Oakley and Deane WI celebrated their 95th birthday at their meeting in April and members enjoyed the evening playing traditional games and doing a quiz. After the games a toast was made to the WI, the birthday cake was cut and and a buffet supper was enjoyed by all.

There were other milestones to celebrate - one to Pam McCarthy, who received an engraved goblet marking 40 years membership of the WI, and Carol Oliver and Angel Stacey, who had previously received goblets for 40 years’ membership received beautiful cards hand-made by a member to mark their 50 years in the WI. A “Dip for Denman” was made in which a bursary is given annually to a member to enjoy a course of their choice at the WI residential college Denman in Oxfordshire. The competition for the evening , which was for a woodland arrangement, was for the Nancy Kirby Salver, which is a salver named in memory Nancy, who was a long term member of the WI, very keen on all crafts and who held may positions including president. Unfortunately, due to the rather inclement weather, there were not many entries for this but those that were entered were really attractive.

Forthcoming events include a visit to Cotswold Farm Park, which is the farm of Adam Henson, of Countryfile fame, who came to speak at the Hampshire Autumn meeting at The Anvil last October, and there will be a visit to Westwoodhay Garden in Newbury in June.

There are many other events arranged by the federation in the next couple of months which some members are attending including a Garden Guided Tour at Sherfield English, a Titantic Guided Walk , a Butterflies and Orchids day and a Literary Lunch with Sandra Howard. There is also a Speaker Selection Day and a general knowledge quiz, so overall, the next few months are going to be busy with lots of interesting things to do.

The meeting in May will be the annual meeting, when discussion will take place on this year’s national resolution, which is on the subject of the decline of High Street shops. There will also be an accessories trading stall.