The Clifton Women's Institute

We finally have a date for our focus group we came to talk to you about last month.  All are very welcome. Here are the details below: Palomar Theatre’s focus group on exploring the words ‘ Empower ’, ‘ Nurture ’ and ‘ Recognise ’. Date: Thursday 5th March, 5:45pm-6:45pm Venue: Westbury on Trym Village Hall, Committee Room. Address: Village Hall Eastfield Road Westbury on Trym BS94AG Directions: BUS: If you’re coming from Alma Church, you can catch the number 1 bus from Clifton Down Station bus stop to Southfield Road bus stop.  CAR : It is a 9 minute drive from Alma Church. Head up Whiteladies Road, then stay on Westbury Road until you take a right onto Eastfield Road.  PARKING:  You can access free parking in the Westbury Hill Car park which is under a 5 minute walk away from the hall. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. All you need to bring is your lovely selves! The focus group will be roughly 45mins-1 hour, consis...

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER LAST MONTH Dr Helen McCarthy, “The Appetite Doctor”, gave us food for thought (!) about appetite retraining and a simple and natural way to eat more healthily. We also considered the 5 resolutions put forward for this year. The results of the votes  we re: Potential Stem Cell Donor Registration: 9 Votes Protect our Precious Helium: 6 Votes End Modern Slavery: 5 Votes Female Crash Dummies: 3 Votes Talk of Death and Dying: 2 Votes Later in the year we will get to know which of these resolutions will be taken forward. Subscription Renewals: Thank you to everyone who has renewed their WI subscription and completed the membership form. The form is attached again to the newsletter circulated by email in case there are any others who would still like to join us at our meetings and the additional social groups. Apologies if you have already indicated that you are unable to re-join this year and many thanks for letting us know. Pot...

Welcome to 2020! 2019 has been a year packed with lots of interest and activity both at our meetings and in our many and various sub groups. We hosted the Durdham Downs Group event to the Botanic gardens and visited the BBC, following an entertaining talk by Emma Britton. The year ended with our Christmas Party at 99 Queens, where in a convivial setting, we socialised over some delicious food and drink. 2020 looks to be just as eventful! Our first meeting of the year on  Wednesday January 29th  will be a busy one! Firstly  the business side of things! Membership January is membership renewal time. Subscriptions are £43 for full members (£21.10 for joint members) Please help us to help you by printing out and completing the attached membership form (necessary for renewers as well as first time members) IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING! Subscriptions can be paid by either of the fol...

November Newsletter L ast month: October was our Annual Meeting. Thanks were given to Barbara Quin, our co-president, Sally Meadows, our treasurer and Jan Ward, former secretary and programme co-ordinator who were stepping down from the Committee. Helen Bowen, our new Treasurer, Dina Tetlow and Ann Pulteney were welcomed onto the new committee joining Eileen Bartlett, president, Val Brandon-Joyce, secretary, Sue Easmon, membership secretary, Vanessa Pilley, refreshments and resolutions and Dianne Pitt, programme co-ordinator. Pete Quin, “An Accidental Musician” entertained us with songs and stories of his musical journey. Eli Whittaker and Jo Perrett were winners of the Denman Bursary raffle. We look forward to hearing about their Denman experiences. Coming up  this month Simon Rye will be giving a talk entitled “SlumAid in India”. We will be finding out about Simon’s  charitable work in India – setting up schools for children in slum areas. The  Christma...

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER LAST MONTH: Caroline Walton, Personal stylist, helped us decide whether we were apples, pears, strawberries or rectangles as well as giving us tips on what those body shapes should wear. On September, the 26 th , the Annual Meeting of the Avon Federation of WI’s took place at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston- Super-Mare. There was the usual business, followed by the Chair’s address which this year was about change and how we deal with it. We were advised “not to live in the past lane!" There were two speakers – Steve Loader, the Port Chaplain from Portbury Docks and Amanda Owen, The Yorkshire Shepherdess. Steve told heart warming stories of how he is able to provide practical, emotional and sometimes spiritual support to seafarers, from all over the world, who are away from home for long periods of time. Amanda gave an entertaining account of her journey to becoming a shepherdess, wife, mother of nine, writer and hill farmer. COMING UP THIS MONTH: ...

WI Newsletter September 2019 August fun! Our in-house event was small but delightful. The lines we made (things like how far away we were born, etc.) produced unexpected and interesting conversations and the WI quiz that followed showed that we know more than we realise about our organisation.  Smart September Caroline Walton is a personal stylist who offers colour analysis, a wardrobe edit, personal shopping and various bespoke and corporate services – and she’s coming to us this month to share her wisdom! It should be an exciting session. Timing: Please note that we have no access to the hall before 7.30 and setting it up takes about 15 mins minimum. Unless you are involved in setting up, please do not arrive before 7.45. Thanks for your help in this! Denman raffle The raffle has started well. It is only open to members of Clifton WI and it will be drawn at our Annual Meeting in October. The prizes are bursaries for  Denman College. The lucky winne...

August 2019 News Last month: 17 members enjoyed a hour and a half walk discovering the squares of Clifton and Hotwells spotting plaques about the major and minor celebrities who lived there . As well as  historical surprises there were also some geographical ones - such as the steps up to Canynge Square and the steps down to Hope Square.  The walk ended with well deserved refreshment at the Pumphouse, by the river.    Coming up: "Knowing You, Knowing Your WI, aha!" This will be a social evening of fun games and games; getting to each other and more about the WI.  What to know more?  Come along on Wednesday and find out! I f quizzes are your thing then how about getting a team of four for the Avon Federation Quiz on Thursday 17th October (7pm -10pm) at Somerset Hill, The Precinct, Portishead? Please note the closing date is Tuesday 3rd September. Val, our secretary, will be happy to provide more details at August's meeting. Denman College B...