ARFORD WI

Return to Index of Hampshire WI Homepages

Homepage hosted by Hampshire County Federation of Women's Institutes

ARFORD WI

Arford is a very active institute and it is the committee's aim to encourage the interests of all our members.

President: Sue Barrett

Vice President: Carolyn Cromwell

Hon. Secretary : Sue Gamble

As well as the programme of monthly meetings we hold a fortnightly craft group where we chat and share ideas.
There is a walking group, a monthly lunch club (recent visits have been to the Grayshott Post Office, the Anchor at Liphook, the Links and Old Thorns was the venue for our enjoyable Christmas lunch).
We also have annual social skittles evenings with other local groups, annual garden parties and several scrabble meetings throughout the year.

There are various outings on offer: last year's included theatre trips.
We take part in the Federation quiz, scrabble and skittles competitions.
We have several members who get involved on an individual basis with other Federation
and Group competitions such as producing a lantern and entering photos for the Hampshire WI calendar.

Members have the opportunity to attend two local group meetings a year which are always most enjoyable.
There are also the two Federation Council Meetings and the National AGM on offer to members should they wish to get more involved in the WI.

There are workshops run by the Federation at WI House in Winchester and at Denman College near Oxford, one has
the opportunity to increase skills and learn new ones in a helpful and very friendly atmosphere.

The president and all the committee members cordially invite possible new members to join us at our next meeting.

We are open to everyone, meeting at the Headley Church Centre at 8pm on the 4th Thursday each month, and would love to see you.

2011
DATE TOPIC'S FOR IN-HOUSE MEETINGS SPEAKER
January 27th Haslemere, People & Places Mr. Tim Winter
February 24th “Open Wide” - Tales from the Dental Chair Mr. Wally Happy
March 24th Craft evening
April 28th Round the World, the Weird, the Wild and the Wonderful Mr. R. Andrew Negus
May 26th Resolutions Meeting
June 23rd Shulbrede Priory in Linchmere Ms Laura Ponsonby
July 28th Garden Party Garden Part - visit to Shulbrede Priory
August 25th Sweet Chestnut - A Walk in the Park Mr Chris Howkins
September 22nd Half-a-pint of Mother-in-Law - A History of English Pubs Mr. Steve Harris
October 27th Social Evening 1950’s themed Beetle Drive
November 24th Christmas Table Decorations Mrs. Violet McMonnies
December 15th Christmas Party
OTHER MEETINGS THROUGH THE YEAR
Date Meeting, Venue, Speaker/Topic
March 22nd Spring Council Meeting, Portsmouth daytime
May 5th Spring Group Meeting, 7:30pm in Liphook Church Centre
July 7th & 8th National AGM in Liverpool
October 18th Autumn Meeting, Basingstoke evening
TBA Autumn Group Meeting
REPORTS FOR 2011
January 2011
The Industrial Revolution and modern technology; how many of us stop to think how it has changed our lives! Tim Winter, a native of Haslemere and post card dealer, came to Arford W.I in January and showed us, with the help of his postcards, how Haslemere has grown from a quiet village in the 1800's to the thriving country town it has become to-day. The coming of the railway enabled people to commute to Guildford and gradually, further away. This amenity encouraged many prominent people to view Haslemere as an ideal place to live, and new homes were built. Tim illustrated how many of the old buildings have now been pulled down and modern facilities have taken their place. He also spoke of the characters who lived and traded many years ago. Members were so interested to hear of Haslemere and its history, a small town so near to Headley.
Carolyn Cromwell chaired this meeting as Sue Barrett, our President, was away celebrating the birthday of her Father, who is now 100 years old! We all sent our congratulations.

We were pleased to welcome new members in January and look forward to greeting anyone, perhaps new to Headley and the surrounding areas, to join us.

On the 24th March, we will be holding a Craft Evening. Do come along and perhaps learn something new, or just watch others working away. Everyone is welcome.
February 2011
In February, past members of Arford W.I. renewed their membership and were given a warm welcome. It is always good to see familiar faces return. Also we welcomed new members: Chloe Todd and S Gray.
Mr. Wally Happy with his title "Open wide - tales from the dental chair" told us about his life as a dental technician and in April Mr. R. Andrew Negus will talk on "Round the World - the Weird, the Wild and the Wonderful".
Details of the Mini Show to be held in May, have not yet been finalised, but this is always an interesting meeting where all members are invited to take part in at least one class as we hope that everyone will get involved
A skittles evening is planned for Friday 15th April in Headley Village Hall and all are welcome. Do come along and bring family and friends – it is always a great social occasion. Refreshments are 'American Supper' style, so bring along a plate to share and remember to bring your own drinks, glasses and cutlery. Tickets are Ł5 per person and can be obtained in advance from Sue Gamble (01428 715 483).
March 2011
Headley Church Centre became a hive of activity when Arford W.I. met for their March meting. Members could choose between making paper roses,cards, folding tea bags or bead work and spent the evening learning a new craft. This was a very popular and sociable evening.
Jennifer Mitchell reported on the HCFWI Spring council meeting held at Portsmouth and notice was given of the Spring Group meeting to be held in Liphook on the 5th May at 7:30pm. The speaker on this occasion will be a Masai Warrior. The competition is to make a Masai warrior's shield to be judged by our guest.
On the 26th May Arford W.I will hold its Resolutions and annual Mini Show. The schedule for this is as follows:-
An unusual photograph of any subject not larger than A4.
A knitted article of clothing for a child up to the age of 18 months
A limerick the 1st line to read BEING A MEMBER OF THE W.I.
A picture or pattern, no larger than A4, made from a variety of leaves,they do not have to be dried/pressed leaves.
A decorated tissue box using any medium.
A First Aid kit to fit into a handbag (matchbox size)it will be judged on imagination used for contents not on how many can fit inside.
It is hoped that all members will enter at least one of the above categories.
April 2011
Although no Royal Wedding invitation had been forthcoming, Arford W.I. members arrived for their meeting on the eve of their celebration of the Royal Wedding, arrayed in their Sunday best and bedecked with hats. The Royal group, beautifully knitted by Jennifer Mitchell and husband, was much admired; cake and wine was served to toast the happy couple.
Andrew Negus was our speaker, who recounted his back packing journey through many countries, as a young man. During this time he met his wife in the USA and returned with her to England. After 17 years, sadly his wife died and to help cope with his grief, he decided to back pack again. His stories of China were fascinating. He told how after, at first disliking the Chinese way of life, he learnt to both understand and appreciate their philosophy. He spent a month exploring this interesting country, visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, the birth place of Mao and the remote countryside. He had made many friendships and his gentle sense of humour, as he recounted his adventures left us wanting to hear more of his journey. Definitely a return visit to Arford W.I is a must.
May 2011
The Mini Show, organised by Will Machin, proved a great success at the May meeting of Arford W.I. Twenty-three members took part with a total of 55 exhibits. The most popular classes were "a Picture or pattern made from a variety of leaves" (won by Rosemary Morris) and "A First Aid Kit, fitted into a matchbox" (won by Sally Priestley). Congratulations go to Pauline Dawson, the overall winner of the Jean Kearon cup .
The resolutions to be debated at the W.I's National Annual Meeting, held in Liverpool at the beginning of June were:- 1: The meeting abhors the practice of factory farming. 2: For the government to maintain support of local libraries.Both these resolutions were discussed and agreed by a majority of Arford members and our delegate will have voted thus.
June 2011
Ms Laura Ponsonby gave a fascinating insight into the history of Schulbrede Priory at the June meeting of Arford W.I. The Priory was built by the Augustine monks in the 14th century and has had a long and varied past. Sir Hubert Parry was the Great Grandfather of Laura and it was he who composed Jerusalem, the W.I anthem. Her talk was illustrated with slides, giving members an insight into the building, which now comprises only about an eighth of the original Priory, and Arford members were invited to visit Schulbrede for their July meeting.
"Sweet Chestnut - a Walk in the Park" is the title of the talk to be given by Chris Howkins, on the 25th August. Chris is a well-known speaker with great knowledge and a keen sense of humour, so this is an evening not to be missed.
July 2011
In July members of Arford WI spent a balmy evening at Shulbrede Priory, Linchmere at the kind invitation of the Ponsonby family. The third generation owner of the priory, Miss Laura Ponsonby, had described at our June meeting the long and chequered history of the priory which was founded in 1190 by an Augustinian prior Ralph de Arderne and his son Thomas. Sadly, only a small portion of the original twelfth century structure remains, the priory having fallen foul of King Henry VIII's ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries'. It was in 1536 that the Royal Commissioner Richard Leyton did the king's bidding at Shulbrede. Members were shown a copy of the document in which he declared 'there are whores here'. In truth, these would probably have been local women employed quite properly, in the priory gardens and kitchens. We learnt that the estate was passed to the Duke of Southampton and eventually became part of the Cowdray Estate with the buildings then used as a farmhouse, the church demolished and the crypt the family's living space. The arrival of Arthur Ponsonby in 1902 - first as a tenant and a year later as the owner of what remained of Shulbrede Priory - secured its future. Thus began a labour of love and much painstaking research including excavation by Arthur and his son. We were shown the book compiled by Arthur in beautiful copper-plate handwriting complete with illuminated letters and delicate water colour illustrations detailing all that he had discovered about the history of his home. The members also viewed displays of the excavated medieval tiles, the plasterer's graffiti marks on the vaulted ceilings and the Elizabethan wall paintings. The most intriguing was a depiction of the old story that all the beasts can talk in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the morning. Here the farm animals are announcing in Latin the birth of Christ. We discovered a WI connection to Shulbrede Priory. The father of Arthur's wife Dolly was the composer Sir Hubert Parry. The piece by which he is best known, is the setting to music of William Blake's poem "Jerusalem". He did this in 1916 and by the early-1920s the Women's Institute, had adopted the hymn as their own and still sing it to this day. To complete a most enjoyable and informative evening homemade refreshments - which included elderflower lemonade using spring water from the priory's own springs - were kindly provided by our hosts.
August 2011
Chris Howkins made a return visit to Arford W.I on the 25th August to give his talk “Sweet Chestnut - a Walk in the Park” and again enthralled his audience with his expert knowledge and sense of humour. Chris explained the origin of an “ Avenue”. Avenues first appeared in France during the 17th century as a tree lined approach to a principle grand residence; the sweet chestnut tree was one of the popular trees to be used. Probably introduced to Britain by the Romans, it is a native tree of Asia Minor . Nowadays this tree is used extensively for medical research.
Thanks were given to Jean Kearon for holding a cream tea afternoon during August, which added a substantial amount to funds. Although the weather was not sunny, members enjoyed the delicious scones made by the committee and meeting with friends for a chat.
On the 27th October there will be a social evening and all are welcome. Betty is having a coffee morning on the 9th September, Friday at Gable End and looks forward to seeing you there. It is mainly in aid of McMillan Nurses but Betty will re-offer any remaining items not sold at the car boot sale and proceeds from these will go to WI.
September 2011
How often do we stop to think how the pub we are about to enter got its name? Steve Harris made a return to Arford W.I. in September to talk about the history of pubs and the origin of pub names. He explained the Half a pint of Mother-in-Law in the title of his talk by telling us that ladies – who would never enter a public house - always went to the Bottle and Jug section to fetch Old (ale) and Bitter – hence the name of Mother in Law for the beverage they took home to drink. Because years ago many people were unable to read and write, Inns would display a sign that showed their name and location – especially useful for strangers travelling through the town and needing food and shelter for the night. Some signs represented the name of the owner, a local place, others an important event or even a connection with royalty, such as “The Royal Oak”. Steve Harris and his wife greatly enjoyed their research for this talk, even though it had meant that they needed to visit and sample food and drink at over 600 establishments, taking photographs to demonstrate the pub signs and show some pub interiors.
Carole Smith hosted this meeting, whilst our President Sue Barrett, was away on holiday and Carolyn Cromwell was absent due to a family emergency.
In readiness for the fast approaching Christmas season the crafters are planning classes for members, of all skill levels, to learn to make Christmas bells and exploding boxes. Names were taken for the classes. For further details or to see if there are any spare places please contact Jean (Bells) on 01428 606100 or Wil (exploding boxes) on 0142 8717684.
October 2011
“Beetlemania” could well describe the W.I meeting held in October! Members toiled with the anatomy of this insect, tossing the dice to start it’s body with a 6 and it’s head with a 5 really enjoying the interaction with each other, with much laughter. Congratulations were given to Ann Malcolm, the overall winner.
The Crafters have been very busy and many thanks to Will for organising the exploding boxes workshop – containing the most tricksy Christmas trees ever going! Also to Jean and Christine for showing us how to make Christmas Bells, which was mainly a sewing activity. If there is any other craft that you would like to see in a workshop or something you would like to give as a workshop, please approach Will who is our craft co-ordinator.
At the Autumn Group Meeting, Regency Belles and Beaux, the crafters achieved second place in the competition with their entry.
This year’s firesider scrabble matches have begun and Arford has made a marvellous start with Kath and Carole winning both games in their match against Farnborough A.
November 2011
If you are invited to Lunch or Dinner by an Arford W.I member sometime in the near future, you could be in for a pleasant surprise. At the November meeting Mrs Violet McMonnies gave members an interesting and informative evening, showing four different ways to decorate a festive table. She pre-set four tables with a white cloth and place settings for six. She then decorated each table in a different style. The first was a traditional table in red and gold, the second was turquoise, the third a simple naturalistic look and the final in black and gold.On each table she had covered the tablemats with the appropriate coloured wrapping paper, decorated white folded serviettes with a different item and used coloured wine glasses. The centrepiece was a runner on which she placed a string of beads each side and candles in the middle. On the first and last display she had sprayed pineapples with gold and these were placed at the end of the runner. Each table was so different and she gave so many tips for members to follow. It was a thoroughly enjoyable demonstration.
The Crafters have been very busy again and many thanks to Jean for organising the Christmas Tree workshop – which was a mix of sticking and sewing with the results proving to be very impressive .
Kath, June and Carole have now managed to finish this year’s firesider scrabble matches and Arford made a reasonable showing overall. We played 10 matches and won 5 of them which is no mean feat considering the quality of the others and the rotten letters we kept getting!
The Christmas party on the 15th December at 8pm, is for members only, and will be at the Church Centre as usual. For further information please phone Betty White on 01428 713444.
2011 has been a busy and interesting year and we continue to grow, with new members coming along, and several from the past rejoining. We wish all in Arford W.I. and others reading this site a Very Happy Christmas and send all Good Wishes for 2012.
Arford W.I meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Headley Church Centre at 8pm. If you are new to the areas around Headley and Lindford, why not attend one of our meetings where you can be sure of a warm welcome. All information can be obtained from the President, Mrs. Sue Barrett on 01420 473 957.

Welcome Visitor Number

2011
DATE	TOPIC'S FOR IN-HOUSE MEETINGS	SPEAKER
January 27th	Haslemere, People & Places	Mr. Tim Winter
February 24th	“Open Wide” - Tales from the Dental Chair	Mr. Wally Happy
March 24th	Craft evening
April 28th	Round the World, the Weird, the Wild and the Wonderful	Mr. R. Andrew Negus
May 26th	Resolutions Meeting
June 23rd	Shulbrede Priory in Linchmere	Ms Laura Ponsonby
July 28th	Garden Party	Garden Part - visit to Shulbrede Priory
August 25th	Sweet Chestnut - A Walk in the Park	Mr Chris Howkins
September 22nd	Half-a-pint of Mother-in-Law - A History of English Pubs	Mr. Steve Harris
October 27th	Social Evening	1950’s themed Beetle Drive
November 24th	Christmas Table Decorations	Mrs. Violet McMonnies
December 15th	Christmas Party
	OTHER MEETINGS THROUGH THE YEAR
Date	Meeting, Venue, Speaker/Topic
March 22nd	Spring Council Meeting, Portsmouth daytime
May 5th	Spring Group Meeting, 7:30pm in Liphook Church Centre
July 7th & 8th	National AGM in Liverpool
October 18th	Autumn Meeting, Basingstoke evening
TBA	Autumn Group Meeting
REPORTS FOR 2011
January 2011
	The Industrial Revolution and modern technology; how many of us stop to think how it has changed our lives! Tim Winter, a native of Haslemere and post card dealer, came to Arford W.I in January and showed us, with the help of his postcards, how Haslemere has grown from a quiet village in the 1800's to the thriving country town it has become to-day. The coming of the railway enabled people to commute to Guildford and gradually, further away. This amenity encouraged many prominent people to view Haslemere as an ideal place to live, and new homes were built. Tim illustrated how many of the old buildings have now been pulled down and modern facilities have taken their place. He also spoke of the characters who lived and traded many years ago. Members were so interested to hear of Haslemere and its history, a small town so near to Headley.
	Carolyn Cromwell chaired this meeting as Sue Barrett, our President, was away celebrating the birthday of her Father, who is now 100 years old! We all sent our congratulations.

	We were pleased to welcome new members in January and look forward to greeting anyone, perhaps new to Headley and the surrounding areas, to join us.

	On the 24th March, we will be holding a Craft Evening. Do come along and perhaps learn something new, or just watch others working away. Everyone is welcome.
February 2011
	In February, past members of Arford W.I. renewed their membership and were given a warm welcome. It is always good to see familiar faces return. Also we welcomed new members: Chloe Todd and S Gray.
	Mr. Wally Happy with his title "Open wide - tales from the dental chair" told us about his life as a dental technician and in April Mr. R. Andrew Negus will talk on "Round the World - the Weird, the Wild and the Wonderful".
	Details of the Mini Show to be held in May, have not yet been finalised, but this is always an interesting meeting where all members are invited to take part in at least one class as we hope that everyone will get involved
	A skittles evening is planned for Friday 15th April in Headley Village Hall and all are welcome. Do come along and bring family and friends – it is always a great social occasion. Refreshments are 'American Supper' style, so bring along a plate to share and remember to bring your own drinks, glasses and cutlery. Tickets are Ł5 per person and can be obtained in advance from Sue Gamble (01428 715 483).
March 2011
	Headley Church Centre became a hive of activity when Arford W.I. met for their March meting. Members could choose between making paper roses,cards, folding tea bags or bead work and spent the evening learning a new craft. This was a very popular and sociable evening.
	Jennifer Mitchell reported on the HCFWI Spring council meeting held at Portsmouth and notice was given of the Spring Group meeting to be held in Liphook on the 5th May at 7:30pm. The speaker on this occasion will be a Masai Warrior. The competition is to make a Masai warrior's shield to be judged by our guest.
	On the 26th May Arford W.I will hold its Resolutions and annual Mini Show. The schedule for this is as follows:-
	An unusual photograph of any subject not larger than A4.
	A knitted article of clothing for a child up to the age of 18 months
	A limerick the 1st line to read BEING A MEMBER OF THE W.I.
	A picture or pattern, no larger than A4, made from a variety of leaves,they do not have to be dried/pressed leaves.
	A decorated tissue box using any medium.
	A First Aid kit to fit into a handbag (matchbox size)it will be judged on imagination used for contents not on how many can fit inside.
	It is hoped that all members will enter at least one of the above categories.
April 2011
	Although no Royal Wedding invitation had been forthcoming, Arford W.I. members arrived for their meeting on the eve of their celebration of the Royal Wedding, arrayed in their Sunday best and bedecked with hats. The Royal group, beautifully knitted by Jennifer Mitchell and husband, was much admired; cake and wine was served to toast the happy couple.
	Andrew Negus was our speaker, who recounted his back packing journey through many countries, as a young man. During this time he met his wife in the USA and returned with her to England. After 17 years, sadly his wife died and to help cope with his grief, he decided to back pack again. His stories of China were fascinating. He told how after, at first disliking the Chinese way of life, he learnt to both understand and appreciate their philosophy. He spent a month exploring this interesting country, visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, the birth place of Mao and the remote countryside. He had made many friendships and his gentle sense of humour, as he recounted his adventures left us wanting to hear more of his journey. Definitely a return visit to Arford W.I is a must.
May 2011
	The Mini Show, organised by Will Machin, proved a great success at the May meeting of Arford W.I. Twenty-three members took part with a total of 55 exhibits. The most popular classes were "a Picture or pattern made from a variety of leaves" (won by Rosemary Morris) and "A First Aid Kit, fitted into a matchbox" (won by Sally Priestley). Congratulations go to Pauline Dawson, the overall winner of the Jean Kearon cup .
	The resolutions to be debated at the W.I's National Annual Meeting, held in Liverpool at the beginning of June were:- 1: The meeting abhors the practice of factory farming. 2: For the government to maintain support of local libraries.Both these resolutions were discussed and agreed by a majority of Arford members and our delegate will have voted thus.
June 2011
	Ms Laura Ponsonby gave a fascinating insight into the history of Schulbrede Priory at the June meeting of Arford W.I. The Priory was built by the Augustine monks in the 14th century and has had a long and varied past. Sir Hubert Parry was the Great Grandfather of Laura and it was he who composed Jerusalem, the W.I anthem. Her talk was illustrated with slides, giving members an insight into the building, which now comprises only about an eighth of the original Priory, and Arford members were invited to visit Schulbrede for their July meeting.
	"Sweet Chestnut - a Walk in the Park" is the title of the talk to be given by Chris Howkins, on the 25th August. Chris is a well-known speaker with great knowledge and a keen sense of humour, so this is an evening not to be missed.
July 2011
	In July members of Arford WI spent a balmy evening at Shulbrede Priory, Linchmere at the kind invitation of the Ponsonby family. The third generation owner of the priory, Miss Laura Ponsonby, had described at our June meeting the long and chequered history of the priory which was founded in 1190 by an Augustinian prior Ralph de Arderne and his son Thomas. Sadly, only a small portion of the original twelfth century structure remains, the priory having fallen foul of King Henry VIII's ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries'. It was in 1536 that the Royal Commissioner Richard Leyton did the king's bidding at Shulbrede. Members were shown a copy of the document in which he declared 'there are whores here'. In truth, these would probably have been local women employed quite properly, in the priory gardens and kitchens. We learnt that the estate was passed to the Duke of Southampton and eventually became part of the Cowdray Estate with the buildings then used as a farmhouse, the church demolished and the crypt the family's living space. The arrival of Arthur Ponsonby in 1902 - first as a tenant and a year later as the owner of what remained of Shulbrede Priory - secured its future. Thus began a labour of love and much painstaking research including excavation by Arthur and his son. We were shown the book compiled by Arthur in beautiful copper-plate handwriting complete with illuminated letters and delicate water colour illustrations detailing all that he had discovered about the history of his home. The members also viewed displays of the excavated medieval tiles, the plasterer's graffiti marks on the vaulted ceilings and the Elizabethan wall paintings. The most intriguing was a depiction of the old story that all the beasts can talk in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the morning. Here the farm animals are announcing in Latin the birth of Christ. We discovered a WI connection to Shulbrede Priory. The father of Arthur's wife Dolly was the composer Sir Hubert Parry. The piece by which he is best known, is the setting to music of William Blake's poem "Jerusalem". He did this in 1916 and by the early-1920s the Women's Institute, had adopted the hymn as their own and still sing it to this day. To complete a most enjoyable and informative evening homemade refreshments - which included elderflower lemonade using spring water from the priory's own springs - were kindly provided by our hosts.
August 2011
	Chris Howkins made a return visit to Arford W.I on the 25th August to give his talk “Sweet Chestnut - a Walk in the Park” and again enthralled his audience with his expert knowledge and sense of humour. Chris explained the origin of an “ Avenue”. Avenues first appeared in France during the 17th century as a tree lined approach to a principle grand residence; the sweet chestnut tree was one of the popular trees to be used. Probably introduced to Britain by the Romans, it is a native tree of Asia Minor . Nowadays this tree is used extensively for medical research.
	Thanks were given to Jean Kearon for holding a cream tea afternoon during August, which added a substantial amount to funds. Although the weather was not sunny, members enjoyed the delicious scones made by the committee and meeting with friends for a chat.
	On the 27th October there will be a social evening and all are welcome. Betty is having a coffee morning on the 9th September, Friday at Gable End and looks forward to seeing you there. It is mainly in aid of McMillan Nurses but Betty will re-offer any remaining items not sold at the car boot sale and proceeds from these will go to WI.
September 2011
	How often do we stop to think how the pub we are about to enter got its name? Steve Harris made a return to Arford W.I. in September to talk about the history of pubs and the origin of pub names. He explained the Half a pint of Mother-in-Law in the title of his talk by telling us that ladies – who would never enter a public house - always went to the Bottle and Jug section to fetch Old (ale) and Bitter – hence the name of Mother in Law for the beverage they took home to drink. Because years ago many people were unable to read and write, Inns would display a sign that showed their name and location – especially useful for strangers travelling through the town and needing food and shelter for the night. Some signs represented the name of the owner, a local place, others an important event or even a connection with royalty, such as “The Royal Oak”. Steve Harris and his wife greatly enjoyed their research for this talk, even though it had meant that they needed to visit and sample food and drink at over 600 establishments, taking photographs to demonstrate the pub signs and show some pub interiors.
	Carole Smith hosted this meeting, whilst our President Sue Barrett, was away on holiday and Carolyn Cromwell was absent due to a family emergency.
	In readiness for the fast approaching Christmas season the crafters are planning classes for members, of all skill levels, to learn to make Christmas bells and exploding boxes. Names were taken for the classes. For further details or to see if there are any spare places please contact Jean (Bells) on 01428 606100 or Wil (exploding boxes) on 0142 8717684.
October 2011
	“Beetlemania” could well describe the W.I meeting held in October! Members toiled with the anatomy of this insect, tossing the dice to start it’s body with a 6 and it’s head with a 5 really enjoying the interaction with each other, with much laughter. Congratulations were given to Ann Malcolm, the overall winner.
	The Crafters have been very busy and many thanks to Will for organising the exploding boxes workshop – containing the most tricksy Christmas trees ever going! Also to Jean and Christine for showing us how to make Christmas Bells, which was mainly a sewing activity. If there is any other craft that you would like to see in a workshop or something you would like to give as a workshop, please approach Will who is our craft co-ordinator.
	At the Autumn Group Meeting, Regency Belles and Beaux, the crafters achieved second place in the competition with their entry.
	This year’s firesider scrabble matches have begun and Arford has made a marvellous start with Kath and Carole winning both games in their match against Farnborough A.
November 2011
	If you are invited to Lunch or Dinner by an Arford W.I member sometime in the near future, you could be in for a pleasant surprise. At the November meeting Mrs Violet McMonnies gave members an interesting and informative evening, showing four different ways to decorate a festive table. She pre-set four tables with a white cloth and place settings for six. She then decorated each table in a different style. The first was a traditional table in red and gold, the second was turquoise, the third a simple naturalistic look and the final in black and gold.On each table she had covered the tablemats with the appropriate coloured wrapping paper, decorated white folded serviettes with a different item and used coloured wine glasses. The centrepiece was a runner on which she placed a string of beads each side and candles in the middle. On the first and last display she had sprayed pineapples with gold and these were placed at the end of the runner. Each table was so different and she gave so many tips for members to follow. It was a thoroughly enjoyable demonstration.
	The Crafters have been very busy again and many thanks to Jean for organising the Christmas Tree workshop – which was a mix of sticking and sewing with the results proving to be very impressive .
	Kath, June and Carole have now managed to finish this year’s firesider scrabble matches and Arford made a reasonable showing overall. We played 10 matches and won 5 of them which is no mean feat considering the quality of the others and the rotten letters we kept getting!
	The Christmas party on the 15th December at 8pm, is for members only, and will be at the Church Centre as usual. For further information please phone Betty White on 01428 713444.
	2011 has been a busy and interesting year and we continue to grow, with new members coming along, and several from the past rejoining. We wish all in Arford W.I. and others reading this site a Very Happy Christmas and send all Good Wishes for 2012.
	Arford W.I meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Headley Church Centre at 8pm. If you are new to the areas around Headley and Lindford, why not attend one of our meetings where you can be sure of a warm welcome. All information can be obtained from the President, Mrs. Sue Barrett on 01420 473 957.