2024

2024

During our third WI year we thought everything would finally run to plan but with two Annual Meetings and a temporary move due to building works in the Stalham Town Hall it was not to be. We did however set up some subgroups, win an award and have a change in President. Even that didn't go to plan seeing as the handover couldn't take place at the first Annual meeting of the year, due to both incoming and outgoing Presidents being ill. It's all par for the course for The Stalham Broads.

February

Before entering the V&A	After the visit
The lighting in the building was amazing.	Even the London sky didn't disappoint on the way home.

March

In February we held our second annual meeting when Rosemarie Murphy stood down from the President position and Irene Sheehan was elected to take on the position. Unfortunately both were ill on the day of the meeting so a handover could not take place. Therefore we held the actual handover of our harnser mascot. Of course there were gifts (or should that be several gifts) to thank Rosemarie for her efforts as President which included one special  'surprise' gift of a tiny clay handbag.

Handover of the Harnser  (Rosemarie  is on the  left, Irene on the right)	The handbag! Presented as a joke by the Secretary which represents the 'traditional' gift given to all former Stalham WI Presidents.

April

Irene gets to grips with the whole President thing	Our April speaker was  Fay Jones who gave a talk and demostration on wooden spoon carving
Some of our members took advantage of the WI offer at the Theatre Royal to see a showing of The Calendar Girls.	Members of our Coffee Cups and Flower Pots Sub-Group enjoy a light lunch at Wroxham Barns before a quick shop.

June

Three of our members took the opportunity to go to London to attend the 2024 National Annual Meeting which was held at the Albert Hall. This would be the last time that the national meeting would be held in a face to face venue as the next two years it will be held online. Our monthly meeting had to take place at an alternative venue due to the redecoration and update of the Stalham Town Hall where we usually meet however, other than minor IT issues the talk on hats (and for some the chance to try on the hats) went very well.  We also helped out at the local D Day celebration where our poppy collection was borrowed for the council's display and our President placed a lantern to represent all the women who either served or supported the home front.

Our Observers at the NFWI Annual Meeting at the Albert Hall with other WI Members enjoying the lunchtime sun.	Coffee Cups and Flower Pots June meeting.
Stalham's 80th Anniversary of D Day Display.	June's Meeting where we learnt about hats.

July

We have several very active Sub-Groups including a walking group who once a month take to the local footpaths during the warmer months.  There is usually plenty of chat and of course there is always time for a refreshment stop either during or at the end of the walk.

Walking group members stopping for a  break near East Ruston	Walking on Weavers Way
A well earned drink at Cafe Charlotte in Stalham at the end of the walk.

August

August was a month of quizzes, crafting and fundraising.  At the monthly meeting instead of a speaker we had a quiz and social morning . We had an outing to the nearby Dotty Pottery where attendees decorated various pieces of pottery and finally we held our first ever cake sale.

Winners of the coveted packets of Smarties from the Secretary's very hard quiz.	Some of the attendees at the Dotty  Pottery Afternoon.
Cakes for sale (lots of cakes).	We also had drinks and a seating area.

September

For some reason September appears to have been a 'quiet' which wasn't true.  However, two members made their first visit to Federation Headquarters in Norwich for a Ladies That Lunch Event, they were also given the house tour (without visiting the cellar, a smart move for them).

Rosalyn and Caroline's first visit to Evelyn Suffield House.	Ladies That Lunch Event at ESH.

October

At our third birthday meeting we once again were able to celebrate with visitors from several of the other nearby WIs  when we received a very entertaining talk on growing up in the post war era. Naturally there was the obligatory cake (or to be exact cakes) undecorated this year. Which somehow managed to once again disappear before most of the Committee had a chance to try a piece (We must try harder next year). The walking group started a winter programme of walks with a riverside walk in Norwich on a day that started dull but the sun did eventually appear for one photo.

A full town hall for our birthday meeting with visitors from nearby WIs.	The two cakes  (next year we need bigger cakes or smaller pieces).
The walkers on thier first winter walk in Norwich.	The sun came out right at the end of the walk.

November

We were offically three this month but we had already celebrated last month (Annual Meetings and Birthday Meetings in the same month do not mix). So after listening to the various reports members relaxed by decorating a wine glass to take home. Our poppy displays also once more decorated the town and once again proved popular with the local community.

Post annual meeting activity (although there seems to be more chat than decorating here)	Glass decorating  after the annual meeting
The poppies at the newer town sign	Inside the local church

December

With another year complete it's time to once more celebrate Christmas, the now traditional naughty elf made an appearance giving out gifts of plastic ducks this time while we enjoyed a meal at The Boathouse in Ormesby. Our tree this year was full of tooth fairies, teeth and a supply of toothpaste, dental floss and toothbrushes for the local food bank. Finally some members ventured back to Norwich to view the inside of the cathedral meeting with Budge the Cathedral cat who entertained by stealing some of the water from the verger's glass.

Christmas at The Boathouse Ormesby
Our Tooth Tree  at the St Mary's  Church Tree Festival	A trip to Norwich cathedral