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 May Newsletter.

Firstly a very warm welcome to our new BWI members who have recently joined. It’s great to have you on board and we hope that you are going to enjoy BWI and all it has to offer. BWI continues to be an important resource for the women of Battersea and Clapham providing opportunities for friendship, sharing experiences, learning new skills and acting as a force for good in our community. Secondly, and no less important, a very big thank you to Ursula our Secretary and Derinda our Treasurer for all the amazing work they have done on expertly managing the new WI year and the complexities of subscriptions and membership. You are our best recruiters so please do encourage friends and neighbours to come along and find out more.

Our April monthly meeting presentation was by Keith Francis and Valeria Puig, volunteers with London Search and Rescue about their extraordinary work in assisting the Metropolitan and City of London Police, Fire Service and NHS in the search for the thousands of vulnerable people who go missing every year. London Search and Rescue is a charity staffed by volunteers with specialist expertise and we will be giving them a donation in lieu of a fee to support their important work.

Thank you also to those who brought along a bra or two for recycling – Ursula collected a total of 30 for Against Breast Cancer. There is  information in Offshoots about further donations via Amélies Follies on Webbs Road.

Looking forward to May, we are very much looking forward to welcoming our local Battersea MP to our May meeting to share her experiences and insights of taking up a leadership role in our local community. Further information about future speakers and sign up sheets is in the Coming Up section. 

We’ve been contacted by the RCA Battersea to say they have some paid summer internships for undergraduates now open to applications. They would love to attract some local applications – it’s a 10 week paid opportunity as part of EPSRC’s Vacation Internships scheme. Please share with anyone who may be interested.

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

(Running order subject to change according to availability of speakers.)

• 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

Book Groups

Battersea Bookends update by Caro

Life with Picasso, Françoise Gilot with Carlton Lake. We didn’t give the book either thumbs up or down. From an art point of view, it was an interesting to read the description of paintings, ceramics and lithography techniques, and his relationship with contemporary painters/writers/poets. Picasso was an incredibly creative artist 40 years her senior when Françoise met him aged only 21, but she did use him to promote herself. We learn much more about him and his very sycophantic entourage than about her until the very end of the book, which we felt could have been much better edited. Neither character is very likeable; Picasso is definitely an inveterate womaniser, very controlling who even used physical violence on her. When they parted after 10 years and 2 children, he ruined her life forbidding people to work with her.

Boozy Books update by Amanda

The Names by Florence Knapp is a book being talked about in many book groups! This is the story of three names, three versions of a life and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. We felt this was quite a challenging and intriguing read as it follows a baby boy registered in 1987 telling the story of him and his family as he grows up depending on the name chosen. A genius idea for a book, but it does require a lot of concentration to keep each of the three storylines told over seven-year intervals clear. Overall, well worth the effort and a book that will stay with us for some time to come.

Chapter One Reading Group update by Jane H

After a celebrated 45 year career, Julian Barnes recently published his final book. To mark that we read his first novel, Metroland published in 1980. It begins with Chris, a well educated but cynical schoolboy and his friend observing the world and playing jokes on strangers, then follows him through early adulthood to a settled job, marriage and home. It gave us some great topics to talk about: teenage boys in general, life in the 1980s and what makes a good life. Responding to the book, Philip Larkin praised it for being amusing and illuminating and wrote “Of course in my old-fashioned way I should have liked more of a story, but never mind.” which sums up what we thought.

Coffee Morning – update by Clare GH

We enjoyed our April catch ups where we discussed what podcast we like listening to and what to do with wild garlic. Pesto is a popular thing to make. Antonio Carluccio used to make it. I don’t have a recipe but its vivid green colour looked very good.

Craft Group – update by Elaine

Vivian and Ursula joined me on a trip to see the quilts exhibition by Cathy Corbishley Michel at the Stableyard in Morden Hall Park. We were blessed with good weather. After admiring the beautiful, stunning quilts and chatting with Cathy, we enjoyed a nice cuppa sitting outside at the café round the corner followed by a browse round the very tempting plant shop

Cribbage    update by Derinda

We welcomed another new player in April! We now number six and are open to new joiners whether experienced or new to the game.  Enthusiasm to play cribbage and to learn and improve are all that is required.  Meeting in the Scratch Bar at Battersea Arts Centre has gone very well so we will continue to meet up there. 

Film Club review by Sue M

We met on a lovely sunny evening outside Clapham Picture House to see Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, an arthouse film by the acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch, originally debuting at the Venice Film Festival. The film takes place simultaneously across 3 different countries the USA, Ireland (Dublin) and France (Paris) and through 3 vignettes demonstrates family dynamics and the relationships between adult siblings and their distant parents. The film has a strong cast including Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett and provides the audience with a deliciously slow and intricate experience of the complexities of family life. We had a very interesting post film discussion making sense of what we had seen and how it related to our own family experiences.

Foodies – update by Amanda  

In April we feasted on a six-course tasting menu of filled Yorkshire puddings. The very pretty starters of Prawn Cocktail or Coronation Chicken are shown in the photo. These were followed by Beef Bourguignon and a delightful Pepper and Mushroom mix. Course five was Sausage and Caramelised Onion. We were all rather full but managed to finish with Eton Mess.  

Green Living, Sustainability and Foraging – update by Elaine    

• Bra recycling: thank you to everyone who brought along their old bras for recycling in aid of Against Breast Cancer If you have any more donations, information about Amelie’s Follies is in the Offshoots section. 
• This month’s green living tip comes from Clare G. Recycling books: The Global Education Trust inside Wandsworth Southside shopping centre welcome donations and you can take away three books for free whenever you visit. There’s usually lots of interesting stock. Please keep your suggestions coming in. For more information visit the Recycle Now website 
• We’re hosting a plant swap on 21st May – see May’s Meet Ups page

Climate Ambassador update: April’s Fair Green Future Webinar was all about the inequality of climate change as it disproportionately affects women. There was a presentation by the Women’s Environmental Network which focuses on UK campaigning and the Climate Coalition, who outlined their training about communication and how to get your point across when speaking about the issues, whether that’s with politicians or members of the public. The big takeaway for me was that you don’t need to be an expert, you just need to know how to tell your story, which is one of the reasons we focus on local activities we can get involved in – like charity collections, plant swaps and so on.

Next month the Great Big Green Week is back from 6-14th June.  

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

Knitting & Crochet update by Joan

We had a lovely evening knitting and chatting. Sue L and Derinda are making cute clothing grandchildren, Elaine is finishing off a pair of socks for her daughter, Jane is making squares for a throw and I have finally finished weaving in what felt like thousands of ends for this zigzag throw. We had feedback from Little Village that our hand made clothes donation went down really well and Mum’s are asking for more! So we’ll be working on that for the next few months.

Outings Group update by Amanda

We thoroughly recommend the tour of the Royal Albert Hall, our outing for April. The magnificent guide told us the history of the building illustrated by the many paintings and photos that hang on the walls. She then led us through the building to a box (next to the Royal box), we visited the Royal Retiring Room, then went higher to see the sound and light systems. The Royal Albert Hall was preparing for the Classic FM concert so we were treated to the light, firework and smoke show! After a reviving coffee we walked through Hyde Park, with a stop at the Serpentine North Gallery to see the Hockney exhibition: A Year in Normandie, and onto the Serpentine Bar and Kitchen for a light lunch.

Simply Sketching ***New Group*** update by Vivien

The first meeting of the new Simply Sketching group was at The Hope pub on Bellevue Road, each of us bringing a pad and some pencils – a few brand-new, and some decades old from the back of a cupboard! We had great fun sketching and chatting in the pub’s sunny garden room, and for many of us it was the first time we had drawn for pleasure in many years. First and foremost it was an opportunity to try out a new hobby in a happy, supportive atmosphere and we definitely managed that!! Roll on summer, with some more sunshine and some more Plein Air art

Swimming Group update by Sue M

Tooting Bec Lido opened to the public on May 1st. Current temperature a balmy 15.9. You can book through Places Leisure. I swim most days, so if any of you hardy types are up for a swim let me know on the Swimming WhatsApp group and we can arrange to meet and have a cuppa together.

I have had a request to swim at Hampstead Ladies Pond. I propose that we do this on Friday July 17th. I will put details on the WhatsApp group so let me know if you would like to join and I will add you. Contact details on Group Meet ups page.

Walking Group update by Clare

Twelve of us plus Tiger the greyhound enjoyed a spring morning walk along the Thames Path from Mortlake to Chiswick, crossing over the river at Barnes Bridge and carrying on through Duke’s Meadows and past Chiswick parish church and Hogarth’s tomb to Chiswick House. There we explored the attractive gardens, laid out in the eighteenth century and full of fine monuments, statues and temples; there’s an impressive contemporary kitchen garden too, run as a community project. We finished up with coffee and a chat at the café before catching the train home again from Chiswick station.

Wandsworth’s Heritage Festival is back this May – visit the online programme for details. Highlights include the following talks:

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.

To find out more about the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and the amazing work they do please visit https://www.thewi.org.uk

Thank you for reading. 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 

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.

Copyright © 2026 Battersea WI All rights reserved.

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

This version of our newsletter is edited for the website. The full version is available to members. To join Battersea WI please contact us via our contact form. For the latest BWI news, visit our Instagram feed. 

Hi everyone

February meeting 

Following last year’s National Federation’s campaign to increase vital CPR and defibrillator skills across the UK (Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers) the second meeting of the year saw 20 members not only practicing the correct way of carrying out CPR on dummies but also the use of a defibrillator.  A&E Practitioner, Angela Merritt, talked us through the correct procedure to help someone experiencing a heart related emergency. She also recommended we follow the doctor’s code, aka Drs ABC, when approaching a person in such a position: 

• Danger – make sure there’s no danger to yourself
• Response – are they responding when you talk to them
• Shout for help
• Airway – obstructions?
• Breathing
• Compressions

Committee news

Raffle: we received the raffle review report. Jane and the other members involved in the review were thanked. The 3 key findings were: 

• The monthly raffle should continue – many members see the raffle as a good way to raise funds which support the local community.
• Promote engagement with members so they are closely involved in decisions about how the raffle operates and which charities are supported.
• Organise the raffle efficiently to allow time for other activities at the meeting, in particular social engagement.

We will discuss the proposed actions at the next meeting

Drinks: we  reviewed the prices for drinks provided at our monthly meetings and have agreed the following changes with effect from March:

Alcohol £2.00,  Soft drinks £1.50, Tea and Coffee –  free

Finance
Subs are due at the end of this month. We raised £34 from the January raffle and £30 from the February one. Our guest speaker, Angela Merritt, asked that her speakers fee be donated to Trinity Hospice in lieu of fee. 

March Meeting

In addition to tasting some delicious hot cross buns, we will be running a group session about developing Battersea WI for the future. It will be an opportunity to get to know some of your fellow WI members better and to contribute your ideas about the future direction of BWI.

Donations for Little Village: This year marks Little Village’s 10th Anniversary!  They have identified March as Mother’s Month and appeal for toiletries to give mums a treat.  We would like to support this so there will be no raffle at our meeting on 17 March; instead we ask for toiletry offerings that will go to Little Village. Click on the link for more info. Donations should be new and sealed, items such as body wash, face moisturiser, beauty treatments, fragrance, deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and period products all welcome.

Volunteers Group

We would still like to have another member willing to help at meetings with the projector as and when necessary. Training will be given!

Surrey Federation of WIs – don’t forget to check this month’s SFWI newsletter for all that latest info from Surrey Fed.

National Federation of WIs Virtual Annual Meeting 4^th June – are there any members who would like to attend this meeting? Please let the Committee know if you would like to attend. See the NFWI section below for more NFWI news.

Have a great month

Sue L and Sue M

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

Contents:

• Your BWI Group activities
• Forthcoming events and speakers
• Offshoots – activities inspired by WI Groups and Campaigns, plus local news and events
• Surrey Federation news and information
• NFWI news from HQ and information

Your BWI Groups

Book Groups – what we’ve been reading

Battersea Bookends (update by Danielle.) Hitler, Stalin Mum and Dad by Danny Finkelstein. An excellent book and a very moving story which provoked a lot of discussion and entrusting of family histories.  It relates what happened to the author’s parents and grandparents who were living in Germany and Poland when Hitler rose to power.  There was enough history contained in it to set the story in context, but not too much and written in a straight forward style, which without tub thumping led you to see the echoes of those events, in what is happening now in Europe and America. It is quite frightening . This book should be required reading in all schools.

Boozy Books (update by Amanda.) Little Disasters delves into the realities of postnatal depression and maternal mental health. This is an issue affecting more than 1 in 10 women and is often regarded as a taboo subject. None of us had read a fiction book that laid bare the mother’s fear of hurting the baby before and we came away feeling more educated on the topic. Be warned, the book was disturbing and many of us commented that we feared turning the page.

Chapter One Reading Group (update by Jane H) Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson. This is a novel with many characters and storylines set in London in 1926: a world of glamour and glitz, cocktails, fancy clothes and madcap parties for bright young things but also gangsters, corrupt police officers, drugs and the exploitation of girls – superficially amusing but also very dark. With so much going on perhaps it’s unsurprising there was a mixed response. Whilst some enjoyed the complexity, the fact base historical setting and the characters – others found it predictable and a bit boring. However it generated a lively discussion of both style and content.

Coffee Morning – update by Clare GH

We didn’t take a photo at the last one but Rory our friendly toddler came which was fun and we had a good chat with the group that came.  For our end of the month catch up Dina brought some wonderful homemade marmalade muffins which everyone enjoyed. We talked about making marmalade and getting the setting point correct and the various ways of checking. Amongst other things.

Craft Group – update by Elaine. Last month we visited the fascinating London Sewing Machine Museum in Tooting Bec. It only opens 10 Saturdays per year and is home to dozens of machines, from the first machine to mimic hand sewing invented by French tailor Barthélemy Thimonnier in 1830 to more modern specialist machines, as well as vintage patterns and user manuals. If you can get along it’s well worth a visit as our guide knowledge was encyclopaedic!

Cribbage    update by Derinda. Five of us met to play cribbage early in February and again with an odd number attending we played a three-way game as well as a twosome.  Everyone seems to have growing confidence in their play and as a result enjoy it all the more.  For our next group meeting we will meet in the Scratch Bar at Battersea Arts Centre.

Film Club review by Julie.

In February we joined a Saturday afternoon tour at The Cinema Museum in Kennington.  We highly recommend it! Set in what was a Victorian Work House (where Charlie Chaplin was once a resident) it’s full of fascinating cinema memorabilia. The tour was incredibly interesting with time for free tea and biscuits and a showing of old cartoons and ads. A celebration of movie going rather than movie making and a trip down memory lane. They have movie nights too so hopefully we can organise this later on this year.

This month’s film was If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – a dark, psychological horror-comedy of depression and lonely parental stress. It wasn’t an easy watch, a couple of our group thought it was too intense and didn’t enjoy it, and a few people in the audience left halfway. Despite this, Rose Byrne is brilliant playing the part of a psychotherapist coping (or rather not coping and unraveling) with the illness of her child, her flatflooding and a

full time job.  Part reality, part hallucinations and dreams – it was sometimes hard to know which was which. It was filmed in a way that you felt every moment of Bryce’s panic and anxiety and there was a certain relief when it ended. Definitely not a movie for a relaxing evening out but one to go to if you want a film which is unforgettable, heartbreaking, painful, uncomfortable, poignant and funny with great characters and filming.

Foodies – update by Amanda. In February we celebrated Chinese New Year (two days late) – the Year of the Horse. We created a banquet of crispy prawns, sweet and sour chicken, pork ribs, vegetable chow mein, duck rolls and lemon chicken. This was followed by a cake to celebrate Caro’s birthday.

Green Living, Sustainability and Foraging – update by Elaine 

This month’s green living tip is from Jenny S: litter picking is a green and tranquil activity. Friends of Wandsworth Common do it every Monday morning and provide all equipment. Friends of Clapham Common also arrange them for members.

Climate Ambassador update: February was a busy month: ahead of June’s Great Big Green Week,  6-14th June, the green hearts made by Clare, Vivien and myself for the Show the Love Campaign were delivered to our MPs office together with a letter outlining the WI’s Fair Green Future campaign. 

On 25th Feb I went to Wandsworth’s Sustainability Network meeting at York Gardens Library. The meetings take place 3-4 times a year and are open to anyone interested in climate issues. It’s a great opportunity to network with local campaign groups. They presented the new Biodiversity Action Plan which focuses on 3 main themes: Action for nature that is fairer for all, that is compassionate and responds to our community and that is effective and delivers meaningful results.  

On 27th Feb I attended the first of the NFWI’s four monthly seminars all about their Fair Green Future campaign. This month’s theme was all about How to Stay Connected. We heard from Rachael Orr of Climate Outreach, Friends of the Earth and the Fairness Test Report and the Local Storyteller Exchange’s Lucy Holdaway. The session was very informative and inspiring. It’s easy to book via the new learning hub portal, Via.

Events members can get involved in March include 9-15 March the Big Plastic Count Hopefully lots of you are already signed up either through WI groups or local campaign groups; and 20th March NFWI Lunchtime Fair Green Future webinars: Making your voice count: How communities can shape climate decisions. Discover practical ways to get involved in local decision‑making, ahead of May’s local elections, and how WI members can influence positive change. The webinars will also be recorded and made available on MyWI.

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

Knitting & Crochet update by Joan. We enjoyed a lovely relaxed evening of knitting and catching up on each other’s news. Sue L brought along some of the delicious marmalade muffins Dina made for coffee morning earlier!

Outings Group update by Amanda. We met at the Victoria Gate Café for a coffee before our tour to discover the science and conservation work and the history of Kew. The tour was excellent with the guide being both interesting and knowledgeable. Then we visited the magnificent Orchid Festival in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and marvelled at the dragon and koi set amongst the incredible number and types of orchid. We needed a sit down and lunch after walking for two and half hours!

Walking Group update by Clare. Thanks to the prolonged wet weather we replaced our planned Hampton Court to Kingston walk with the perhaps less glamorous-sounding National Cycle Route 208, from Raynes Park through to Sutton Common. Much dryer underfoot than the Thames Path would have been, this also turned out to be a really interesting and attractive walk. Twelve of us and three dogs had ventured out on yet another damp grey morning, and were delighted to discover a whole string of new-to-us green spaces. The biggest and most impressive was Morden Park, whose Georgian house is now Merton Council’s registry office. At the end of the walk the sun came out for long enough for us to enjoy refreshments sitting outside Simon’s Diner, a great little community café in Rosehill Park. We can recommend its coffee and hot chocolate – and also its ice creams and sausage sarnies!

Battersea WI monthly meetings: forthcoming speakers and events 2026

 (Running order subject to change according to availability of speakers.)

• 17th March – Hot cross bun tasting
• 21st April – Anna (Dean)/James, Search & Rescue
• 19th May – Talk by Battersea MP, Marsha De Cordova
• 16th June – Lorna Evans, Chief Craft Officer, Crafternoon Tea London. Brush Lettering workshop
• 21st July – fsh and chip supper (back by popular demand!)
• 18th August – annual outing – location tbc
• 15th September – History talk on Agent Zo, by Clare Mulley 
• 20th October – Sarah Slater, Hampton Court (topic tbc)
• 17th November – AGM
• 15th December – Christmas Party

Offshoots
a round up of members’ activities inspired by the WI as well as events of local interest

What’s coming up in the London Borough of Culture Programme?  Plenty of exciting events right on your doorstep including dance, theatre and art and so much more…find out all about it: What’s On in March 

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

National Federation of WIs

Learning is at the heart of the WI With traditional skills and forward-thinking topics helping individuals to build confidence, and grow as active citizens, and through their broad campaigning agenda, members identify and learn about important topics such as climate change, mental health, access to dental care, river pollution and much more, inspiring members to advocate for positive change at local and national levels.

The new hub has a great user friendly interface and makes booking things a doddle. We’d love to hear your recommendations for courses and whether you’ve watched any of the online talks. You can sign up for the newsletter for weekly updates about what’s on.    

Thank you for reading. This version of our newsletter is edited for the website. The full version is available to members only. To join Battersea WI please contact us via our contact form. For the latest BWI news, visit our Instagram feed.