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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Wednesday 19th March | Bridge Day Once again we will be hosting a day for the players of the card game Bridge, to challenge themselves against other players. One of the more demanding card games out there, which involves, tactics, skill and occasional luck, to succeed. The day will include a light lunch for players, so there is no excuse. Please note this event is NOT for beginners! | Evelyn Suffield House |
| Friday 16th May (reserve day 23rd May) & 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 |
Saturday 14th June | Norwich Photo Safari Norwich is more than a City of Stories, it is also a city of undiscovered surprises. Take a walk with a camera (or just use your mobile phone camera) for a journey of discovery - Safari is Swahili for 'journey'. From the pictures on the floor to the above eyelevel surprises, this Safari will guarantee you will never look at a simple walk around this fine City in the same light again. | Norwich City centre (starting from Evelyn Suffield House) |
Wednesday 25th June (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) |
Monday 21st - Tuesday 22nd July (Photo from Pexels website) | Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House Find out what goes on behind the curtains at a major opera, is it all glitz and glamour, or is there more to putting on a show than the audience sees? Now is the chance to find out Note this includes an overnight stay in London | The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London |
Proposed Future Activities
The following activities are still in the planning stages, so there is no guarantee that they will be taking place, but keep a look out for more information: An afternoon on the River Bure, a day out in Cambridge with the chance to view the Fitzwilliam Museum, and more Christmas fun on Zoom.
Past Activities
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 WI2024 Gliding Days
 | After the success of the two gliding days in 2023 it was decided as there was still huge demand that two more sessions would be arranged. The WI members of Norfolk didn’t disappoint and once more took up the challenge. Despite a couple of niggles everyone who attended and flew whether it be towed or winched, came back to Terra firma full of delight. Also somehow word got out to WI Life magazine (apparently it was spotted on Facebook) of what we were getting up to. A photographer and writer were quickly dispatched to attend one of the days, resulting in the rest of the WI community finding out that we have our fair share of adventurous members. |
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Hampton Court Visits 2024
 (Photo credit Kim Reynolds) | Once again there have been ventures out of our wonderful county, this time to one of Henry VIII’s royal Palaces (which incidentally was reluctantly gifted/stolen from Cardinal Wolsey). Two coaches full, on different days, travelled to Hampton Court Palace for a private tour and the chance to look round the wonderful gardens. All who travelled enjoyed the trip and learnt something new. Whether anyone saw the ghosts who are said to haunt the palace is not known, but would they admit if they had? |
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May 2024 Murder Mystery Evening at South Wootton
 (photo credit Hilary Franzen) | A murder most foul took place on the 15th May in South Wootton, and it was up to an audience of local sleuths, from a somewhat interesting collection of suspects, to deduce who was responsible. The clues, alibis and motives were there but needed to be analysed during a supper, prepared by local WI members. However, just when the majority thought they knew who the murderer was, there was a final plot twist, as is often the case with such plays. The murderer was revealed and justice served. The top detective was Jenny Harrigan from Downham Market WI, who managed to correctly work out, both who did it and how (photo of Jenny with her prize) It was a very entertaining evening with excellent performances from all the cast. It has since come to light that there is an alternative ending to the play, so maybe there will be another chance to solve a murder in the future. |
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February 2024 Victoria and Albert Museum Visit
 | Arts & Leisure activities can take us outside of the County on trips which are usually well subscribed. A trip down to the capital was no exception, with 89 ladies (some of who were up well before dawn) taking two coaches, to see not just the special exhibition, with costumes from various musicals, but also a chance to see what else the museum had to offer. If the clothing displays weren't enough, there was also some very beautiful jewellery pieces. Even those who went along with the aim of just having a day out were impressed. |
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The 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.