At their March meeting members were given a talk by Kate Bettison on "My Life as a Film Extra". It can be quite exciting to be a film extra but it is essential that you are available at very short notice and be prepared to travel to various locations with some very early starts and late finishes. On the other side though it is nice to meet some of the actors who we see either on TV or in film.

She has worked on many TV programmes including Holby City, CBeebies, and many films including the Holiday which was filmed quite locally at Shere in Surrey and which needed 42 takes for one particular scene!

During the evening members were able to make purchases from the Traidcraft stall and reports were given on recent activities including a lunch at BCOT and the visit to Denman of two members to an Almond Day at which they learnt all about Californian Almonds and listened to a talk by Karen Brady.

Details were given of the many forthcoming events arranged by the Federation including a Big Walk and Little Splash event which will run from April 1 to September 16, with members recording all the miles they do either walking or swimming, a farm visit to the Trinley Estate in Andover, the manager of which was BBC Farmer of the Year in 2011, a Quilting event for Beginners and a Butterfly and Orchids Day at the Butterfly Conversation nature reserve at Yew Hill, near Winchester. Locally, Little Heath WI are having a walk for ACWW and several members are going on this. Forthcoming events arranged for Oakley and Deane WI include a jumble sale, afternoon tea at Peponis at Crondall, a trip to Chichester with a boat trip around the harbour followed by a visit to the flower festival in the cathedral and a visit to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen’s diamonds.

April sees the 94th birthday of Oakley and Deane WI and the topic for the evening will be Tai Chi and Chi Kung for health and wellbeing, a talk and demonstration given by Malcolm Calvert. There will also be a birthday buffet and a competition for the Nancy Kirby salver of a hand knitted scarf.

Nancy Kirby was a long standing member of the WI and very keen on crafts and the salver is presented each year in her memory to the winner of a craft competition.

Oakley and Deane WI meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Andover Road Village Hall from 7.30pm to 9.45pm.