Coming up in June

Coming up in June

Saturday 11th June - Walk: the wonderful City of London, London’s magical square mile 

Meet at 11.00 St Paul’s Station, the cathedral exit. Also well-served by buses 8, 25 and 56. An uplifting cityscape walk this time. Heather will not be there, but wishes you happy exploring. The City Information centre just to the South of St Paul's has plenty of info, maps etc. Turn right if you would like to just dip into the churchyard and admire the planting, the giant golden statue on a pillar and the fallen Beckett. Return to the tube entrance to go up St Martin Le Grand Street to visit the fascinating Postman's Park, on your left. Look at the extraordinary memorials to unknown heroes/ines. Nearby is the Museum of London, which will be closing soon to relocate. You can pre-book tickets; tickets are also available on the door each day. You may want to move on to the Barbican with plenty of refreshment and loo stop facilities.

Thursday 16th June - Meeting: a visit from police dogs and their handlers 

Usual venue - St Margaret’s House; 7 for 7.30pm. We're looking forward to meeting police dogs and hearing from their handlers about their work; we will also be acknowledging the Jubilee with perhaps some celebratory drinks and snacks. Do feel free to bring anything to share on the theme – perhaps you have made one of the prize Jubilee trifles; or bring along stories of street parties and bunting events!

Covid measures in place, hand gel on entry, masks till sitting down. We will keep the door open. No need for checking temperatures. 

Friday 24th June - coffee morning 

11.00 at The Hub, Victoria Park, East Side, right next to the children's playground, skate park and pools play area. Buses 276, 488 and 339. A chance to try their eclectic menu with delicious home made cakes and other goodies. You could visit the lovely English garden nearby and the tree trail we mentioned at our AGM.

Other WI news

Look out for our upcoming newsletter with information from local and National WI federations. And it's still not too late to sign up to observe the National Federation AGM virtually on Saturday 11th June. You can sign up from the main WI National Federation website. There are usually at least two high profile keynote speakers and there will be a vote and discussion on the resolutions put forward for the coming year. We have agreed to support the resolution, Women and Girls with ASD & ADHD – under-identified, under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, under-supported.

Our AGM

We're 15! Our birthday AGM

With the garden at St Margaret's House looking lush for our AGM, we gathered for our official meeting of the year – and for celebration.

Our President Heather's review reminded us how even in challenging times, our members were carrying on quietly with a wide range of voluntary work and as a group, we were supporting local speakers, organisations and for our coffee mornings, cafés. When we couldn't meet in person, we supported our members with high quality Zoom events and coffee mornings. We kept our community garden growing. And even when we couldn't use our meeting and storage facilities actively, we continued to pay for them so that they'd be there for us.

Although our fundraising was restricted, we helped at the St George's Day tea dance and our Treasurer Celya reported that we'd emerged in good financial shape.

The cheery Liz Morrell and Fiona Doyle from Middlesex Federation came along to lead the business of the AGM. All of our committee were happy to stand again, Heater will be our President for one more year and there were unanimous votes for all.

There were candles – in numerical formation! There was champagne! There were delicious savouries by Natasha and cakes by Heather, who is also our queen of Victoria sponge! There was a pink quiz by Sally, following on from her excellent talk last Autumn on breast awareness. And there was a toast to our first President Niki Stevens.

It was lovely to hear everyone's stories about how they first met East End WI and the first meetings they'd come to – a joyous catalogue of friendship, fascination and fun.

Thanks to everyone who came along, thank you to Liz and Fiona for not just turning up but making a cracking quiz team as well and here's to another year of a WI we've all come to value all the more during the pandemic.

Finally, an enormous round of applause to everyone whose knowledge, skill, talent, energy, kindness and good humour have kept everything going and particularly to our President Heather, who has done a grand job with wit and wisdom.

Coming up

Our next coffee morning will be on Friday 27 May, 10.30 at Root25, next to Bow Church DLR. 

At our June meeting, we'll be meeting some police dogs and marking the Jubilee. 

And we're gearing up to help at the Canal Festival on 16 and 17 July.

Look out for more news in our Coming up in June blogpost.

Our May walk

East End WI on a West Ham walk

Community garden Abbey Gardens was our starting point, for the ruin of the gatehouse of Stratford Langthorne Abbey, the story of the Plaistow Landgrabbers that inspired the garden's design and some fabulous flowers. Onward to All Saints Church for its abbey connection, patchwork of architecture and gnarly trees. Then, West Ham Park, to stroll in its greenery and ornamental garden, hear about physician and world-famous botanist Dr Fothergill and the park's Elizabeth Fry connection and pause for refreshments at the park's friendly snack shack.

I'll leave it to the lovely thank-you from our President, Heather to give you the flavour of the day: 

"Thank you for such a lovely Spring walk today! Just the right number of us to allow for the time and space to chat whilst on the move, and for our cafe stop. Great mix of history and humanity.  I really got the sense of continuity of the people and the buildings: from the old abbey underlying the Abbey Gardens ... up to the present mix of families, joggers, footballers, and cyclists peddling around in the sunshine. Such trees, such flowers, such colours!

Most impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the Kiosk staff, too. Will definitely go back.

It was lovely to be able to join up this part of 'Our Manor', to more familiar pieces of the jigsaw, and to gain some ownership by being able to make use of our recently experienced extension of 'walking distances'.

I am sure the others would agree that it was a wonderful day!"

Look out for details of our next walk in our June update.

Coming up in May

Saturday 14th May - Walk: West Ham Park 

Meet at 11am at Abbey Road DLR station Abbey Gardens exit (also accessible on foot / bike via the Greenway, from Stratford or West Ham stations and via the 276 bus, Mitre Road stop).The walk will go to the park via Abbey Gardens, site of the gatehouse of the Cistercian Stratford Langthorne Abbey, West Ham Church and then up to the park, where the ornamental garden has an outdoor exhibition on its surprisingly-grand horticultural history. Coffee opportunities at Abbey Gardens, where there’s a new pop-up café, and West Ham Park, which has an outdoor snack shack and usually, an ice cream van. Public loos at West Ham Park. Routes home via Stratford, buses on West Ham Lane or back towards the start point. If anyone wants to join us at the park itself, we’ll be at the Portway South Gate at roughly 11.30.

Thursday 19th May - Meeting 

Usual venue - St Margaret’s House; 7 for 7.30pm This meeting we will be welcoming a member of Middlesex Federation to help us celebrate our 15th birthday, hold our AGM but more importantly of all have a bit of fun and a social catch-up. There will be the odd quiz or two, so hint: catch-up on pink and green items as well as facts and figures about the WI…….

Covid measures in place, hand gel on entry, masks till sitting down. We will keep door open. No need for checking temperatures. 

Friday 27th May - coffee morning

Root/25 at 10.30am - A chance to try out a new venue for us. 116B Bow Road London E3 3AA. Recently discovered by Heather who says ; “lovely welcoming people. They run it to support the charity Restless Beings - supporting various most marginalized groups. They have second hand books (and some new) on sale as well as other events. Nice pastries and meals/snacks.”

East End WI in the Middlesex Federation news

The WI is divided nationally into around 52 federations. We belong to Middlesex - which has approx 51 individual WI groups and a total of 2,000 members. Middlesex has a regular newsletter and in the latest issue there's a piece by our very own Celya about our recent talk on the women in Hackney history. More on the newsletter at Middlesex Federation's website.

Recruitment and Re-application for annual membership

This is a gentle reminder for members still needing to pay the bargain price (not increased this year in view of Covid) of £44 by cash, or cheque in person at the next meeting. It's such good value for money and a chance to join an inclusive, exciting organisation. Your committee are currently looking at ways to advertise our wonderful group with posters, flyers and on social media; all designed by own very own Lydia. If you feel you could distribute some of these or have ideas where we could post on social media please let us know.

More WI news

National WI meeting (virtual) Saturday 11th June: you can still sign up to view the meeting virtually, this year to be held in Liverpool. There are typically two high profile guest speakers who address the meeting for around half an hour each and an address by the NFWI Chair. Join up for free via The National Federation website.

Me, myself and I and WI - 9th - 15th May - Online. Launched last year in view of the possible effects of covid, isolation etc is back for a week of self care and wellbeing. Please visit the Main WI website on the 9th of May to access lots of activities, projects and helpful links to promote great self care. It coincides with National Mental Health Awareness week. One of the fun zoom sessions to join will be about the WI’s recent initiative based around walking netball!

Our April talk

Florence Nightingale's London

The Lady With the Lamp? Well, not quite the lamp that we imagine… Florence Nightingale’s iconic night light was actually a nifty enclosed concertina lamp that packed flat when not in use. 

Blue Badge guide Julie Chandler’s lively talk took us through all sorts of fascinating stories:

A name that was half inheritance story, half birth in Florence on a two-year Italian honeymoon. 

A wealthy childhood, in London, Derbyshire and Hampshire, a father keen on educating his daughters, a young woman presented at court – and a rebel, it turned out, against what she called her ‘gilded cage’. Florence Nightingale’s family despaired of her ever marrying, there was a succession of suitors, a religious calling and a then-shocking decision to become a nurse, at a time when nurses were thought to be blasphemous and notorious for drinking.

A leader, taking on her first hospital job only on condition that she could change things, recruiting a cohort of nurses for the Crimea and getting them there across Europe.

An innovator, using graphics to convince decision-makers that more soldiers were dying of preventable diseases than in action and introducing an influential ‘pavilion’ design of hospital, some of the design still visible at St Thomas’ Hospital. She was the first woman to be elected to the Royal Statistical Society.

A pioneer, recognising the importance of the hand-washing and ventilation we’ve come to know so well in the pandemic and setting up the first secular school of nursing, at St Thomas’ Hospital, now based at King’s.

A reformer, including the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act, which punished any woman even suspected to be a prostitute.

A writer, her book Notes on Nursing aimed at carers as well as nurses, priced affordably and never out of print.

We discovered Florence Nightingale’s London places, including the German Hospital, Floris, Fortnum & Mason, the Burlington Hotel, The London Hospital, South Street, Mayfair and despite her insistence on a no-fuss funeral, the massive London turnout at and around St Paul’s, where there was a memorial service to mark the day when she was buried quietly on the family estate in Hampshire. 

And we heard of her important legacy of turning nursing into a respectable profession.

Florence Nightingale’s London, an A-Z of the Lady with the Lamp began as a lockdown project by Julie Chandler and Debbie Pearson, when walking tours and Florence Nightingale bicentenary events were cancelled. The book is available from the Florence Nightingale Museum. 

Our lovely venue

Spring – it’s a joy to be catching up in person. There was a beautiful walk to be had to our April meeting too. Pictured here, Victoria Park and the courtyard garden of St Margaret’s House.

Our next meeting, on 19 May, will be our AGM, with important votes for the next year and some celebrations. 

Our next coffee morning: 

29 April, 10.30 at the Beehive Café, Bethnal Green, E2 9LH

The Beehive café is on the opposite side of Cambridge Heath Road to the Museum of Childhood. 

Look out for our May update with details of our May meeting, May walk, coffee morning and other news.

Our April walk

Industrial landscapes, The Line, Madge Gill and a rolling bridge – Three Mills to Cody Dock, our April walk

Well, actually, our walk started with a conversation on where the opening shots of Masterchef are filmed, Three Mills Studios being nearby... and then we paused to watch a cormorant fishing. But that's an East end walk – full of discovery. 

There was outdoor art – our route along the Lea Navigation and the Lea took in three works along The Line sculpture trail and the Madge Gill installation at Cody Dock.

There was industry – history, from gin production to the Gas, Light & Coke Company and between, modern e-commerce warehouses and recycling.

There were views, to Canary Wharf, the Balfron Tower, the cable cars of the Emirates Air Line and along the sweep of the tidal river.

We explored the latest at Cody Dock, where there's a rolling bridge being constructed.

And there were hot drinks and snacks from the cheery Cody Dock café.

Check back here for news of the next East End WI walk.

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.