April 2026 Newsletter

This version of the newsletter has been edited for our website. A full version is emailed to members each month. To find out about joining, please visit our contact page

Hello everyone

Welcome to the April Newsletter. So close to Easter, our March meeting was the ideal opportunity/excuse to blind taste different hot cross buns from a range of high street shops. Who knew so much enjoyment could be had and analysis made of the taste, texture and amount of fruit in a hot cross bun! Many thanks to Sue L, Jackie and Ursula for the extensive selection and beautiful presentation of tasty bites. Thanks also to Caro for her stalwart help in buttering all the buns!

Following the raffle and charitable giving review we used the monthly meeting to consult members on which charities we should support this year. The charities members selected are:

Royal Trinity Hospice
Little Village
Sanctuary for Sisterhood
STORM Family Centre
Katherine Lowe Settlement
Wandsworth Women’s Refuge
A local foodbank
St Mungo’s
A local cancer charity

In February we donated £150 to Royal Trinity Hospice as requested by our February speaker in lieu of her fee. In March we donated toiletries and knitted items to Little Village and gave them a donation of £100. Both Trinity and Little Village have sent messages of thanks for BWI’s generosity. As requested, we will keep members informed about donations throughout the year. We will also continue to run the raffle at our monthly meetings but will speed up the process thus allowing more time for other activities. From April the Committee will be responsible for providing 3 raffle prizes with a value up to £15.00.For the moment members no longer need to bring gifts for the raffle.

You may notice the Newsletter format has changed to incorporate the feedback from members about order of articles and length We are very fortunate to have such a high quality, well received publication. If you have any further feedback or would like to help with production of the Newsletter and/or Instagram posts, please contact Elaine

The decision by NFWIs regarding trans gender women has resulted in a number of people deciding to leave the WI. This month we are saying goodbye to some very special people who have been part of the WI for many years and have made an important contribution to its success. We will miss you. We warmly welcome all the new members who have joined our WI and hope that you will enjoy the various activities we have on offer.

A final reminder that if you are intending to renew your membership of BWI your subscriptions are due to ensure you continue to enjoy the benefits of membership, which include not only the newsletter and emails/whatsapp messages about outings and activities but also free access to the WI learning hub, VIA. Many thanks to all those who have already paid.

It’s a good time to remember the WI’s vision to create a world where women come together to learn, share skills and work together to become active citizens, influencing change to improve lives in their local, national and global communities. See our NFWI section for more information.

Volunteering, if you are willing to help with any other aspect of running BWI, would like to set up a group or have some good ideas you would like to discuss we would love to hear from you. Please email the 2 Sue’s on the Presidents email

Looking forward to April, our next meeting is on 21st April. Information about speakers and sign up sheets is in the Coming Up section. Our Green Living group is collating a recycling list for more unusual items like bras (see their update in the Your Groups section.) Bring your old bras to the next meeting, there will be a collection for recycling by Against Breast Cancer.

Have a great month

Sue L and Sue M

Joint Presidents, Battersea WI
presidentbattersea@surreyfedwi.org.uk

Contents:

Forthcoming speakers, events and meetings
Your BWI Groups – activities and updates
Offshoots – local news and events in Battersea
Surrey Federation news and information
NFWI news from HQ and information

Battersea WI monthly meetings: forthcoming speakers, events and meetings 2026
(Running order subject to change according to availability of speakers.)

15th December – Christmas Party
21st April – London Search & Rescue with Anna and James.
19th May – An audience with Battersea MP, Marsha De Cordova
16th June – Brush Lettering workshop with Lorna Evans, Chief Craft Officer, Crafternoon Tea, London.
21st July – Fish and Chip Supper (back by popular demand!)
August – Summer break
15th September – History Talk on Agent Zo, with Clare Mulley
20th October – Kirtles, Corsets and Curtains with Sarah Slater, Hampton Court Tour Guide
17th November – AGM
15th December – Christmas Party

Your BWI Groups Activities

For the latest BWI news, visit our Instagram feed

Book Groups – what we’ve been reading

Battersea Bookends – update by Danielle. This month we read Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We all agreed that this long-awaited novel (10 years since her last), framed by the COVID lockdowns, is beautifully written. This is the tale of 4 African women, 3 friends from childhood and the fourth a maid at a premium hotel who became a close friend. Adichie wanted to write a story that placed the hotel maid in the Dominique Strauss Kahn affair from 2011, centre stage and also about the relationships between mothers and daughters. It was hard to sympathise with the 3 childhood friends who are well off successful women eternally trying to find the perfect mate. The character of the maid was not fleshed out and rather patronising. It was interesting to be immersed in Nigerian culture and that of its diaspora, but we all felt that this book was really two novels, not doing justice to either idea.

Boozy Books – update by Amanda. The Lucky Winners is a slow-burn thriller set against a couple winning their dream home in a national prize draw. The book looked with great sensitivity at the topic of grooming and how victims hold onto the secret for so long. The book considered whether this was through fear, shame or self-preservation. The book had a gradual build-up of suspense making the twist and ending very effective. The book split the group with half saying a good read and others not liking it at all.

Chapter One Reading Group – update by Jane. In March we read The Road Home by Rose Tremain – the 2008 winner of the Orange Prize for Women’s Fiction. This book follows the experience of Lev, from an unnamed Eastern European country, travelling from his village to London looking for work to support his family. It describes life at that time particularly the impact of economic circumstances, culture and technology as it appears to someone from a very different place. Beyond the experience of immigrants we also see the struggle of anyone living with little money and trying to find their way in life. This was an interesting read with harsh themes but also more joyful highlights that generated a great discussion.

Coffee Morning – update by Clare GH

We were joined at our 12th March meet up by Amanda’s grandson as well as Vivien’s Daschunds Bertie and Barnaby. Rory likes stroking them! And they are very good with him. We had a good turnout for our second meet up but did not take a photo. We had a good turnout, the chat was mainly talking about books and films and what makes a long film.

Craft Group – update by Elaine
We’ve changed the way we run Craft Group and it’s now a place to share information about local workshops and craft related activities. Members are welcome to run sessions, we can usually nab a space at Battersea Arts Centre with enough notice. Likewise, if you know of anyone happy to run craft sessions at a reasonable price, do get in touch by email.

Cribbage ♣️♦️♥️ ♠️ update by Derinda

In March we welcomed a new member and so numbered six on the day when we met to play cribbage for the first time in the Scratch Bar at Battersea Arts Centre. It turned out to be a very suitable venue so we’ll continue to gather there.

Film Club review by Rachael

We saw Winter Break this month, tempted by a 5 * review in The Guardian. Whilst the acting by the always brilliant Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds was incredibly moving it was not, in our opinions, enough to raise the film beyond a 3* rating. Based on a novel by Bernard MacLaverty a couple take a midwinter break in Amsterdam where their seemingly cosy relationship finally explodes, detonated by his long ignored drinking and her secret guilt. The film is slow and ponderous with Amsterdam looking a bit dull but safe on the surface, reflecting their relationship. ‘Bleak and poignant’ was how someone described the film which was indeed both these things in spades. ‘Not as good as the book’, ‘what age range was it made for?’, ‘no more than 3* at most’ and ‘wonderful acting’ were some of the comments made as we left albeit with everyone agreeing they were glad to have seen it.

Foodies – update by Amanda

In March we successfully concocted “Instagram inspired” sharing platters. Everything was very impressive in both presentation and taste. A special mention to Jane for creating carrot roses having seen Julie’s holiday photos.

Green Living, Sustainability and Foraging – update by Elaine.

This month’s green living tip from Joan: if you use bars of soap to wash your hands save the last thin bits. Once you have enough bits to make another bar of soap chop the bits up small, melt them down in a tiny bit of water (I also add a touch of olive oil) then pour the liquid into a greased mould and leave to set in the fridge. Once it has hardened turn it out of the mould and you then have another bar of soap to wash your hands. Moulds are available online.

Recycling unusual items: bras, towels, bedding…all things that can be recycled but it’s not always obvious where. We are putting together a list of local places that will accept these items. So far, we’ve discovered Against Breast Cancer collects bras (don’t forget to bring yours to April’s meeting as Ursula is collecting!) as well as clothing, stamps, foreign currency, jewellery and printer cartridges. The Red Cross Shop near CJ station (Grant Road exit) collects bedding and towels and Boots will collect empty toiletry bottles and blister packs. If you scan your Boots card you will also get a voucher. Specsavers in CJ takes glasses and cases. Please keep your suggestions coming in. For more information visit https://www.recyclenow.com

Climate Ambassador update It was good to see Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova speaking in Parliament about the current geo-political crisis impact on the cost of living, in particular our vulnerability due to dependence on fossil fuels. She spoke about the importance of domestic production and co-operation with our European neighbours to reduce bills and create jobs.

If you’ve not had a chance to watch them yet, the NFWI’s Fair Green Future webinars feature speakers from diverse organisations. With local elections coming up in May, this is a great opportunity to use your vote to influence change. The webinars will be made available on MyWI.

Did you know, Wandsworth Council produces a climate change newsletter? You can read all about what’s going on in Wandsworth here

For more information about the WI’s Climate Ambassador Scheme click here

Knitting & Crochet – update by Joan. We were very busy in March making and helping stuff cute Easter chicks for Trinity Hospice as well as making outfits for grandchildren and local charity Little Village HQ. Meanwhile, UCLH has launched an appeal for octopuses for its neonatal unit. If you want to make one, the pattern is here.

Outings Group – update by Amanda. Ten of us met for lunch on a sunny day in March and what a great time we had – it was two and half hours before we left the restaurant. Lots of chat over a fantastic set menu and we thoroughly recommend it.

Walking Group update by Clare

Thirteen of us plus two dogs met up on a grey but thankfully dry Friday morning to enjoy a walk from Hampton Court to Kingston, following the beautiful Barge Path section of the Thames Path past the royal palace and its Home Park. Wildflowers, mistletoe and waterfowl abounded and we finished with coffee and cakes at the pleasant community café inside Kingston’s old parish church. Here we were also able to inspect its new and impressive Seven Saxon Kings embroideries, commissioned to celebrate the kings of England crowned in Kingston before the Norman Conquest. They’re the work of professional textile artists Jacky Puzey and Beatrice Mayfield.

Offshoots – events of local interest inspired by the WI

Surrey Federation

Battersea WI is a member of the Surrey Federation of WIs. SFWI’s monthly newsletter is emailed to all members and is packed with information about everything from events to workshops. You can also access it via their website.

NFWI – news from HQ

The WI Vision To create a world where women come together to learn, share skills and work together to become active citizens, influencing change to improve lives in their local, national and global communities.

We Connect Women Our movement offers women of all ages and backgrounds a unique chance to come together and share experiences, tackling social isolation and building community cohesion.

We Support Women We support women to learn, develop new skills and achieve their goals throughout their lives, building confidence and improving physical and mental wellbeing.

We Empower Women We empower women to use their voice individually and collectively to achieve real changes on the issues that matter to them.

This version of the newsletter has been edited for our website. A full version is emailed to members each month. To find out about joining, please visit our contact page