After three consultation meetings late last year, Edwinstowe now has a brand-new WI. Edwinstowe Merry Women WI formed in January at a meeting at the village hall. A committee drawn from attendees at the three consultations has taken over the running and administration of the new group.
The WI was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during WWI. The WI has evolved greatly since those early days over a hundred years ago but many of the core values remain. The WI is now the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK with almost 220,000 members.
As well as a warm welcome and friendship, Edwinstowe Merry Women will offer crafts, speakers, trips and outings and lots of other fun activities for members over 11 meetings a year with occasional extra ‘activity days’ at weekends. The first of these activity days will be a patchwork quilting class in April or May. Wreath making, wine tasting from an English vineyard and stargazing are just some of the other activities the group is planning.
Membership is open to all ladies of any age from Edwinstowe and the surrounding areas. The group was delighted, at their first official meeting, to welcome new members of all ages, the young and young at heart!
Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of every month, except August, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Doors will be open and the kettle on from 6.45pm. Please note that due to planned works at the Village Hall, the February meeting will be on the 27th. Membership for the year is £41.00, but if you’d like to ‘try before you buy’, up to three guest visits are allowed at £5.00 each. Do come along and see what the group has to offer or email edwinstowemerrywomenwi@gmail.com with any questions.