Arts and Leisure Activities
Arts and Leisure Activities
 Formerly known as 'Leisure Activities' our remit now encompasses all the areas of 'the arts', including the performing arts, visual arts and literary arts, as well as sports and leisure activities. This means that one minute we could be planning a trip to a museum or stately home, and the next we could be working on a dance workshop or even a gliding day. |
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| 2025 Committee | ||
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| Sandra Barker (Chairman) | Gilly Plumb | Sue Birrell |
| Helen Hall | Deborah Hampshire | Paula Park |
| Wendy Nash |
Regular Activities
The Bridge Club meets regularly on a Wednesday morning at Evelyn Suffield House and holds Bridge Days twice a year.
The Mah Jong Club meets every fortnight on a Tuesday afternoon, also at ESH.
Future Activities
The following activities are planned over the next few months. More will be added once dates etc., are confirmed.
| Proposed Date/Period | Activity | Location |
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| Friday 29th August (reserve day 12th September)  | Gliding Day You asked for more, so we've listened, and you can once again reach for the sky, with additions to the experience this year | Norfolk Gliding Club Tibenham Airfield |
| Wednesday 3rd September (South coach) & Wednesday 10th September (North coach)  (Photo from Pexels website) | London River Trip View the Capital from a different angle, by taking to the water, and floating past the sights on the banks of the river | London (River Thames) |
Friday 19th September | Bridge Day Another chance for Bridge players to challenge themselves against other players. The day will once again include a light lunch for players. Please Note this event is NOT for Beginners! | Evelyn Suffield House |
Tuesday 14th October Image from Freepix | V&A Visit – Cartier Exhibition It would be remiss for us to not venture down to London for the chance to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum again, this time to view the Cartier Jewellery Exhibition. | V&A Museum, London |
Thursday 6th November Photo Credit Paula Park | Norwich Photo Safari 2 After the success of the last Photo Safari and requests for more, a second walk along the streets of Norwich finding seldom seen views has been planned (we are also looking into planning a third in a different location next year). | Starting from Evelyn Suffield House |
Thursday 20th November Image from Pixabay | A Cambridge Day Out After the very successful day at the Cambridge Botanical Gardens last year, a second visit to the beautiful city of Cambridge has been in the planning. This time you will have the opportunity to explore the city centre with the shops, museums, colleges and of course the chance to go punting on the River Cam | Fitzwilliam Museum and the City of Cambridge |
Proposed Future Activities
The following activities are being looked at currently, and there is no guarantee that they will be taking place, but keep a look out for more information: The return of the WI Holiday, another Photo Safari and more Christmas fun on Zoom plus several other events.
Past Activities
14th June 2025 - Photo Safari
 Photo credit Paula Park | This was not an event for professionals but more a case seeing things around you from a different perspective. The 14 members on the day were given a task of taking a minimum of 3 photos (eye level, above eye level, below eye level or a close up) during a mile and half stroll around Norwich city centre. From Gargoyles to Surveying benchmarks and the odd street level view, the walk had it all, plus the added bonus of glorious sunshine. If the timing was a little tight (we had to cut short the route flexibility is important for any mixed ability walking activity) there was still more than enough to view. Everyone enjoyed what was a laid back activity, took plenty of photos and learnt a few little facts along the way. Before anyone asks yes there will be another safari planned, our guide however, just needs to recover and plan the next adventure. |
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17th March 2025 - Bridge Day
 Photo credit Paula Park | Numbers were a little down on the day and those unable to attend were greatly missed, but it didn’t dampen the enjoyment and enthusiasm of the ladies in attendance. Eileen Chapman and Jane Sage looked after the complicated flow of card, all the players and the scores, in the absence of Sue Birrell (the usual organiser) ensuring everything ran smoothly. With a break at lunchtime to enjoy a lunch prepared and served by Brenda Shirley and her team before the afternoon session. When the scores were finally added up Carole Gilliver and Jean Scarlett were declared the winners. Focus now turns to an autumn session which hopefully will prove to be just as successful. |
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16th January 2025 - Ballet Workshop
 Photo provided by Kim Reynolds | So many little girls dream of becoming famous Ballerinas, sadly for most this never comes true. When the Theatre Royal offered the chance for a WI exclusive ballet workshop, members were quick to apply. Ably tutored by Oleksandra, a Ukrainian ballerina now living in Norwich the attendees were led initially through some warm up exercises and steps, before trying out short sections from now famous ballets. There may not have been any WI Pavlovas on show (sorry couldn’t resist the reference to both ballet and baking) but the ladies enjoyed the morning, and several have vowed to attend again if given the chance. |
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16th January 2025 - Zoom Panto
Actors from left to right, top to bottom: Louise Casson (Queen), Margaret Collingwood (Jester), Sandra Barker (Carabosse aka the baddy), Wendy Nash (The fairy), Kim Reynolds (Princess), Gilly Plumb (Prince Fredrick the 1st of Framlingham Earl) | After the disappointment of last year when a few gremlins got into the mix, the WI Thespians once more put on a show or at least put on some sort of Panto again. How do you put on a show with only six actors, no scenery, music, costumes or even a stage, of course via Zoom. Armed with a script kindly supplied free of charge by Newcastle author Tom Walley, the six actors took on a production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Quite how the parts were selected is anyone’s guess but having the former Federation Chairman as a jester was possibly a recipe for disaster! As is expected with the traditional Christmas affair chaos ensued, much laughter was created and the audience (whether they be on their own or in a group having a party) enjoyed the show. Will there be more next year, ‘Oh yes there will!’ |
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31st October 2024 - Canasta Day
 Photo provided by Janice Warren Tibenham WI | Canasta Day was a chance for some total beginners to learn the card game, first developed in South America (hence the Spanish name). It involves players competing to win each hand of cards from their opponent. Ably assisted by their tutor Linda, the 16 members soon mastered the basics of collecting Canastas (or baskets, canasta is Spanish for basket), which they discovered is more technical than Snap, but less demanding than Bridge. All the attendees enjoyed the day and some even went away with the aim of buying their own set of cards to show others how to play. Thanks for this event and the Bridge days must go to Sue Birrell, who once again has put much effort into not only organising, but also ensuring the event was such a success. |
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10th October Tubing at Norwich Dry Ski Slope
| After the very successful Gliding Days, next it was time to hit the slopes. Not on skis or snow boards but on huge rubber doughnuts or is that tyre inner tubes? The event clearly proved to be popular as, after a slow beginning, tickets were over subscribed! Clearly the ladies of the Norfolk WI are not just all about the more ‘genteel’ activities. Once again it also proved that it wasn’t just the younger members who decided to risk life and limb and take the chance to slide down the slopes. Those rings are impossible to control, difficult to escape from, but brighten the faces of anyone who was brave enough to climb into the rings, and those who just went along to watch. For those who missed out this time plans are afoot for more sliding in a ‘doughnut’. |
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Photo provided by Lesley Sanders Poringland WIThe committee continues to look out for new and exciting ways to entertain fellow members.
As well as the regular outings and activities, to places of interest, the Committee also arranges the annual Federation holidays.
We are always open to new ideas and suggestions from members across the Federation. if you have any ideas please pass them to the Federation Office for our consideration. With your assistance we can add new pursuits as well as old favourites to the calendar.