, a world tour. They tasted wines with flavours ranging from tropical fruits, citrus to flinty/mineral and even to spicy flavours of Te Koko from Cloudy Bay £60 a bottle, it was a great evening. Thanks to Helen, Donna and Crista for organising and hosting the event.
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Monday 19th May - Monthly Meeting
A fantastic night with Michelle Beaver telling us about her ' Mad Life – Trekking for Charity'. She shared her story “My Unusual Life.” that whilst a nurse at Liverpool Heart and Lung Hospital, she took on epic charity challenges, including Arctic dog sledding, trekking Machu Picchu, hiking the Great Wall of China and scaling Mount Kilimanjaro to name but a few. All these expeditions were made to raise funds for British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie, and several other incredible charities. Michelle has appeared on TV, radio, and podcasts, and even met King Charles on several occasions, yet she remains humble, passionate, and genuinely hilarious.
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Friday 16th May - Afternoon Walk
A walk of approx. 4 miles around Morley Green and Lindow Common calling in for refreshments at the Great Little Red Bus led by Jane R so thanks to her.
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Thursday 1st May - Book Club
The Book Club met to discuss this month's chosen book, Holy Island by L J Ross and the discussion was led by Ann T who chose the book. The book told of DCI Ryan who retreated to Holy Island to seek sanctuary however, a few days before Christmas, his peace was shattered and he was thrust back into the murky world of murder when a young woman was found dead. It was a popular choice which provoked an interesting discussion. The scores given were mainly 8's.
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Wednesday 30th April - Sister Act
A great performance of Sister Act at Brookdale Theatre was enjoyed by the ladies that went to see it and they especially enjoyed watching Rosemary who appeared in this production.
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Tuesday 29th April 2025 - NECG Spring Meeting
The NECG Spring meeting was held at the Civic Centre, Poynton and was an excellent meeting. Sally Kettle was a brilliant speaker and kept everyone hooked. Sally, who rowed single handed across the Atlantic and then again with her mother, is also Deputy Chief Guider and was on BBC Breakfast earlier in the day. Thank you to all the organisers for organising such a fabulous event for us and the cakes were amazing as well!
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Tuesday 29th April 2025 - Adventure Golf
Sunshine, laughter, and a few wild swings made for a perfect day out. There was great company, tasty bites and plenty of friendly competition. Huge congratulations to Barbara for showing everyone how it’s done with the lowest score of the day.
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Monday 14th April - Medical Detection Dogs
Another Monthly meeting that was truly something special with not one, but TWO incredible guest speakers who were both inspiring.
First to speak was Liz from Smart Works Greater Manchester, a charity doing phenomenal work helping women back into employment with confidence and style meaning that 69% of their clients get a job within a month of their first appointment. Next to speak was Caroline from Medical Detection Dogs whose talk was truly amazing! She spoke about these incredible dogs who are trained to detect everything from cancer to Parkinson’s ,aided by their noses aided which have up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to a human being who has a measly 5 million.
The meeting couldn't happen without the help of our members and committee whose skills range from tech wizards, to tea makers, greeters to cocktail shakers and event bookers to cake bakers and let’s not forget the ones who know how to work the projector without panic! Thanks to everyone who make Fulshaw so special.
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Monday 14th April 2025 - Delete and Natter
The first Meet and Delete drop in session was held at the Undercroft Cafe and was a great success. It was run by our two Climate Ambassadors Diane and Pauline and everyone had the opportunity to delete photos, emails, documents and sort into useful folders. Members swapped ideas to enable them to continue deleting and reducing on line storage and help the planet!
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Wednesday 10th April - Manchester Walking Tour
The Art Appreciation Group took a walking tour of Manchester’s beautiful buildings with Jonathan Scofield. As usual our members travelled by public transport and managed lunch before heading home. They started at Manchester Cathedral before heading over the bridge to Salford - just a short walk but some fascinating facts and history. Jonathan was an excellent guide and very entertaining. Thanks goes to Benita for being their excellent organiser.
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Thursday 3rd April - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge and as will as enjoying a meal, they discussed this month’s chosen book 'Love Untold' by Ruth Jones, a story of mother and daughter relationships, a bitter sweet tale that tells of heartbreaks, joy and forgiveness. Jane R lead the discussion and the majority said that they had enjoyed the book and had even ordered other books written by Ruth.
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Friday 28th March 2025 - Morning Walk
An enjoyable 4 mile led by Jane R which showed how incredibly lucky we are to have such lovely walks just a stroll away from Wilmslow town centre and today was no exception. Some ladies hadn't been on some of the paths before, even though they live close by. The weather was kind as well. Thank you Jane for being such a magnificent pathfinder!
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Tuesday 25th March - Flickers at Home
Flickers at home discussed the film Suffragette, on a Zoom Chat. It was a harrowing watch which portrayed the extent to which the suffragettes went to secure the vote we all enjoy today.
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Thursday 20th March 2025 - Les Miserables
Another fantastic production of this long running famous musical performed by Tempo.
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Wednesday 18th March - Art Appreciation
Benita took 20 Art Appreciation members to Manchester City Art Gallery to hear about their new exhibition ‘Rethinking the Grand Tour’, a modern interpretation of travelling around Europe in the 1700 and 1800s.
200 years on, the gallery have selected four contemporary artists to exhibit art focusing on immigration, trade and heritage. They were all educated and enlightened and afterwards enjoyed a very tasty Lebanese Mezze lunch and a good chat. Thank you very much for organising the event Benita!!
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Monday 17th March - Monthly Meeting
Tonight's meeting was full of laughter as we were entertained by author Gina Kirkham.
She spoke about her career as a police office, her family and how she came to write her novels. One of her series was about the WI beginning with Murders at Winterbottom Women's Institute which involved six members wanting to be President!
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Wednesday 11th March - Shakespeare North Playhouse
Eleven go to Prescot!
An opportunity to be educated and have lots of laughs today at #Shakespeare North . A very special guided tour by our member Fiona around the local area followed by time in the theatre which included refreshments , lunch , a guided tour and a performance of Love's Labour's Lost (sort of).
Special thanks to all the staff at Shakespeare North Playhouse for being so attentive and Fiona for pulling everything together so beautifully.Cost: £50 - Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot, L34 3AB Transport: car-share - 31 miles approx 45 min. Parking free all-day at rear of Prescot Shopping Centre, Eccleston Street, L34 5GA Itinerary: 10:00am - meet at Prescot Shopping Centre free car park (L34 5GA) for a 30 min guided-walk.10:45am - SNP café for hot drink, 11:15am -12:30pm guided-tour of SNP followed by lunch. 2pm - matinee performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less).
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Monday 10th March - Coffee and Craft
Another monthly meeting where a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe, and enjoyed crafting and chatting with their coffee and biscuits.
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Thursday 6th March - Book Club
'Because of You' by Dawn French the chosen book for March, is a story of two very different women who give birth to two very similar daughters in the same hospital, one leaving with a beautiful baby girl and the other with empty arms.
Rosie led the discussion and there were fairly mixed opinions about the book.
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Monday 3rd March - Afternoon Walk
A repeat of the walk and tour (by Jane R) around the grounds of Booths Hall, Mere and St Helena Chapel (about 3 miles). Meet on the corner of North Downs and Birch Grove.
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Thursday 27th February - WAG
The WAG meeting was led by Cathy Hessner and Rosie Reid at Rosie’s house in Wilmslow. The group tasted a selection of Rosé wines as well as enjoying a lot of hilarity. Thanks to all concerned with hosting, leading and helping out at the meeting.
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Wednesday 26th February - Supper at Stanneylands
Jane R and Ann T were joined by several other ladies for an enjoyable meal at Stanneylands on Wednesday evening. The food was delicious in a lovely setting and the staff were amazing and very attentive. Thanks to Jane and Ann for organising the event.
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Monday 17th February - Board Games
Join us to play a board game at Unico commencing at 11.15am. We invite you to bring along your favourite to share with the group.
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Monday 10th February - Coffee and Craft
As usual, a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe, and enjoyed crafting and chatting with their coffee and biscuits.
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Thursday 6th February - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, Day One by Abigail Dean, a thriller which started with an idyllic scene of a primary school play in a village hall in the Lake District and then in stepped a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that had devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere.
Anne Kerr chose the book and lead an interesting discussion. Generally, members enjoyed the book but several ladies found the book difficult to follow as it was written from several different characters perspectives and varying timeframes which changed from chapter to chapter.
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Monday 3rd February - Craft and Lunch
Thanks to Annmarie for hosting and leading the session of Stitched Greetings Cards. Materials and equipment were supplied and some beautiful results were created after which, the eager students enjoyed their lunches.
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Friday 31st January - Morning Walk and Coffee
A well attended 3.5mile walk around Alderley Park, calling in for coffee at the Glasshouse Café, was enjoyed by all the ladies that took part and the weather was kind to them, staying dry for a change. Thanks to Jane R for organising and leading the walk.
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Wednesday 22nd January - WGR Bombshells
A group of ladies enjoyed their visit to WGR to watch Bombshells, a play with six monologues from six women who balance their inner and outer lives with humour and often desperate cunning. Thanks to Carolynne P for organising this event that was enjoyed by all.
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Monday 20th January - Monthly Meeting
Our President Jane H did a 'sterling' job with our speaker tonight. Our original offering cancelled due to illness so she invited John Sterling to speak to us again, this time with his talk 'Calendar Boy'. He's a great story teller and kept our members enthralled.
We voted for our preferred Resolution, put names on rotas and learnt more about the WI Learning Hub.
A great evening with plenty of time to catch up after the holidays.
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Thursday 16th January – David Hockney
Bigger and Closer (Not Smaller and Further Away). David Hockney took a sizeable group of our lady art lovers on a personal journey through sixty years of his art at a vibrant immersive exhibition which they enjoyed when they visited Aviva Studios, Manchester. They followed this with a wonderful lunch. Thank you to Benita for her organisation. Superb as always.
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Wednesday 15th January - Coffee Morning
Nine of our ladies met at Hoopers for coffee, chat and a catch up after the Christmas break. They enjoyed a great natter until it was time to vacate their table for the lunchtime rush!
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Thursday 2nd January - Book Club
For their first meeting of the New Year, The Book Club met to discuss this months chosen book ' The Hunt for the Silver Killer by David Collins. The book provoked a healthy range of views and an interesting discussion. Thanks to Jane for choosing the book and for leading the discussion.
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Ann T kindly hosted a meeting of the Fulshaw Flickers at her house to watch Vera Drake, a 2004 film directed by Mike Lei. All the ladies that attended enjoyed the film. Thanks to Ann for her generous hospitality.
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Monday 8th December - Christmas Party
Our ever popular Annual Christmas party took place and it was all glitz and glamour with a twist. A delicious meal provided by Dee and her team was enjoyed by all as well as a quiz produced by Cathy H which got everyone's brains working plus an opportunity to have a go at the casino tables (all fun with no money lost). Thanks to the whole raft of volunteers who made the evening such a resounding success._________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 4th December - Book Club
A good night was had at Unico enjoying a meal whilst reviewing the books that have been read this year. The most popular was ‘Sweet Mandarin’ recommended by Morag, followed by ‘The Paris Daughter’ and then ‘Love Untold’. Recommendations were also made for 2026 which included ‘The Glass Maker’ by Tracey Chevalier which is now our chosen book for February with the discussion led Ann T. Rosie will lead the discussion in April with ‘The Women’ by Kirsten Hannah. Others recommendations were ‘The Wrong Sister’ by Claire Douglas (Anne Kerr), ‘The Unremembered’ by Mike Smears (Pam H), ‘The People on Platform 5’ by Clare Poole (Rosie), ‘The Bookbinder of Jericho’ by Pip Williams(Jane R) and ‘You are Here’ by David Nicholls (Donna).
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Monday 1st December - Christmas Tree Decoration
Ladies from the Craft and Chat met and enjoyed an absolutely lovely festive session creating their very own foil art.
Jane hosted a wonderful drop-in workshop and they spent a relaxing few hours making some truly beautiful decorations. The results were stunning, simple, effective and full of Christmas sparkle. A huge thank you to Jane for organising the activity and opening up her home.
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Thursday 27th November - WAG Meeting
Another great WAG meeting which was a sherry tasting organised by Jennie B and Diana and which met at Diana's house. Everyone enjoyed the array of sherries, learning about its production and a food pairing with the sherries was an added bonus. Thanks to Jennie and Diana for all their hard work organising and researching for this event.
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Thursday 20th November - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Ann T organised a trip to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on at the Evans Theatre which was performed by the Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company. This beloved musical brought to life the classic story of inventor Caractacus Potts, his children, and their extraordinary flying car. With unforgettable songs like 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Hushabye Mountain', and 'Me Ol’ Bamboo', this heart warming tale is packed with adventure, laughter, and plenty of surprises and everyone that attended really enjoyed it. Thanks to Ann for organising it.
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Monday 11th November - Coffee and Craft
A group of crafters met and had a great time catching up with each other and finding out about exciting adventures planned, family happenings and even community events that others might like to join. The creative table included knitting, sewing, repairing, and card making. Other times learning new skills are enjoyed. All Fulshaw WI members are always welcome.
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Thursday 6th November - Book Club
The Book Club meet at Unico Lounge and discussed this month's chosen book, Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse, a true story spanning almost a hundred years, recounting the lives of three generations of remarkable Chinese women. Sweet Mandarin was one of our most popular reads with a plethora of scores of 9. As a follow up to this, it was decided that a visit to the Sweet Mandarin restaurant will be planned for next March. Thank you to Morag for suggesting the book and leading the review.
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Monday 3rd November - Fulshaw Flickers
Ann T hosted a meeting of the Fulshaw Flickers at her house and seven ladies enjoyed watching The Thursday Murder Club, a comedy crime film starring a group of senior sleuths passionate about solving cold cases who get plunged into a real life murder mystery. The film is based on Richard Osman's book of the same name. Thanks to Ann for her hospitality.
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Thursday 30th October – The Lindow Moss Loop
Ann and Jane led a group of ladies on a lovely walk around the new Lindow Loop who found out that it's amazing what you discover when you’re a tourist in your own community. The excellent leaflet (sponsored by Fulshaw WI) and Helen’s wonderful local knowledge made it a brilliant event. There was no rain and everyone enjoyed a peaceful picnic lunch at the Quaker graveyard. Huge thanks to Ann, Jane and Helen for organising such an enjoyable outing.
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Monday 27th October - Christmas Themed Craft
AnnMarie hosted and lead a craft session featuring die-cutting and embossing techniques in making Christmas themed crafts. The session ran from 10.30 - 1.30pm with ladies bringing their own lunch. Thanks to AnnMarie for hosting the event and sharing her fantastic talents.
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Wednesday 22nd October - Meze Meal
Nine Fulshaw members enjoyed a meal at Meze in Handforth with lots of tapas sized plates and dips and some ladies even found room for a baklava for dessert. It was a very sociable evening and already members are asking if it can be repeated. Many thanks to Ann T for organising the event.
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Tuesday 21st October - NECG Autumn Meeting
Another great autumn meeting at Poynton with the fabulous History Wardrobe and Lucy Adlington who gave a talk entitled 'Women at War.' This included discovering what their grandmothers were up to in the 1940's, from home-baking and tea-making to war work in uniform as well as featuring fabulous fashions from Utility clothes to the New Look. But behind the aprons and rank badges, and after VE Day celebrations, there were secrets to uncover and mysteries to solve…" Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the event.
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Monday 20th October - Hilary McCumisky, Behind the Scenes with the Northern Ballet
We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Hilary McCumisky who shared fascinating stories from her time working behind the scenes in the Northern Ballet wardrobe department. She brought along some truly stunning costumes, many of which she had made herself and she even told us about the time she had just 24 hours to create a costume for Rudolf Nureyev. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our members all wore pink, filling the room with colour.
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Wednesday 8th October - Brookdale Theatre, Calendar Girls
Calendar Girls was based on the true story of 11 Rylstone and District WI members who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund following the death of the husband of one of their members to cancer. The ladies that attended enjoyed a superb performance as always at Brookdale!
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Thursday 2nd October - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, in which a fisherman was found dead in the nets of his boat, and a local Japanese-American man was charged with his murder. In the course of his trial, it became clear that what was at stake was more than one man's guilt. The discussion was led by Viv and it was generally agreed that it was an interesting as well as educational read.
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Thursday 25th September - Visit to Shrewsbury
Thanks to Donna who organised a visit to Shrewsbury including a tour of Shrewsbury Prison, which was both fascinating and a little chilling, highly recommended if you enjoy history with a twist. Next was the chance to wander around the town, which is full of charm and plenty to see and do and the sunshine making it even more perfect. For a day out with a difference, Shrewsbury is definitely worth a visit.
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Monday 21st September - Monthly Meeting
Tonight we heard from pilot Jayne Stubbs, who shared her inspiring experience of starting flying lessons at the age of 58. From her first take-off to the challenges of training, she reminded us that it’s never too late to try something new.
Despite the weather and many members on holiday, it was still a really lovely evening. Even better, we’re thrilled to share that over £1,000 was raised at the Strawberry Tea and this will be match funded in October making a grand total of over £2000, a fantastic result and a huge thank you to everyone who supported.
Helen B also brought news of the launch of the Lindow Moss Loop, a beautiful 7-mile walk with brand new leaflets, partly funded by a donation from Fulshaw.
A special thank you as always to all the wonderful volunteers who work behind the scenes to make our meetings run so smoothly.
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Thursday 4th September - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, The Housekeepers by Alex Hay, a story of a dismissed housekeeper seeking her revenge on the night of London's grandest ball. As it was only a small group of ladies present, it was easy to engage in lively discussion. Although it was agreed that it wasn't the best read of the year, there was lots of laughter dissecting the novel and Donna had done a lot of preparation work and so led the discussion well.
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Thursday 4th September - Strawberries and Cream Afternoon Tea
Our President, Jane, kindly hosted a delightful Strawberry Afternoon Tea at her home, Mottram Wood Barn, in support of Smart Works Greater Manchester. The event ran from 1–4pm and welcomed guests throughout the afternoon for tea, cakes, and good company. Members generously donated cakes and raffle prizes, creating a warm, open-house atmosphere. Despite the rain, our car park attendant Maurice and the committee worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly. Guests enjoyed strawberries, scones, drinks, and the chance to buy cakes, fizz, and raffle tickets, all in aid of a wonderful cause. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, over £1,000 was raised, which will double to more than £2,000 through match funding. A fantastic result for a worthy charity and a huge thank-you to Jane for opening her home and to everyone who supported the event.
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Thursday 14th August - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge and enjoyed a meal at this 'Readers’ Choice' meeting. Everyone present came prepared to share a few brief comments about a book that they had recently read and enjoyed and why, and everyone went home with a lot of new books on their 'To Read' list. Thanks to Moira for suggesting and coordinating this new style meeting.
The list of books recommended were as follows:
The One by John Marrs
Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesey
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor
Toby’s Room by Pat Barker
Lady in Waiting by Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner
The Seven Sisters (series) by Lucinda Riley
Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer
After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell
My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan
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Wednesday13th August - Mowgli Restaurant
Ann organised a meal at Mowgli Street Food Restaurant, Knutsford and everyone enjoyed the set menu of 'Tiffin Roulette' which was a Curry pot luck with a choice of Office Worker’s Tiffin which consisted of 4 tiers of a meat, veg and carb jeopardy which was chosen by the chef, as happens in India. The food, service and company were all great.
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Monday11th August - Summer Special Craft
A fun, hands-on craft day creating gorgeous felt roses and colourful paper flowers which were inspired by WI camp workshops and the WI Learning Hub with Felicity Jennings. A big thanks to Ann for hosting and to everyone who joined in for the laughter, tea, and creativity.
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Thursday 7th August - By Royal Appointment
A group of over 20 ladies went to the Lowry to watch By Royal Appointment and they were not disappointed. The play depicted the late Queen Elizabeth II who was famous for her discretion but had a way of expressing what she really thought through the clothes she wore. A light hearted and often amusing romp through her wardrobe over the years.
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Monday 21st July - Monthly Meeting
Another action packed Monthly Meeting with our speaker Helen Selwood who captivated us with stories from her days as a 1970s fashion designer, think Mad Men vibes, complete with smoke-filled offices (thankfully a thing of the past!). She also shared inspiring advice on embracing vintage style and sustainable living. Her passion sparkled as she showcased stunning charity shop treasures and clever alterations, proving that great style doesn’t have to cost the earth.
In addition to this was the competition 'Charades in Flowers' where 25 members brought their stunning displays inspired by songs, books, or films. Entries included everything from A Clockwork Orange to Blue Moon, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Daisy Daisy, Dangerous Liaisons and Titanic, the creativity was off the charts!
Huge congratulations to Gail for her spectacular Treasure Island display and to Alison H, who correctly guessed 10 of the titles!
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Thursday 17th July - Australian Crazy Golf
Dee organised a trip to the Australian themed crazy golf in Adlington and 15 Fulshaw ladies had a fantastic time taking on the challenges of the golf course. It was a fun-filled social with quirky courses, competitive putts and even a hole in one! Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a well-earned cuppa and catch-up. Thanks to Dee for organising this popular event.
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Monday 14th July - Afternoon Walk
A group of eight joined Ann T and enjoyed a 4 mile walk and chat in lovely sunshine around Lindow Moss which included a drinks stop at the Plough and Flail. Thanks Ann for organising and leading this walk.
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Monday 14th July - Coffee and Craft
A group of keen crafters met up at the Undercroft Cafe for their monthly get together.
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Thursday 3rd July - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth, a tale of two sisters, Fern and Rose, where Rose has looked out for Fern and her quirks all her life, but things may not be as they seem. The lively discussion was led by Cathy and most of the ladies really enjoyed the book.
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Tuesday 1st July - Tour of Stockport Air Raid Shelters
A great opportunity to take an evening tour around Stockport Air Raid Shelters to see the extent of Stockport's air raid preparations and an insight into life in wartime Britain in the 1940's. We will visit areas that are not usually open to the public, including unlit and reinforced tunnelling sections. Places for this event have now been booked. The tour will commence at 7pm and finish at 8.30pm.
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Wednesday 25th June – Art Talk
A big thank you to Donna for her fascinating Treaties to Toilets talk at this Art Appreciation session. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed her engaging portrayal of Māori art and history with the delicious ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who were given these biscuits during WW1) biscuits which were the perfect touch!
Special thanks to Benita for so warmly hosting this wonderful afternoon.
Meet at Benita's at 2pm for a talk by Donna on Treaty to Toilets. This will be a All places have now been booked on WhatsApp poll.
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Friday 20th June – Lunch at Groobarbs
Ann T and Jane arranged a lunch date at Groobarbs Field Kitchen, High Legh and all the ladies that attended had a fantastic time tasting their 2 course lunch which included some incredible dishes created by the talented chefs. The restaurant is nestled in 86 acres of land in Cheshire, and they grew all of the amazing vegetables that were featured on the menu, it is a delightful place to visit. Everyone had plenty of ideas and inspiration to take home, including growing kohlrabi next year! Thank you Ann and Jane for organising this very special event.
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Wednesday 18th June - NECG Trip to Bradford
Nine members from Fulshaw WI joined other WIs from the North East Cheshire Group on a trip to Bradford City of Culture 2025, where there was lots to see and do, and it did not disappoint. They were treated to beautiful architecture, clean streets, rich history, friendly people and fantastic weather. A truly memorable day.
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Wednesday 11th June - Balsam Bash
A group of keen ladies met over the bridge between Hawthorn Lane and the Parish Hall and tackled a patch of balsam along the Bollin followed by a well-deserved a drink from the kiosk. If you were unable to join the group, then remember we are encouraged to pull up balsam plants as and when we see them._________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday 9th June - Coffee and Craft
Another monthly meeting where a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe and there was a great turnout! It was lovely for members to have the chance to work on our own projects plus Jane got everyone using their artistic talents for a special contribution to Wilmslow In Bloom.
It turns out some of our members have hidden artistic flair… and others, well—let’s just say they had a good laugh along the way!
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Thursday 5th June - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge at 7.30pm and discussed this month's chosen book, The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel, a gripping historical novel about two mothers who had to make unthinkable choices in the face of Nazi occupation. The discussion was led by Pam and was enjoyed by almost everyone with most scoring iit 8.5 - 9.
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Wednesday 4th June - NFWI Annual Meeting 2025
A brilliant day filled with inspiration, purpose, and the power of WI women working together. Our President Jane enjoyed an uplifting day acting as Link Delegate at the NFWI AGM. Held via Zoom, the day made great use of technology to vote on important constitutional changes and this year’s proposed resolution: ‘Bystanders can be Lifesavers’ — which passed with an overwhelming 97.7% of the votes!
In addition to this, Two speakers have been announced for this year's Annual Meeting. which commences at 10.00am. These are:- the two keynote speakers were Angela Strawbridge, most known for being featured in the Channel 4 series 'Escape to the Chateau'. Angela is a life long fan and supporter of the WI and she joined as a new official Supporter in 2025 and Emma Bridgewater who now owns a pottery in Stoke-on-Trent (that some of our ladies have visited) which produces more than 40,000 pieces of pottery per week and is one of the largest employers of potters in the area.
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Friday 23rd May - Morning Walk
Wendy M led a 5 mile walk, setting off from Bollington along the peaceful Middlewood Way which ended up strolling beside the canal. The ladies stopped for a cuppa by the water with stunning views of crystal clear countryside stretching out to the Great Orme in one direction and Manchester in the other. Thanks to Wendy for organising and leading the walk and picking such a beautiful sunny day.
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Tuesday 20th May - Wine Appreciation Group
The WAG met at Donna's house and the grape featured was Sauvignon Blanc, a world tour. They tasted wines with flavours ranging from tropical fruits, citrus to flinty/mineral and even to spicy flavours of Te Koko from Cloudy Bay £60 a bottle, it was a great evening. Thanks to Helen, Donna and Crista for organising and hosting the event.
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Monday 19th May - Monthly Meeting
A fantastic night with Michelle Beaver telling us about her ' Mad Life – Trekking for Charity'. She shared her story “My Unusual Life.” that whilst a nurse at Liverpool Heart and Lung Hospital, she took on epic charity challenges, including Arctic dog sledding, trekking Machu Picchu, hiking the Great Wall of China and scaling Mount Kilimanjaro to name but a few. All these expeditions were made to raise funds for British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie, and several other incredible charities. Michelle has appeared on TV, radio, and podcasts, and even met King Charles on several occasions, yet she remains humble, passionate, and genuinely hilarious.
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Friday 16th May - Afternoon Walk
A walk of approx. 4 miles around Morley Green and Lindow Common calling in for refreshments at the Great Little Red Bus led by Jane R so thanks to her.
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Thursday 1st May - Book Club
The Book Club met to discuss this month's chosen book, Holy Island by L J Ross and the discussion was led by Ann T who chose the book. The book told of DCI Ryan who retreated to Holy Island to seek sanctuary however, a few days before Christmas, his peace was shattered and he was thrust back into the murky world of murder when a young woman was found dead. It was a popular choice which provoked an interesting discussion. The scores given were mainly 8's.
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Wednesday 30th April - Sister Act
A great performance of Sister Act at Brookdale Theatre was enjoyed by the ladies that went to see it and they especially enjoyed watching Rosemary who appeared in this production.
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Tuesday 29th April 2025 - NECG Spring Meeting
The NECG Spring meeting was held at the Civic Centre, Poynton and was an excellent meeting. Sally Kettle was a brilliant speaker and kept everyone hooked. Sally, who rowed single handed across the Atlantic and then again with her mother, is also Deputy Chief Guider and was on BBC Breakfast earlier in the day. Thank you to all the organisers for organising such a fabulous event for us and the cakes were amazing as well!
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Tuesday 29th April 2025 - Adventure Golf
Sunshine, laughter, and a few wild swings made for a perfect day out. There was great company, tasty bites and plenty of friendly competition. Huge congratulations to Barbara for showing everyone how it’s done with the lowest score of the day.
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Monday 14th April - Medical Detection Dogs
Another Monthly meeting that was truly something special with not one, but TWO incredible guest speakers who were both inspiring.
First to speak was Liz from Smart Works Greater Manchester, a charity doing phenomenal work helping women back into employment with confidence and style meaning that 69% of their clients get a job within a month of their first appointment. Next to speak was Caroline from Medical Detection Dogs whose talk was truly amazing! She spoke about these incredible dogs who are trained to detect everything from cancer to Parkinson’s ,aided by their noses aided which have up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to a human being who has a measly 5 million.
The meeting couldn't happen without the help of our members and committee whose skills range from tech wizards, to tea makers, greeters to cocktail shakers and event bookers to cake bakers and let’s not forget the ones who know how to work the projector without panic! Thanks to everyone who make Fulshaw so special.
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Monday 14th April 2025 - Delete and Natter
The first Meet and Delete drop in session was held at the Undercroft Cafe and was a great success. It was run by our two Climate Ambassadors Diane and Pauline and everyone had the opportunity to delete photos, emails, documents and sort into useful folders. Members swapped ideas to enable them to continue deleting and reducing on line storage and help the planet!
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Wednesday 10th April - Manchester Walking Tour
The Art Appreciation Group took a walking tour of Manchester’s beautiful buildings with Jonathan Scofield. As usual our members travelled by public transport and managed lunch before heading home. They started at Manchester Cathedral before heading over the bridge to Salford - just a short walk but some fascinating facts and history. Jonathan was an excellent guide and very entertaining. Thanks goes to Benita for being their excellent organiser.
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Thursday 3rd April - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge and as will as enjoying a meal, they discussed this month’s chosen book 'Love Untold' by Ruth Jones, a story of mother and daughter relationships, a bitter sweet tale that tells of heartbreaks, joy and forgiveness. Jane R lead the discussion and the majority said that they had enjoyed the book and had even ordered other books written by Ruth.
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Friday 28th March 2025 - Morning Walk
An enjoyable 4 mile led by Jane R which showed how incredibly lucky we are to have such lovely walks just a stroll away from Wilmslow town centre and today was no exception. Some ladies hadn't been on some of the paths before, even though they live close by. The weather was kind as well. Thank you Jane for being such a magnificent pathfinder!
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Tuesday 25th March - Flickers at Home
Flickers at home discussed the film Suffragette, on a Zoom Chat. It was a harrowing watch which portrayed the extent to which the suffragettes went to secure the vote we all enjoy today.
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Thursday 20th March 2025 - Les Miserables
Another fantastic production of this long running famous musical performed by Tempo.
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Wednesday 18th March - Art Appreciation
Benita took 20 Art Appreciation members to Manchester City Art Gallery to hear about their new exhibition ‘Rethinking the Grand Tour’, a modern interpretation of travelling around Europe in the 1700 and 1800s.
200 years on, the gallery have selected four contemporary artists to exhibit art focusing on immigration, trade and heritage. They were all educated and enlightened and afterwards enjoyed a very tasty Lebanese Mezze lunch and a good chat. Thank you very much for organising the event Benita!!
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Monday 17th March - Monthly Meeting
Tonight's meeting was full of laughter as we were entertained by author Gina Kirkham.
She spoke about her career as a police office, her family and how she came to write her novels. One of her series was about the WI beginning with Murders at Winterbottom Women's Institute which involved six members wanting to be President!
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Wednesday 11th March - Shakespeare North Playhouse
Eleven go to Prescot!
An opportunity to be educated and have lots of laughs today at #Shakespeare North . A very special guided tour by our member Fiona around the local area followed by time in the theatre which included refreshments , lunch , a guided tour and a performance of Love's Labour's Lost (sort of).
Special thanks to all the staff at Shakespeare North Playhouse for being so attentive and Fiona for pulling everything together so beautifully.Cost: £50 - Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot, L34 3AB Transport: car-share - 31 miles approx 45 min. Parking free all-day at rear of Prescot Shopping Centre, Eccleston Street, L34 5GA Itinerary: 10:00am - meet at Prescot Shopping Centre free car park (L34 5GA) for a 30 min guided-walk.10:45am - SNP café for hot drink, 11:15am -12:30pm guided-tour of SNP followed by lunch. 2pm - matinee performance of Love’s Labour’s Lost (more or less).
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Monday 10th March - Coffee and Craft
Another monthly meeting where a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe, and enjoyed crafting and chatting with their coffee and biscuits.
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Thursday 6th March - Book Club
'Because of You' by Dawn French the chosen book for March, is a story of two very different women who give birth to two very similar daughters in the same hospital, one leaving with a beautiful baby girl and the other with empty arms.
Rosie led the discussion and there were fairly mixed opinions about the book.
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Monday 3rd March - Afternoon Walk
A repeat of the walk and tour (by Jane R) around the grounds of Booths Hall, Mere and St Helena Chapel (about 3 miles). Meet on the corner of North Downs and Birch Grove.
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Thursday 27th February - WAG
The WAG meeting was led by Cathy Hessner and Rosie Reid at Rosie’s house in Wilmslow. The group tasted a selection of Rosé wines as well as enjoying a lot of hilarity. Thanks to all concerned with hosting, leading and helping out at the meeting.
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Wednesday 26th February - Supper at Stanneylands
Jane R and Ann T were joined by several other ladies for an enjoyable meal at Stanneylands on Wednesday evening. The food was delicious in a lovely setting and the staff were amazing and very attentive. Thanks to Jane and Ann for organising the event.
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Monday 17th February - Board Games
Join us to play a board game at Unico commencing at 11.15am. We invite you to bring along your favourite to share with the group.
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Monday 10th February - Coffee and Craft
As usual, a group of talented crafters met at the Undercroft Cafe, and enjoyed crafting and chatting with their coffee and biscuits.
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Thursday 6th February - Book Club
The Book Club met at Unico Lounge to discuss this month's chosen book, Day One by Abigail Dean, a thriller which started with an idyllic scene of a primary school play in a village hall in the Lake District and then in stepped a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that had devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere.
Anne Kerr chose the book and lead an interesting discussion. Generally, members enjoyed the book but several ladies found the book difficult to follow as it was written from several different characters perspectives and varying timeframes which changed from chapter to chapter.
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Monday 3rd February - Craft and Lunch
Thanks to Annmarie for hosting and leading the session of Stitched Greetings Cards. Materials and equipment were supplied and some beautiful results were created after which, the eager students enjoyed their lunches.
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Friday 31st January - Morning Walk and Coffee
A well attended 3.5mile walk around Alderley Park, calling in for coffee at the Glasshouse Café, was enjoyed by all the ladies that took part and the weather was kind to them, staying dry for a change. Thanks to Jane R for organising and leading the walk.
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Wednesday 22nd January - WGR Bombshells
A group of ladies enjoyed their visit to WGR to watch Bombshells, a play with six monologues from six women who balance their inner and outer lives with humour and often desperate cunning. Thanks to Carolynne P for organising this event that was enjoyed by all.
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Monday 20th January - Monthly Meeting
Our President Jane H did a 'sterling' job with our speaker tonight. Our original offering cancelled due to illness so she invited John Sterling to speak to us again, this time with his talk 'Calendar Boy'. He's a great story teller and kept our members enthralled.
We voted for our preferred Resolution, put names on rotas and learnt more about the WI Learning Hub.
A great evening with plenty of time to catch up after the holidays.
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Thursday 16th January – David Hockney
Bigger and Closer (Not Smaller and Further Away). David Hockney took a sizeable group of our lady art lovers on a personal journey through sixty years of his art at a vibrant immersive exhibition which they enjoyed when they visited Aviva Studios, Manchester. They followed this with a wonderful lunch. Thank you to Benita for her organisation. Superb as always.
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Wednesday 15th January - Coffee Morning
Nine of our ladies met at Hoopers for coffee, chat and a catch up after the Christmas break. They enjoyed a great natter until it was time to vacate their table for the lunchtime rush!
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Thursday 2nd January - Book Club
For their first meeting of the New Year, The Book Club met to discuss this months chosen book ' The Hunt for the Silver Killer by David Collins. The book provoked a healthy range of views and an interesting discussion. Thanks to Jane for choosing the book and for leading the discussion.
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