The WI met for the first time since the long summer break, in the Millennium Hall, on the 15th of September.   In the absence of our president Edwina Bass, Tangy Sears chaired the meeting, welcoming members and wishing Edwina a speedy recovery.  Tangy paid tribute to the Queen, who was the longest standing member of the WI, joining Sandringham WI in 1943 as a teenager only missing four meetings in 79 years!  Her grandmother Queen Mary had established this WI in 1919.  The Queen, as president, attended meetings in January with her Lady- in- waiting.  Tangy finished by quoting a prayer she had seen at Winchester Cathedral which she said ‘ I think sums it up.’

‘God give me Work, Till My Life Shall End and Life Till My Work is Done.’ By Winifred Holtby

The speaker, Maggie Forbes, gave tips and showed examples of clothing for her talk ‘Make Do and Mend’.  She had a chatty style talking about patching, shortening sleeves and variously extending the life of garments that had seen better days.

During refreshments there was an opportunity for members to share their memories of the Queen.  Mary Perry had enjoyed attending The Queens’ Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, Dot Raynsford had met the Queen when she came to open the new tea rooms at Winchester Cathedral and Wendy Terry, who has moved to Charlton, sent the report she wrote after attending the WI Annual General meeting in 1990 at The Albert Hall.  The Queen had attended in the afternoon and asked for Jerusalem to be sung again, specially, as she arrived.  Wendy was reminded of her Auntie Rita which she found very comforting!  Jenny Butterworth had seen the Queen three times, once as a child with her mother when the Queen returned from ‘The Royal Tour’ and then later during the Silver Jubilee in 1977 when  the Queen visited Germany for a military parade.  Jenny had her own very little girl, Emma, with her on this occasion and Emma had said, rather loudly, that the Queen looked very old as the Queen passed by.  Jenny hoped she hadn’t heard! The time passed quickly and members went home rather later than usual.