Coming up in April

Saturday 9th April 11.00 
Walk to Cody Dock

A thriving creative and community hub on The River Lea in Newham . Meet at Three Mills (postcode E3 3DU), beyond Tesco car park and over the bridge (nearest tube Bromley-by-Bow, Bus 488, 25 or 276). A chance to view the historic Mill and some art work by Madge Gill. There will be sculptures to see along the route and a chance for a cuppa and or a snack once we reach Cody Dock itself. Near Cody Dock, there are buses from Cody Road, Star Lane DLR or via onward walk, West Ham station for tube, overground and DLR. Heather will join in spirit if not in person and wishes you a sunny walk.

Thursday 21st April 19.00 for 19.30 

Monthly meeting – Florence Nightingale

St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PL. After hearing last month about 130+ remarkable women of Hackney, we have the chance to explore the life and work of another inspiring woman – Florence Nightingale.

Safety Adjustments for Covid - 19

We cannot guarantee that The Hall is a Covid secure environment but we will take the following measures to keep all as safe as possible – apologies, this is the boring but necessary bit….!

1.Hand sanitiser on entry 2. Lots of space, but we will leave the door open to the garden so please bring woollies! 3.Masks are optional, but we encourage them for when moving around the room. 4. Temperatures will be taken on arrival. 5 List of attendees in case of subsequent covid cases, 6. Please do not attend if you believe you have been infected with covid-19 7.You may feel it is reassuring to take a LFT before you join the meeting.

Friday 29th April 10.30 
Coffee and catch-up 

This month we will meet at The Beehive Café on the opposite side of Cambridge Heath Road to the Museum of Childhood. (postcode E2 9LH).

EEWI news

Annual Subscriptions 

Each WI Member pays a subscription fee to cover the cost of her membership and to help with running the organisation. The 2022 subscription is £44, which is split between our WI,Middlesex and the NFWI.

Tower Hamlets annual free St George’s day tea dance 

Thursday 28th April at The Ecology Pavilion Mile End Park Grove Rd E3 5TW. Tickets available at festivals&events@towerhamlets.gov.uk. 

We are serving the refreshments for this event, which will help us generate some much needed funds for EEWI. If you would like to help on the day, please contact alison.denning@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Our March talk

Famous and infamous women from Hackney's history

We were pleased to be able to meet again in St Margaret’s in March with a select group of members. Sue and Wendy from Hackney History Society gave an inspiring illustrated presentation on Famous – and Infamous – women who had lived, worked or somehow been connected with Hackney.

The project had been driven by a curiosity to discover both the well-known, and some forgotten or ‘unknown’ remarkable, (dead) women and create a 500-word piece for each to contribute to the book by The Hackney Society and Hackney History, Women from Hackney's History. (This has sold out, but may be reprinted, and Natasha possesses a copy!)

Clearly, women were the backbone of the industries – matches, Clarnico sweets for example – as workers and also as entrepreneurs.  Designers, silversmiths, illustrators, artists, actors, agony aunts, activists for the vote and against fascism, the first policewomen, and shoplifters and a single woman driven to despair who drowned her child and was hanged: all have a history in Hackney.  Difficult to choose one, but Nelly Power, a ‘lesser-known Music Hall star’, pictured above, who appears in a painting rescuing a woman at Southend whilst a crowd (of men) look on from the shore, did coincidentally feature in a Tate Modern talk just the previous week! 

The Society is keen to continue the research. 

Get involved, comment or ask:

historywomen@hackneysociety.org

Walk and learn:

Sue www.eastlondononfoot.com

Lucy www.bringyourbaby.org

Join:

www.hackneysociety.org

www.hackneyhistory.org

They kindly donated their fee to NIA (Swahili for Purpose or Intent) the charity working to support women against sexual and domestic violence which has its roots in Hackney Women’s Aid and does work in many East London boroughs including Tower Hamlets.

Other News:

We have our first fundraising event at the East End Canal Festival 16 & 17 July. Dust off those cake tins…

Don’t forget April is the subscription month – do let our Treasurer Celya have £44 – no increase this year!

April will see a coffee morning in Bethnal Green Beehive; a walk to Cody Dock (with a chance to look at a couple of Madge Gill pieces there and at Three Mills; and another remarkable woman, Florence Nightingale, being illuminated at the next meeting. 

Look out for our What's on in April blogpost for more information.

Our March walk

 "Seal!" Watery adventures on our March walk

Mile End Park to Limehouse – it's a canal and river walk with plenty to see and it had surprises and discoveries along the way. 

We needed our tech to look up the tiny feathery narcissi by the towpath, our eagle-eyed President Heather spotted a seal in the Thames and there was history sleuthing as we looked at fragments on the Thames beach at Limehouse.

The Yurt Café was our stop for hot drinks and snacks – which your blogger failed to photograph because she was diverted by a giant and beautifully-made biscuit... and a look at the exhibition of portraits there. 

Look out for more on our upcoming events and activities here and in our e-newsletter.

Coming up in March

Walk, meet, take part – 
activities and events in March 

Our March walk:
Mile End Park to Limehouse
Saturday 12th March - 11.00 

Our first event of the month. A walk from Mile End Park to the Yurt Café , near Limehouse, Meet at the water feature near the Green Bridge.

Our March meeting: 
Hackney's Famous and Infamous Women, a talk by The Hackney Society 
Thursday 17th March - 7.30pm at our usual venue, St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL. Entry by the big iron gates and round the garden to the hall.  

We will be welcoming speakers from The Hackney Society – the organisation working to preserve Hackney’s unique heritage. This talk, which has been specially prepared for us, will be about Hackney's Famous and Infamous Women, to mark International Women’s Month.

Also at the meeting there will be a chance to jot down any local events that you may think other members would be interested in. Such as arts, crafts, walks, places to visit. So please pop your thinking caps on – this will help us produce a further newsletter about local events etc.

Safety Adjustments for Covid-19

We cannot guarantee that The Hall is a Covid-secure environment but we will take the following measures to keep all as safe as possible – apologies, this is the boring but necessary bit...

1. Hand sanitiser on entry 
2. Lots of space, but we will leave the door open to the garden so please bring woollies! 
3. Masks are optional, but we encourage them for when moving around the room. 
4. Temperatures will be taken on arrival. 
5. List of attendees in case of subsequent Covid cases, 
6. Please do not attend if you believe you have been infected with Covid-19 
7.You may feel it is reassuring to take a lateral flow test before you join the meeting.

WI news

Look out for our next newsletter on local and national WI events and initiatives.

Coffee morning
Friday 25th March - 10.30 at The Gallery Café, St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL

A chance to meet, catch up, enjoy a cup of coffee and view its latest exhibition.

International Women’s Day, 8th March
IWD 2022 campaign theme: #BreakTheBias
International Women’s Month, 1st to 31st March

Imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women's equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

There are a number of excellent resources listing events all over London and some more locally:

www.alternativearts.org.uk films (rich mix), arts and craft events in East London (Brady arts)

www.londonist.com 15 guided walks, climate strike (central London), talks about women in law(QMUL), an event about women in broadcast media (mulberry academy), pop up information stall (Spitalfields) and many more

BBC Website – although less local the BBC has some excellent teaching resources, aimed at young people but fascinating for all ages.

Our February meeting: Singing for Breathing

“If I can do that run in one go, 
my breathing is in a good place.”

Singing for Breathing is a charitable organisation based at The Royal London hospital. It is a sociable group activity where techniques for breathing control and posture are taught through singing. The group is provided through charitable donations with no formal referral process or links to the trust. 

Our President, Heather, joined Singing for Breathing some time ago, has found it helpful and enjoyable and joins performances at the Royal London Hospital to raise awareness of the group.

Leader Joanna Foster (pictured above) is an actress, singer and composer. Joanna also works with Singing for Breathing at the Royal Brompton, Harefield and other hospitals. Joanna believes that singing is everyone’s birthright, regardless of experience or ability.

Anna Moore is a respiratory doctor. Anna set up the group because she saw patients with chronic lung disease do preliminary rehab but what next? Anna has seen wonderful outcomes for people and great feedback too on the happiness that singing in the session brings.

Catherine Furlong is Patient Champion. Catherine originally found the group via Anna, who was dispatched to deal with her after a massive asthma attack.

Our session followed the same activities as a regular Singing for Breathing session: stretches, fun vocal exercises and awareness of the muscles that support breathing. Catherine commented, “If I can do that run in one go, my breathing is in a good place.”

We followed on with call and response songs from around the world, with movement helpful for projection.

The session ended with smiles all round.

A big thank you to Joanna, Catherine and Anna, whose talk has been given through funding for outreach to spread the word. 

Singing for Breathing Royal London Hospital meets on Wednesdays at 1pm, singing songs from the 1960s and onwards. To find out how to join, please email singingforbreathingrlh@gmail.com

For further information and other local groups:

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/singing-for-lung-health 

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-in-your-area

Our February walk

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: views, chat and art

Our February walk was led by Heather, also a park volunteer. We met at Timber Lodge, had fun with the acoustics and reflections in the Spiegelei Junior orb, heard about the architecture at the Gantry and enjoyed the peace and nature of the Blossom Garden. Walking across the One Whirl paving made from recycled glass, peering down at the phone box artwork in the wetlands area and reading some of the Fantastic Factology bench plaques, we crossed over past the RUN sculpture and had fun walking through the giant door at Here East. Next, a look at the rapidly-growing new park buildings, a pause to enjoy the flowers and a café stop at The Last Drop. 

Our next walk is on Saturday 12 March, meeting at Mile End Park. Look out for our March update for details.

Coming up in February

Activities, meetings and events – February and beyond

Saturday 12th February, 11.00am 
Walk, talk and coffee

Join us for a walk in the Olympic park, meeting at Timber Lodge café, 1A Honor Lee Avenue, E20 1DY. Plenty of bus routes – 108 gets closest; or DLR to Stratford International. Also a chance to see the London Blossom Garden memorial commemorating those Londoners lost to Covid and paying tribute to key workers.

Thursday 17th February, 7.30pm 
Monthly meeting: Singing for Breathing 

This month's meeting is on Zoom but hopefully we can very soon meet face to face again. Singing for Breathing is a charitable organisation based at The Royal London hospital. It is a sociable group activity where techniques for breathing control and posture are taught through singing. The group is provided through charitable donations with no formal referral process or links to the trust. We will be joined by the group leader. Watch out for the link nearer the time emailed to EEWI members and friends, which will not be our usual Zoom link.

Friday 11th February 12.00 & Sunday 20th February 12 noon 
Tate Britain 

Following the success of last month's trip to Tate Britain to hear and see own own Natasha’s family links to the artist John Singer Sargent. Best to book a free ticket online before going. Make your way to the top of the Manton Stairs where the official guided tours start. Natasha will be there. Any Tate person will be able to direct you.

Friday 25th February 11.00 
Coffee morning

Coffee and a chat at the lovely family run Café Crème, Roman Road. It's situated opposite the Bow Idea Store which if you haven’t visited before is well worth it (also always a good supply of lateral flow kits being handed out there!)

Upcoming EEWI activities

March meeting - we will be treated to a talk from the brilliant Hackney History Society

April Meeting - we are looking forward to a talk about the iconic Florence Nightingale

Other events of interest 

Margaret House – Movement and meet, An exciting new initiative for the over 65s to take part in free hour long gentle exercise classes, yoga, dance, gentle therapeutic exercise. More information at www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/movement-and-meet or you could call Laura Furner on 020 8980 2092

Tuesday 8th March – International Women’s Day

March 5 to 12th London-wide events for women’s history month – this important annual date will be celebrated with a huge variety of events around London, Arts, music, walks, talks, crafts etc etc. More detail at www.alternativearts.org.uk

Look out for our new newsletter in the coming days that will fill us in on some local and national WI news