This newsletter has been edited for our website – the full version is sent out in a monthly mailing to our members. If you would like to join, please get in touch via our contact form.
Hello!
It was great to see such a good turn out for the September meeting. A big shout out to Julie who baked the most enormous and delicious lemon cake to help us celebrate 110 years of the WI, and to everyone who helped make the evening so much fun. Our talk by ‘Fermentarian’ Clare Heal was fascinating, part cookery, part science lesson. The recipe is so easy to follow, I imagine some of you have already started your own ferments! We also welcomed several new faces who came along as a taster (literally!) to find out more about Battersea WI. So to those new members, a very warm welcome. In the Coming Up section, you will find information about when our numerous special interest groups meet and how to join them. This month, our usual Newsletter editor is off on her hols, so a big thank you to Rachel for taking over the reins to dot the ‘i’s, cross the ‘t’s and ensure it gets finished and sent out as usual.
Sustainable September was jam packed with events. Hopefully you all had the opportunity to take part in some of them. Our BWI Groups section features some of the activities groups took part in.
Next month is our AGM. As you are all aware, your committee is standing down in November so, if your WI is to continue, we will need three officers to take over: President, Treasurer and Secretary. Please don’t be shy in stepping up: you will have support from the outgoing committee for handover. Any of the committee is happy to talk to you about the roles. It will be fun taking the BWI into its next stage with new members, a healthy budget and vibrant, active groups. Nominations need to be in by 18th October so there’s still time to speak to the Committee about what’s involved. As I said at the meeting, it’s a lot of work but ultimately very rewarding!
You will have noticed what a fantastic Instagram your WI has. This is thanks to Vivien who has done a really marvellous job in 2025. We are looking for someone to take on this role too, from the end of the year. It is a creative job and gives you the opportunity to set the culture and tone of our group to the outside world. We now have over 1300 followers! Well done and thank you to Vivien for her skill and creativity this year.
Surrey Federation has lots of workshops and talks coming up in the Autumn. I also mentioned in the meeting about how well we did at this year’s Edenbridge & Oxted Show. We’re looking for volunteers to co-ordinate next year’s entries. See our SFWI section for more information and links to their booking calendar and events.
110 Years of the WI. The WI 110th birthday webinar coincided with our monthly meeting. Hopefully most of you were able to watch the webinar on catch up celebrating WI Day 2025. There’s plenty of interest coming up this month and we’ve included information about Black History Month, ADHD in Women and Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers in our NFWI section.
I’m off on my holidays this month, so I’ll miss the October meeting. I wish you all a lovely, BWI action packed month ahead! See you all soon
Jane, President Battersea WI
E: presidentbattersea@surreyfedwi.org.uk
Charity Collections: if you would like to nominate a local charity to support at our monthly meeting, contact the Committee with your suggestions
Contents
- Your BWI Groups
- Coming up:
- Group meet up dates in September
- Forthcoming speakers for 2025
- Offshoots – activities inspired by BWI groups and Campaigns
- Surrey Federation
- NFWI news and updates
Your BWI Groups
 Keep up with the latest date BWI news via our Instagram feed |
Art Group – update by Jennie
Some members of art group spent a wonderful day sketching at Scotney Castle, courtesy of Jackson’s Art Plein Air Day. We certainly lucked out with the weather, and it was such a beautiful place to spend the day sketching in the grounds. There were around 200 fellow sketchers, and lots of varied sketches/paintings were displayed at the end of the day. Very inspiring. Our day was finished off with delicious tea and cake at the cafe, and a fun buggy ride back to the car park.
Book Groups – what we’ve been reading
Battersea Bookends update by Danielle
This month we read Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes. This is a moving story about a young man with learning difficulties who has an operation which increases his IQ to stratospheric levels. The effects then wear off and he is back at the level he started, but he has “bitten the apple”. Is it better for him to have experienced intellectual awareness which leaves him ashamed of what he is now or not? Flowers for Algernon started as a short story which the author fleshed out into a novel. The novel raised other issues all of which led to a lively discussion, although the short story had more impact.
Boozy Books update by Amanda
In Famous Last Words, It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla’s life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. When she wakes, her husband Luke isn’t there, and in his place is a cryptic note. Then it starts. Breaking news: there’s a hostage situation developing in London. The police arrive, and tell her Luke is involved. But he isn’t a hostage. Her husband—doting father, eternal optimist—is the gunman. Only she knows what the note he left behind that morning says…
This book has an electrifying start and had us swiftly involved. The premise is both outrageous and also surprisingly relatable, making it easy to put oneself in Cam’s shoes and slip into her suddenly insane world. When a book is off to as exciting of a start as this one, is it realistic to expect the rest of the book to match or even exceed that? The consensus was that the book dragged in the middle. Overall we enjoyed this book, it is well written, the characters are well developed and we all enjoyed the ending.
Chapter One Reading Group update by Jane H
In September we read The London Scene by Virginia Woolf. This was a quite unusual book for us, being a series of essays which were first published in Good Housekeeping magazine in 1931 and 1932. With utterly beguiling prose, Woolf takes us to the bustling docks of the East End, the (even then) rather brash retail experience of Oxford Street, the tradition and seriousness of the Houses of Parliament and to quieter places like the abbeys and cathedrals. We enjoyed her original approach, humour and insight and her great eye for detail.
The essays generated a lot of discussion about life in London as it was in 1931 and as it is now.
Craft Group – update by Elaine
We spent a lovely morning at BAC making Yorkshire and Dorset buttons, a great stash buster for Sustainable September. Buttons began to take over from ties as a way of fastening cloth together back in the C14th. The Dorset button evolved in 1622 as a cottage industry until the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of machine made buttons in the 1850s. The Dorset button is made wrapping yarn round a ring and creating spokes through which yarn is woven until all the gaps are closed and you are left with a decorative button – as per the photo. Yorkshire buttons are created using a circular piece of card, which is threaded like a loom, and uses the same weaving technique as the Dorset versions. The variations are endless. A good source of inspiration and information can be found on the Henry’s Buttons website.
Coffee Morning – update by Clare GH
The Coffee Group met twice in September. The first coffee meeting of the month was busy with 12-15 people coming to The Duke Of Cambridge pub in Battersea! The second was very quiet as it clashed with the Mole Gap Walk but three of us (and a toddler) had a lovely time discussing the music of our teens: Bowie, Blondie, Queen and Wham of course!
Cribbage ♣️♦️♥️ ♠️ update by Derinda
The Cribbage Group met up for the first time on 17 September. We numbered six; for some it was a ‘return to practice’ and for others an introduction to the game. There was a good balance of experience. Everyone seemed to enjoy and made good progress while just being together for a bit of chat as well as the cribbage was fun. Two further meetings are planned in the month of September, giving others the opportunity to join in. Ultimately we plan to meet on a monthly basis.
Film: Sustainable September update by Rachel
It’s good to know that sustainability in film production is now a topic. There have been several films and events related to sustainable production and environmental themes so far in 2025.
This is the third year of “The Sustainable Production Award for Film” (awarded at the Global Production Awards). This year the award went to “Love Hurts”, a Universal American action-comedy: the production’s environmental impact was minimised by reducing fuel and energy consumption, ensuring sustainable waste management and promoting reuse, and providing resources and support to inspire the crew to take action across the production. A dedicated eco department, including an eco advisor and eco specialist, were hired.
At the same Awards, “Awesome Animals And Mini Me” (a mixed media magazine show on Sky Kids) won a Sustainable Production Award for its innovative use of virtual production and other measures to reduce emissions. Closer to home, the Media Production and Television Show at Olympia in May, featured a sustainability panel, including insights from the production of “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy”: discussing how the team embedded sustainability across the production process, and also examined how filmmaking has evolved over the years, reflecting industry-wide shifts toward greener practices. There was a “Sustainability Zone” dedicated to supporting filmmakers, production companies and suppliers to make responsible choices without compromising their budgets and creative visions. Topics such as how to reduce environmental impact on set, what studios and productions now expect from their supply chain, and help with frameworks and support to guide industry suppliers on their sustainable journey were discussed.
I suggest everyone watches the easily accessible and entertaining: “2025 Rubbish Film Festival Showreel”, which is 17 minutes long and features one minute films by 15/16 year old students in Ireland. “These young filmmakers use their creativity to highlight climate action and responsible production & consumption. Get inspired by their powerful messages and innovative storytelling.” You can learn more at: www.rubbishfilmfestival.com
A Google search of films about sustainability brings up plenty of documentaries and feature films about biodiversity, climate change, the fashion industry, animal agriculture, re-wilding, industrial fishing, minimalism. Let’s try to be informed.
September Film Review update by Rachael
We saw “Steve” this month, which was adapted by Max Porter from his novel “Shy” and stars Cillian Murphy in the title role, together with Tracey Ullman, Little Simz, Emily Watson and a brilliant cast of mainly unknown actors. Cillian Murphy and the director Tim Mielants also made the very different “Small Things like These”, and although both films are deeply emotionally demanding they both have a sense of great compassion at their core. The film is set in an isolated reform school for very disturbed teenage boys with Cillian Murphy playing the committed but alcohol and drug addicted headteacher. It was shot in chronological order, the shaky hand-held filming mirroring the turbulent minds of the characters. It is a challenging and unrelenting portrayal of some of societies most needy teenagers, those most difficult to help and most likely to end up living ever more desperate lives. Thought provoking, startling and important in a similar way to the TV series “Adolescence”, the film has redemption and hope in its final moments. The consensus between us was that it is a very good film that needs to be seen and for the troubled teenagers in today’s society to, somehow, be helped out of the cycle of anger that they are stuck in.
Foodies – update by Amanda
In September, Foodies continued our Mediterranean theme with Italian antipasti which ties in with the Sustainable September challenge for each group to choose an aspect of sustainability to focus on. A sustainable Mediterranean diet emphasises plant-rich food using local and seasonal produce. This reduces the environmental impact by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and water use. The model is recognised by UNESCO for its cultural heritage and is a key component in Europe’s sustainable food system strategy. The core principles are a high consumption of vegetables and fruits, olive oil is the primary source of fat, the diet includes fish and seafood at least twice a week and moderate amounts of poultry, eggs and dairy. Our meal started with aubergine parmigiana and tomato bruschetta, followed by platters of cheese and meat and then (requested due to its previous deliciousness!) tiramisu, which I’ve chosen as October’s Recipe of the Month Did you know, ‘tiramisu’ means ‘pick me up’ in Italian? So true!
Knitting & Crochet – update by Joan
The knitting and crochet group met up again in September after a summer break. We had a lovely, relaxed evening knitting and nattering over a glass of prosecco or two. One or two of the group are planning to go to the Knit and Stitch Show next month at Alexandra Palace and hoping not to come home with a big stash – some hope! Sustainability was key this time as in the below photos:
The wool belonged to a member’s mother and is 30 years old
The navy wool in this was originally from a man’s jumper which was picked down and will now become a doll’s blanket
The one below will become a baby vest
Photography Group – update by Rosemary
We visited Brixton market to catch some of the colour and bustle on camera, followed by coffee and buns at one of the small busy cafes. When we met a couple of weeks later at Hawkins Forge to share our images on the big screen, we all certainly grasped the atmosphere, with plenty of colour, showing the wide and diverse of goods on sale, the architecture, graffiti, and murals. All good examples of real street photography! Enjoy having a look at the photos. In October we are going to the Tate Britain to see the Lee Miller photography exhibition a rather extensive exhibition of her work which promises to be really interesting.
Swimming & Walking – update by Rosemary
For Sustainable September, Swimming Group is joining forces with the Foraging Group by attending one of the Battersea Beach Clean dates.
Walking Group update by Clare G
We were able to fit in two walks this month, both attended by eleven members and two dogs – though not the same ones each time! The first Friday of the month was our regular monthly walk, travelling down on the train to join the Hogsmill river where we had left it at the end of our August walk, near Malden Manor station. From there we continued along it downstream to Kingston, where it joins the Thames. It was a fine morning and an enjoyable walk: the first section through nature reserves, the second more urban but still attractive and interesting. Kind tourists took our photo near the end beside Kingston’s ancient Coronation Stone and the coffee stop was the friendly community café inside its medieval parish church, sandwiched between the Thames and the market place. We also enjoyed a lovely extra day out one Thursday mid-month, walking the Mole Gap Trail between Leatherhead and Dorking. This was kindly organised and led by Ann and Sue M, who had originally planned it for July and then been stymied by a heatwave. On a mild September day this was a truly beautiful six-mile walk, taking us past an elderflower orchard and through ancient yew and box woodlands, and picturesque parkland and farmland, following the Mole River as it carved its way through the chalk of the North Downs. The end section leads you through the vineyards at Denbies, where the grapes were being harvested. We stopped off at the visitor centre for lunch and some takeaway bottles of wine, before walking down to the station to catch the train home.
Dates for your diary
Next groups meetings at a glance:
- Art Group– tbc.
- Battersea Bookends Book Group – 6th October, 5.30pm Clear, Carys Davies. New members welcome.
- Boozy Books – 6th October, 7pm. Odyssey, Stephen Fry.
- Chapter One Reading Group* – 14th October, 7pm. Devil’s Cub, Georgette Heyer.
- Coffee Group – 2nd & 14th October at 11am.
- Craft Group – Festive themed session planned 6th December at BAC.
- Cribbage – tbc, all levels welcome.
- Exhibitions Group – tbc
- Film Group – last Monday of the month (27th October), usually at Clapham Picture House or The Ritzy in Brixton. Film selected the week before.
- Foodies Group* – Thursday 9th October is ‘CH’ cookery – cheese straws, chicken, cheesecake and chocolates.
- Foraging Group – tbc
- Knitting & Crochet Group* – 29th October, 6.30pm.
- Photography Group – outing to Lee Miller at Tate Britain, date tbc.
- Swimming Group – tbc
- Walking Group – Friday 3rd October, morning walk from Haggerston to the City of London via the new Green Link trail. Monday 20th October, short early evening walk along the North Bank Thames Path to admire the new colour-changing lighting on Wandsworth Bridge and have a drink at The Waterfront next door. Thursday 23rd October, day outing – a beautiful 8 mile circular walk in the Surrey Hills from Witley station.
- WI Members Monthly Meeting – Tuesday 21st October, 7pm. See below for more information about the next speaker.
*group has a waiting list
Meet our Guest Speaker for October
October 21st: Lighting the Pyre – April Lewis
For hundreds of years men and women were persecuted for witchcraft, but why? Join April Lewis to explore the reasons behind the witch craze, the interrogation techniques, meet infamous witch hunters and explore some of the key witch trials in the UK.
Born and raised in Carshalton, Surrey, April has always been interested in history and is a big fan of the Horrible History books. Having studied law at Hertfordshire University and then eventually a Master’s in Legal History at Reading University, April now combines her love of law and history. She shares her love by giving talks and through her YouTube channel.
Forthcoming meetings in 2025
November 18th AGM – Get ready to vote for your new committee for 2026. If you wish to stand please talk to our current committee and we can explain what is involved. All are welcome .
December 16th – Christmas Party – Bring and share seasonal food.
If you have any suggestions for future speakers and/or activities, please contact the Committee.
Offshoots
A round up of members’ activities inspired by the WI
WI Climate Ambassador’s update by Elaine
Wandsworth Sustainability Network met on the 8th September for a market stall event and workshop for the Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan. It was interesting meeting staff as well as other local organisations such as Work and Play Scrapstore, who resource waste and surplus goods for use as arts and crafts materials, Balham Climate Action Southfields based Front Garden Friendly, who are promoting ‘plant don’t pave’ for front gardens, and Power to Connect, who “collect unwanted laptops and tablets, wipe
and refurbish them and deliver them to local schools and community organisations who in turn pass them on to those in need.” They also offer digital skills sessions in libraries for people of any age. The enthusiasm of attendees was inspiring, and I came away feeling that any action, however small, can really make a difference.
Lobby Week was 13-20th September. This is organised by the Climate Coalition, of which the WI is a founding member. Myself and a group of other Battersea constituents hoped to meet with our MP to talk about local issues but she was not available. We’ve written a group letter highlighting our key areas of concern. To find out more about Battersea’s climate change issues such as clean air, visit the Local Intelligence hub. A big contributor to poor air quality locally is the proliferation of SUVs – not only do they emit more pollution, they are more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, with up to 82% more likelihood of fatality if an SUV is involved. The London Assembly is calling on the Mayor to raise the issue with the relevant authorities so that we can all enjoy safer roads and cleaner air.
Sustainable September Walk. Clare G and Carole A of the Walking Group enjoyed the WBC Sustainable September walk exploring Wandsworth’s Green and Blue Corridors, which connect national and local pathways such as the Wandle Trail, Thames Path, Shakespeare Way and the Capital Ring. The corridors reveal the diverse ecosystems around us and we can directly experience their beneficial effect on our wellbeing, and our connection to nature. Highlights included spotting a kingfisher near the mouth of the Wandle and a colony of Common Carder Bees in Wandsworth Cemetery – and coffee midway at the new pavilion cafe in Springfield Park.
Surrey Federation
Battersea WI is a member of the Surrey Federation of WIs.
Newsletter. Surrey Fed’s website has all the latest news about events as well as links to their monthlynewsletter. October’s newsletter includes lots of information including upcoming events and workshops.These range from literary lunches with authors to group visits to the theatre to pastry making and glass fusing, as well as Christmas Crafting workshops. You have to pay for workshops and outings but prices are kept as low as possible and are good value. Don’t forget the random member bursary – each month someone will be selected to attend the workshop/event/course of their choice!
The SFWI marquee at the annual Edenbridge & Oxted Show, which next year will be on 30th & 31st August, attracts lots of visitors and is a great opportunity for the WI to recruit new members. We’re looking for volunteers to co-ordinate next year’s entries for Battersea WI. In 2024 one of our members won 1st Prize in the Photography Competition. This year we won two 1st and one 4th prize for our entries. So who knows, 2026 could be even better! It’s great fun and if you help out on the day you will get a free ticket or two to the event. You can find out more about this year’s event here. Keep an eye on the SFWI newsletter for more details!
NFWI – news from HQ
The WI campaigns on a huge range of issues – from promoting women’s rights and fostering health awareness to encouraging sustainable development and building a fairer society.
Current Campaigns The NFWI campaigns on a wide range of issues from Climate Change to ADHD in Women and Girls. Read all the latest news on the Campaigns page. Interesting events this month include:
Black History Month Webinar: Celebrating Black Dance – Thursday 9th October, 18:00-19:30 Join us for a fascinating evening listening to a panel of black dance experts, each offering an insight into the rich, multifaceted contributions of black artists to the UK’s dance landscape. Hearing from Dr Sandie Bourne, Dr ‘Funmi Adewole Elliot, and Mercy Nabirye, we will explore the historical under-representation of black dancers in the British dance industry and the contemporary challenges black dancers face. The panel will be talking to Melissa Green, NFWI CEO, who will also be taking questions from the audience. This special webinar is available to all, including non-members.
WI Thinking Differently ADHD Awareness Month Webinar: The ADHD Paradox – Friday 26th October. 12:00-13:00 To mark ADHD Awareness Month, we are hosting a special webinar exploring how the diagnosis paths are anything but ADHD-friendly. Many people seeking an ADHD diagnosis find themselves navigating a system that disproportionately challenges the very people it’s supposed to support. In conversation with the Women’s Institutes Campaign Director, Emma Holland-Lindsay, we explore the ‘ADHD Paradox’, including how long waiting lists, screening roadblocks, underfunded services and medication shortages are ironically harming those seeking support. This webinar session aims to spark conversation and action toward a diagnostic system that supports, not contradicts, those it seeks to serve.
Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers: Action Pack Launch The Pack provides a resource full of practical resources, ideas and inspiration to help you raise awareness and take action in your community in support of the campaign. Whether you’re looking to learn CPR, run a fundraising event, or increase local defibrillator knowledge, this pack gives you everything you need to get involved and make a difference.
WI Learning Hub WI membership includes full access to the resources available on the NFWI site, including the Learning Hub. We’d love to hear your recommendations. Online courses are free when you are logged in to your account. There is such a wide range of subjects from talks on history and travel, to art and crafts and chair pilates. You can sign up for the newsletter for weekly updates about what’s on.
The WI Shop stocks lots of WI branded, sustainable items from cross body phone bags to t-shirts, hoodies, books, diaries, and craft items.
This newsletter has been edited for our website – the full version is sent out in a monthly mailing to our members. If you would like to join, please get in touch via our contact form.
