August Update

We have all been looking forward to the Garden Party we planned for August, but unfortunately this can no longer take place, as the garden is totally waterlogged – it’s quite low lying and has been well and truly soaked! The gardeners who look after it (it’s part of the University) have said that it’s not in good enough condition for people to use.

However, there is a good side – St Georges Church has offered us the use of the Vestry Hall, for a party and this will enable us to try it out and make sure we like it. So, our Next Meeting will be an ‘Indoor Garden Party’, and will take place in the Upper Vestry Room of St George's, Bloomsbury, from 6.30 till 8.30pm. It’s easier to find than Dragon Hall! Entrance via Little Russell Street (at the back of the church, access via Museum St or Bury Place), Come in the iron gate, up the steps on the right, If anyone needs disabled access please contact londonwestendwi@googlemail.com. Please bring food to share, drinks alcoholic or non alcoholic, sheet music if you can play the piano and CDs for background music.

In other news, thanks to great efforts by Kate Matheson who found out all about the scheme and applied on our behalf, London West End WI have been granted £1000 from the Covent Garden Partnership Community Chest Fund. This gives money each year to local projects that contribute towards building strong communities. This will make a terrific difference to the success of our WI – it will pay our rent for the next year and take off the pressure of constant fundraising.

As you may be aware, our branch is considering moving our meetings from our present location, and at the August meeting we need to make a decision whether to stay at Dragon Hall or move to the upper Vestry Room at St Georges Bloomsbury. All members are entitled to vote and if you are unable to come to the next meeting please email /phone the president Kate Matheson at londonwestendwi@googlemail.com and tell her which way you would like her to vote on your behalf.

This significance of this move could mark a new stage in our WI's development. At our September meeting we will be discussing the goals for our local chapter and its role in relation to the Federation, so that we can develop as a group and move forward coherently. More details to follow.

We have been invited to have a WI produce stand at a West Central Community Fair on Friday 21st September, from 3.30 till 8.pm at St Giles Garden, St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, 60 St Giles High Street, LONDON, WC2H 8LG. This is a great opportunity for us to build new connections with the women (working or living) in the area. The first time we went to a fair we raised nearly £200 for the group funds and attracted some new members. Those who took part would say it was fun (even with the stormy weather). To make this happen we need volunteers to bake, make, meet, sell the produce, set up the stand & put away. If you cannot come along on the day perhaps you would be willing to bake/make for us.
Please let Carrie know if you are willing to bake/make help out on the stand help with logistics ( storing baked goodies/transport etc) clear up join us for tea/glass of wine support in spirit if not in body. To help everyone their making / baking we need to make a decision about going ahead with this by 3 September. So please email or phone Carrie if you are willing to help. She can be reached at home eves 02087614882 or 07789954972 anytime, or at carriethecoach@hotmail.com.

Finally, We’re planning to see if Neil McGregor – who’s in charge of the British Museum – will let us have a group visit to the big Chinese Warriors exhibition at the BM in the autumn. We’ll see if we can get a good rate and maybe go along to one of the evening openings. If you’re interested, please let us know at the next meeting.