This version of our newsletter has been edited for our website. A full version is sent to members.
Hi everyone
January meeting Twenty-seven members and one guest attended the first meeting of the year when we celebrated our 8th birthday with a delicious chocolate and raspberry cake made by Julie Meisner.
Committee news Ursula has been co-opted onto the Committee and has agreed to take on the role of Secretary. This news was greeted with a big round of applause by members.
Volunteers We need volunteer/s to help with the projector when our speakers use PowerPoint presentations. Currently predicted that help will be needed during 4 meetings this year.
Resolution Selection Members were asked to complete the Resolutions slip to indicate which Resolution they think should be discussed at the NFWI AGM in 2026. Votes for each resolution were:
- Accessible public toilet facilities to promote dignity, health and social inclusion – 9 votes
- Action on Women’s Homelessness – 14 votes*
- Every Child Needs a Friend – 3 votes
- Nearer to Nature – 1 vote
- Love your Vulva- Self Checking is your best defence against vulval cancer – No votes
*Includes 1 vote cast after the meeting
Raffle Review Jane H provided feedback on discussions to date. Suggestions being explored are grouping donations into 3 main prizes to reduce the amount of time drawing tickets and structuring meetings so that there is more social time for members to chat with one and other.
Finance Derinda provided an update on finances
Presentation by Mark Strippel of Graveney Gin In addition to an interesting talk by Mark, members were invited to taste 3 of the gins produced by Graveney Gin.
February Meeting Next month we will put into action last year’s National Federation’s campaign to increase vital CPR and Defibrillator skills across the UK. At last year’s Annual Meeting WI members voted with a huge 99.7% majority to support the campaign. We will welcome Advanced Nurse Practitioner Angela Merrett who will host a CPR session in support of the campaign ‘Bystanders Can be Lifesavers’. Angela, a highly skilled practitioner with over 20 years’ experience will take us through basic CPR training and share advice on how to help someone experiencing a heart related emergency.
Don’t forget to check the Monthly Meetings section for the latest info on this year’s talks and activities.
Surrey Federation of WIs The E&O Show Annual Fund Raising Fun Quiz and Supper takes place on Friday 20th March at Bletchingley Community Centre. Fancy getting a team together (6 quizzers) to attend this fundraising event? See the SFWI section for more details.
National Federation of WIs Virtual Annual Meeting 4th 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.
Jennifer Older We are very sad to hear that Jennifer, much loved WI member and Federation Chair passed away on 16th January. Jennifer was instrumental in setting up the “Let’s Cook” Project.
Sue L and Sue M
Joint Presidents, Battersea WI
presidentbattersea@surreyfedwi.org.uk
Contents:
- Your BWI Group updates
- Forthcoming speakers and events
- Offshoots – activities inspired by WI Groups and Campaigns and local news:
- Climate Ambassador’s update
- Poetry at Battersea Library
- Welcome to Wandsworth events
- Volunteering at the Felix Project Action
- Theatre in Clapham: ‘Catharsis’
- Surrey Federation news and information
- NFWI news from HQ and information
- Contact Details
Your BWI Groups
For the latest BWI news, visit our Instagram feed.
Book Groups – what we’ve been reading
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Battersea Bookends update by Danielle
Last month we had our post Christmas get together at a new local Indian restaurant called Himalayan Salt, on Lavender Hill. The service and atmosphere was good and the group enjoyed the meal, during which we had a very lively discussion around the dinner table about The History of Art – Without Men, by Katy Hessel.
This is a very readable romp through art history from 1500 to the present day mentioning all those women artists who were successful in their day but have fallen out of, or were never included, in the canon of art history simply because they were women.
The author explains briefly the economic and political context that each woman worked in, throwing light on why she was able to succeed and the many limitations faced. This may not all be wholly original work but her enthusiasm and breadth of knowledge about her subject are captivating.
Katy Hessel has a podcast called The Great Women Artists and interviews many contemporary women artists.
Boozy Books update by Amanda
Over the month of December in preparation for Christmas, we read “12 Ways to Kill your Family at Christmas” by Natasha Bache. I am pleased to report no KILLS when we met in January to discuss the book. We tested our knowledge with a challenge to remember all the methods – from electrocution by the outside Christmas lights to a chain saw massacre cutting down the Christmas tree. A good seasonal read!
Chapter One Reading Group update by Jane H
The group doesn’t discuss a book in January. Instead we met for an Italian meal at Toni’s Amalfi to catch up after the festive season and to celebrate the New Year. As the lemon harvest on the Amalfi coast begins in January we also drank limoncello to celebrate the start of the lemon season.
Coffee Morning – update by Clare GH
We’ve had two meetings this month. Julie brought delicious homemade lemon drizzle cake which everyone was pleased to try. Our youngest member Rory came on one of them with his Grandmother Amanda, he was very pleased to see Vivien’s sausage dogs Bertie and Barnaby. We had a good turn out for our most recent catch up and discussed the horrible roadworks going on on Latchmere Road affecting buses and traffic. Thank you to the Duke of Cambridge for looking after us.
Craft Group – update by Elaine
Craft group is planning a visit to the London Sewing Machine Museum in Tooting Bec. It only opens 10 Saturdays per year.
Knitting & Crochet group is making items for local and national charities – please see their update below. Elaine is collecting green hearts for the Show the Love Campaign ahead of June’s Great Big Green Week (save the date, 6-14 June) If you want to contribute, drop her a line.
Cribbage ♣️♦️♥️ ♠️ update by Derinda
Cribbage is most commonly played in pairs but meeting in January we numbered seven, so we had our first three-way game of crib alongside two of the usual twosomes. The three appeared to enjoy their game though found it challenging at times. We will no doubt gain more experience in this type of play in future so would do well to brush up on any particular rules of play. There is an online app that many of us are enjoying and using to improve our game. 😊
Film Group update by Julie
A great turn out for this month’s Film Club with 10 of us meeting up to see H is for Hawk – the film follows the book of the same name and is based on a true story. Overall, most of us enjoyed it and loved the beautiful cinematography (especially the countryside scenes) and we all thought Claire Foy’s acting was excellent. Close ups of Mabel the hawk were stunning, although quite a few of us were disturbed with the idea of a wild bird being kept in captivity – the film didn’t shy away from showing us exactly what this entailed. The themes of loss, grief, isolation and depression were brilliantly done, as was the portrayal of the close relationship between the main character and her father. Not many of us had read the book but those that had said, inevitably, that the film lacked some of the complexity and depth of the book. Despite this the film is definitely worth seeing.
Foodies – update by Amanda
In January we feasted at The Ivy in Northcote. We all thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, the good value 1917 menu, the excellent service and charming company.
Green Living, Sustainability and Foraging – update by Elaine
After a few months hibernation, Foraging and Fruit Picking is rebranding! After discussing our interests in eco alternatives inspired by Nancy Birtwhistle’s Green Living books and posts, we’re going to include green living and sustainability as well as the odd foraging trip and outings, for example later in the year we’re looking to organise a trip to Kenley Observatory near Croydon. The new admins are Elaine and Polly, so please contact either of us (details in the Coming Up section below) to be added to the group. Huge thanks to former admins Rosemary and Danielle for all the work they did as group leads. Rosemary got her new year off to a green start by brewing up some Pine Sol – a home made cleaning solution using old Christmas tree branches from the recipe shared on IG by @terra.outdoors
Recipe:
Fill a large mason jar with pine tree branches. Push them down to fit as much as you can.Fill jar with white vinegar, covering branches.Add 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil.Let sit for at least 4 weeks then strain the golden liquid into a new glass container and it’s ready to use! For countertops, they recommend 16oz spray bottle 1/4 full of the cleaner, 1 tbsp of dish soap and the rest with water. Spray, let sit for a few minutes, wipe. For floor cleaner, add a bit of Castile soap. This product is not recommended for wood, porous materials or stainless steel. For more sustainability news, our Climate Ambassador update is in the Offshoots section.
Knitting & Crochet update by Joan
After our December break, K&C is gearing up to make items for local and national charities:
1. Child items for Little Village
2. Chicks for Trinity Hospice (egg stuffing will be on 6th March at 3pm)
3. Poppies for the restoration of Standing with Giants.
More info to follow, closing date is 7th March. Although the group currently has a waiting list, contributions from other members would be very welcome. We’re thinking of more poppies to put on a post box topper locally for Remembrance day in November this year. Meanwhile, the photo shows a round up of some of our most recent makes and wips.
Outings Group update by Amanda
For our first outing of the year we headed to the City. It was a damp and blustery day but luckily most of the time we were under cover. The coffee shop inside 8 Bishopsgate was a lucky find and after warming up we took the lift to the 50th floor to The Lookout. The photos show you some of the amazing views and as they limit numbers up there, it was peaceful. Then we went to Leadenhall Market and marvelled at the Victorian structure built on the Roman forum, the poultry hooks outside the shops, the huge variety of eateries and lovely independent shops. We met a large group of female medical students from Spain who wanted a photo with us. Then it was onto Cheese where the owner gave an informative talk and tasting of artisan cheeses sitting on their covered terrace with rugs over our laps and heat lamps to warm us. We ate a delicious light lunch before making our cheese purchases and heading home.
Walking Group update by Clare
We had a good turnout of humans and dogs alike for our first walk of the year on Friday 2 January – our usual New Year’s route from Vauxhall through to Battersea Park via the Thames Path. It was a frosty day but the sun shone and we were able to enjoy coffee outside the Pear Tree Café at the end, looking across the Boating Lake.
Battersea WI monthly meetings: forthcoming speakers and events 2026
(Running order subject to change according to availability of speakers.)
- 17th February – CPR/Defibrillator talk/practice by A&E Nurse at St Thomas’ Hospital, Angela Merritt
- 17th March – Hot cross bun tasting
- 21st April – Anna (Dean)/James, Search & Rescue
- 19th May – Talk by MP for Battersea
- 16th June – Lorna Evans, Chief Craft Officer, Crafternoon Tea London. Brush Lettering workshop
- 21st July – fish 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
Climate Ambassador’s update by Elaine
I’m really pleased to be teaming up with Polly to run the Green Living, Sustainability and Foraging Group. So many members are interested in environmental issues, these small steps have a big collective impact. 27th Jan was the quarterly Surrey Fed Climate Ambassador’s meeting. Surrey members live in quite disparate locations, from metropolis to village, and we discussed the different ways in which our climate engagement actions work. I am fortunate that in addition to the WI, I’m active with Battersea Team for Climate Change Action as well as the Battersea Society’s Open Spaces Committee, and the upcoming Wandsworth Sustainability Network meeting on 25th Feb offers further opportunities to Network. As Climate Ambassadors our Spring aim is to promote events everyone can take part in relatively easily. Some key dates coming up for all things environmental:
Feb: Clean Air: Mums for Lungs volunteering meeting with an air pollution inquiry underway, Clean Air Night last week, and the launch of DEFRA’s wood burning consultation. 2026 is shaping up to be a year with chances to make real change – dial in Tuesday 3rd Feb, at 8:15pm, to find out about the 7 day air pollution challenge and to hear from Dr Alice Wilson who recently completed a 160 mile ultramarathon.
Also coming up: 9-15 March is the Big Plastic Count and 6-14th June is the Great Big Green Week. Hopefully lots of you will get involved either through WI groups or local campaign groups.
For more information about the WI’s Climate Ambassador Scheme click here
Poetry evening Battersea Library 25th Feb |
What’s coming up in the London Borough of Culture Programme? 🎭 Plenty of exciting events right on your doorstep including:
🎧 The People of Lavender Hill audio walk
👠Runway Workshop by Jugu Teflar
🖌️Wandsworth Creatives Networking
🌿Love Your Skin: Natural Cosmetics
And so much more…find out all about it:
https://welcometowandsworth.com/events/#top_filter=all&page=1&view=list
Volunteering opportunity
Felix Project Acton DepotBWI was contact by Karen from The Felix Project, a charity dedicated to rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to those who need it most, works with suppliers, supermarkets, and volunteers to ensure good food doesn’t go to waste while thousands of people face food insecurity.
Volunteers are needed at their Acton depot. Handling large volumes of rescued food that go out to charities, schools, and community organisations. To keep this operation running smoothly, they urgently need volunteers to help with sorting, packing, and loading food for delivery.
Just a few hours of time as a group or individual volunteer can make a huge difference in getting nutritious meals to families across London.
The need is always great, but it becomes even more acute in December and January reflecting the overproduction of food during the festive season
‘Catharsis’ at the Bread & Roses Theatre Clapham 24-28 March
A new play by Bob Hills, Catharsis is the story of Izzy and Jenny, two strong women in their late fifties, meet to hatch a plan and confront Martin — a man of a similar age they haven’t seen for six years. As the meeting unfolds, the audience discovers what the confrontation is about, whether they have the right to face him, and why it has taken so long to do so.
The encounter — and the conversation that follows — proves cathartic for one of the women.
Catharsis is a moving, gritty play about love, loss, and betrayal. www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk
Tickets are £20 each
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. To book, visit their events page and if you do go, send a review for the newsletter – it might inspire others to go along too. The Edenbridge & Oxted Show Committee Annual Fundraising Quiz, is on Friday, 20th March at Bletchingley Village Hall, RH1 4PA. Monies raised go towards the cost of the SFWI Marquee at the Edenbrige & Oxted Show 2026. The cost is £22 a head, which includes a delicious supper with tea and coffee being served. You can download an application form here and return by post or email. If you are putting a team together, let us know, we’d love to hear how you get on.***Volunteer/s needed for Battersea WI entries***The Edenbridge & Oxted Show takes place on 30th & 31st August, and is the largest agricultural show in the South, attracting thousands of visitors. BWI Committee is looking for volunteers to co-ordinate competition entries for Battersea WI. In 2024 one of our members won 1st Prize in the Photography Competition. In 2025 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. Please contact the BWI Committee if you’d like to help out. Keep an eye on the SFWI newsletter for more details in the new year!
NFWI – news from HQ
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| 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. For more information about Campaigns please visit the My WI section of the NFWI website |
2026 is the year of fundraising for the NFWI. We will be launching events and campaigns which we hope you will really enjoy and be a part of. Sign up for Easy FundraisingThe National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is now registered with easyfundraising, which allows anyone shopping online, buying gifts and essentials, to support our fundraising efforts, launching our new national fundraising campaign.It works by retailers themselves making small donations when you make a purchase – via the easyfundraising platform (it’s easy to set up and will take a couple of minutes – and we’ll explain how below).There are over 8,000 shops on board – from eBay, Argos, and John Lewis, to JustEat, Etsy, and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds. How to sign up1. Visit https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/national-federation-of-womens-institute and sign up for free.2. This bit is important: every time you decide to shop online, you need to go to the easyfundraising site above first, and then select the retailer you would like to shop with. You can search for health, beauty, travel, clothing and much, much more.3. Shop away 😊After you’ve paid and checked out, that retailer will make a donation to National Federation of Women’s Institutes. How lovely!The need for fundraising at a national level is vital to ensure we can continue to support all our members, extend our reach and continue to make a huge social impact with our campaigns.