2026
2026
We celebrate five years as a WI in November and it has been quite some journey. However, 2026 has proven to be a good year with lots going on.
January
Our monthly meeting had us making cards using a papercraft journalling technique which saw attendees taking home a card of their own design, every single card was unique despite everyone having exactly the same materials. Later in the month a group of members visited the newly refurbished Castle Museum in Norwich where they were able to go up on to the battlements for spectacular views over the city.
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| Card making in progress at the January meeting. | Kathy Phippen, Rosie Meades and Marilyn Brewster hard at work on their cards |
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| Jean Lodge, Lillie Harmon-Robinson, Jane Hutchinson and Joan Burton making their cards | Members outside of Norwich Castle ready to investigate the changes. |
February
Unfortunately no photos were taken at this month's meeting with Peter Lawrence possibily because it was so interesting that our resident photographer forgot to do so. However, our members once again out did themselves with their green hearts which seemed to cover many locations around Stalham from the Staithe to the Town Hall there were green hearts of all descriptions. The 'walking' group seems to have developed 'pink elastic' this month as instead of a stroll they tried their hand at tenpin bowling (the excuse that the weather was bad in February didn't stick seeing as it was probably the best day of the month weatherwise) apparently according to the sub-group co-ordinators there was walking involved...
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| Some of the many green hearts made for 2026 | |
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| The Walking Group's February 'walk' | Members waitng their turn to bowl |
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| Post 'walk' refreshments |
March
March has been a very quiet month (or maybe our photographer forgot to take pictures) so there is only a picture taken at our monthly meeting when we once again welcomed Angela Bishop to the meeting. She gave a talk on the 1960's this time a period when many of our members were teenagers/young adults so it was very interesting to find out what sort of things they got up to it definitely was an eye opener for the youngest attendees.
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| The members listened avidly to Angela's talk |
April
At the monthly meeting we listened to a talk by Tony Brown who formerly worked for the Suffolk Wildlife Trust on the animals (large and small) of the Broads, Tony had numerous wonderful photos of what can be found with many close up shots taken from a dighy. Our walking group with two of the members dogs took advantage of the good weather at the end of the month to take to the local footpaths where we saw wild bluebells (and Whitebells) the odd early butterfly and some of the views across the fields locally.
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| Monthly Meeting | The Walking group with four legged friends |
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| Looking over the fields towards Sutton Mill | Wild Bluebells. |
May
May has been a busy not only did members attend the Norfolk Federation 's Annual meeting (Sorry no photos the attendees forgot and our regular photographer was busy), we were also present at the town of Stalham's own Annual meeting, at which we once again provided a buffet and were awarded a grant to assist with a community event we are planning in September. Our little Crabapple tree has also been checked. TWIggy maybe small but she has definitely grown in the last few years. It is doubtful she will ever make it to the size of her neighbouring oaks but things only grow to the perfect size for themselves. The walking group were once again out and about this time over at How Hill with a pleasant walk which finished at Toad Cottage with some light refreshments.
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The team for the Stalham Annual Town Meeting. | Irene Sheehan our President collecting a grant for our planned Community event on behalf of members. |
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| This month our walking group visited How Hill | View looking across towards How Hill house. |
June
Once again our resident photographer forgot to take pictures this month at our meeting but sometimes it is better to see members out and about than sitting listening to a talk. She did however remember to take a photo or two at a tour of Carrow House, former home of the Colman family of mustard fame. She even managed to achieve a very poor selfie of the group. Clearly practice is needed there.
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| Members outside Carrow House for a tour | Looking towards the side of Carrow House |
July
July saw us holding our annual Summer Garden Party on the 4th July. Of course there may have been a little bit of an Indepence Day item (not much of one we are in the UK after all), when 15 members with a few partners, family and friends over took Anne Bolton's beautiful garden here in Stalham. There was an afteroon tea which included strawberries and cream and a somewhat suspious looking Norfolk Scone (something even our Norfolk born member had ever heard of). We also did a bit of fund raising with a stall at the town's Artisan Fair which caused some amusement when our green gazebo tried to escape in the wind. Finally at the end of the month the Walking Group decided to be a bit flexible with the description of a walk and went over to Mundesley for a quick game (ok so it wasn't that quick) round of crazy golf where much fun and laughter ensued.
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| Members enjoying the Garden Party | Members with partners in the background at the garden party |
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| Some of the cakes at the garden party including the Norfolk Scone in the foreground | Our President Irene and Anne Bolton manning our craft stall at the Artisan Street Fayre |
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| You meet some strange characters when you go golfing. The man in the middle however was a bit stiff | Some of the second team of golfers sneaking a break between holes |
