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Westham Evening WI Events

Thursday 22nd March 2012 Birthday Meeting

This months meeting marked the 51st birthday of the Westham Evening WI. Happy Birthday to us! We celebrated with our guests Mr Ray Spiller and his wife who had travelled all the way from Chelmsford to keep us entertained with his knowledge and music of all the number one hits from the UK charts from 1952 to the present day.

He gave us a few little quizzes to guess the year and then the chance to hear the song that was number one on the date and year of our choice.

The committee then laid on a delicious spread for us and we all got to sample the beautifully decorated (and very tasty) birthday cake.

Thursday 23rd February 2012

The theme of our February meeting was “Ready Steady Cook!” and our speaker was one of our very own members, Sue Davies

With the help of a mini blender, a microwave and her “attractive assistant” Rosemary she spent the evening showing us how to make tasty and really easy to make dishes from paté to a delicious mint chocolate mousse. And the best bit… we all got to sample the fare at the end!

August Meeting

Our August meeting held on the 25th 2011 was a social evening with a 1960’s theme.

Costumes were optional, but as you can see from the photographs quite a few of us dressed up!

The evening was a fun one, with the committee providing a ploughmans dinner, a whole table full of desserts and organising a quiz based on the decade asking us to spot the celebrities in photographs and “guess the year” (Not that easy a task!)

Members were invited to bring items of theirs from the time and share memories. One member even brought along out her gorgeous wedding outfit! A board was set up with photos of our members from the time and we had a great time spotting who was who.

 

 

July Meeting - The Eternal Harp

Our July meeting was held on Thursday 28th July 2011 with our guestspeaker Sally Course, a musician who entertained us with the history of the harp and the beautiful music she played.

Sally attended the Royal Academy of Music and studied piano and flute,but sold the flute at the end of her first year. She was lent a harp to play and so her journey began.

She went on to take freelance work in London, playing chamber music,performing in restaurants, a dance band, and appearing on Radio 2.

The harp Sally brought along to show us was a concert harp with 47strings, the biggest harp there is. She gave a talk about the originsof the instrument and how to spot one (harps must be three-sided!), showed us pictures of harps from around the world and played us musicfrom the 9th century and from all around the UK.

It was a lovely evening and we all came away feeling very peaceful and relaxed from the calming music.

 

June Meeting - From Park Lane to Royal Parade

On Thursday 23rd June 2011, the Westham Evening WI were entertained by hotelier Neil Kirby and journalist, broadcaster and author Paul James. They provided a humorous and enlightening talk entitled “From Park Lane to Royal Parade”.

Neil Kirby began his career at London's prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane aged 15, washing up in the basement. He progressed to valet, working on a daily basis with Hollywood film stars, royalty, international politicians, top sportsmen, and many well-known celebrities. Neil eventually became General Manager of Grosvenor House, and in 2005 bought the Langham hotel in Eastbourne.

Paul explained that he first came into contact with Neil whilst working on the Eastbourne Gazette when he heard that the new owner of the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne was to take part in the Eastbourne marathon raising money on behalf of the local St Wilfrid's Hospice. From that first interview they struck up an unlikely friendship that has culminated in their collaboration on Paul's latest novel “Celebrity Hotel” in which Neil looks back at his extraordinary rise from below-the-stairs washer-up to bespoke-suited manager. We were regaled with various anecdotes of the film stars, members of the royal family and various celebrities that Neil had come into contact with, from arranging a private charity lunch for Princess Diana to keeping the two Bonds (Sean Connery and Roger Moore) apart when they were staying on the same floor.

It was a truly amazing insight into two different worlds encompassed in the same building, to hear about the hundreds of bell boys, maids, waiters who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the guests want for nothing, all the time hoping for those tips that can greatly increase their meagre wage. Proving that with a lot of hard work and aptitude it is possible to go from being a lowly washer-upper to a multi- millionaire hotelier.

ESFWI County Quiz 2011

The Westham Evening WI entered a team of 4 ladies into the 2011 County Quiz this year. Not only did they reach the final, but they WON! Congratulations to Julie Aris, Sue Davies, Rosemary Drysdale and Liz Lash.

Westham Evening W.I.’s Golden Celebration

Members of Westham Evening W.I. celebrated their 50th Anniversary with style at the Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne. After a warm welcome from President Barbara Willis to members and our guests, County Chairman, Shirley Kirby and W.I. Adviser, Heather Hyrapiet, lunch was served. The entertainment was provided by Marco the Magician who not only enthralled and mystified everyone with his close up magic, but delighted members with his singing, before finishing his act with a traditional Punch and Judy Show. A wonderful afternoon of reminiscing concluded with the cutting of the Birthday cake and afternoon tea.   

Photo shows - Barbara Willis, Marco, Alison Seymour (Marco's Mum), Heather Hyrapiet, Dorothy Brownlie, Claudine Howard, Angela Long and Shirley Kirby.

Painting with Rosemary Drysdale

What a great evening was had when Rosemary Drysdale, one of our members, gave us a workshop on “Painting with Acrylics”. Rosemary, who teaches painting locally, demonstrated her talents and then, having provided us with all the equipment, gave us a chance to show what we could do. Members gathered in a circle to display their “efforts” whilst Rosemary gave her expert advice.

Memory Album Workshop

A very successful and enjoyable Workshop was held at W.I. Headquarters with Members making Memory Albums with scrapbooking techniques. Organised by the Craft and Art Sub-Committee our picture shows the Members with a display of their crafts.

Visit to Eastbourne Town Hall

Westham Evening WI members visited Eastbourne Town Hall recently.  They were warmly welcomed on arrival by the Mayor and Mayoress, Greg and Clare Szanto, and Nigel Windibanks, the Mayor’s Chauffeur and Mace Bearer.  During the conducted tour of the Town Hall’s main rooms Mr Windibanks gave a full history of the building and its architecture.  He also explained the role and duties of the Mayor, and gave details of some of the previous holders of the Office whose photos line the staircase walls.

The Town Hall opened in 1886 at a cost of £35,000. A further £10,000 was needed to furnish it.  The clock was installed a few years later costing £700.

Entering reception the Grand Staircase leads to the principal rooms on the first floor. A circular reception room (used by The Registrars as a Marriage Room) links the Mayor’s Parlour to the Assembly Hall.  The day to day democratic running of the Council was explained as members sat in the old oak panelled Council Chamber.

The tour concluded in the Mayor’s Parlour where some of the many art works and memorabilia given to the Town are displayed.

Marshdown Group Meetings

10 May - Spring Meeting - Hostess WI - Anderida

St Wilfreds Hall, Pevensey Bay - 2pm

11 October - Autumn Meeting - Hostess WI - Langney
St Barnabas, Langney - 2 pm