Our June coffee morning

Two slices of art – our June coffee morning, at Tate Britain

With several Tate volunteers in our membership, we're always kept up to date with exhibition news. So with one exhibition having opened recently and another closing on 7 July, our June coffee morning was at Tate Britain. Our group met for café chat, followed by art, some visiting Now You See Us, Women artists in Britain 1520-1920 and the other heading to Sargent and Fashion, both enjoyed. 

We pick a different venue each month for coffee – if you'd like to join us, look out for our next 'coming up' blogpost for news of our next coffee morning. 

Photos by Christine

Our June meeting

Vintage fashion, vintage games, objects with stories and birthday cake – our Summer party

It had all started with Carolyn’s 1925 WI booklet of party games. Then there were hats, gloves, a 1940s veil, Crimplene, rock cakes, Tunnock’s tea cakes, Victoria sponge, beetroot hummus, Pimms… 

But first, there was a touching tribute to the late Michael Mosley, whose Radio 4 programme Just One Thing had often come up in conversation at our meetings and walks. We shared tips we’d taken up: squats, walking backwards, cold water swimming and poetry for breath work. A documentary about his work was recommended, available on BBC iPlayer.

In a neat hop to the games in the book, many 'too familiar to mention', we launched into the brain-stretching ‘My grandmother went to Paris’, adding with each person, in alphabetical order, a fictional thing that she had bought. She was quite a shopper, it turned out – her purchases included an aardvark, a fiddle, a Harris tweed suit, an iguana and a kaleidoscope. Next, a 1920s version of Grandmother’s Footsteps, where we made our way stealthily across the hall, freezing whenever Natasha turned to see if anyone was moving. Then ‘Blind man’, where someone with her eyes closed was turned around, held a stick out, spoke a phrase or made a sound and when it was copied by the nearest person, had to guess who it was. Finally, one for the mathematically-minded, ‘Buzz’, a counting game about the number seven.

We were ready for some birthday cake after that – the magnificent Victoria sponge, with candles.

Our party was rounded off with a show and tell, of objects with stories or that had particular meaning for us. 

Dawn, who had become interested in gemstones when her daughter took up silversmithing and had long wanted to learn how to facet one, was just back from a workshop in Newcastle and showed us a beautifully cut Rose de France amethyst. Dawn explained that the workshops were run to help keep the craft alive in the UK.

I [Lydia] told the circular tale of an embroidery hoop that I had bought with my pocket money when I was 10, and many years later used, with embroidery books the same age, to turn notes from our writing and harp workshop into a sampler.

Carolyn, who has a keen interest in Bakelite, told us about her collection of quirky Bakelite birds and brought a particularly cheery example. Researching it, Carolyn had found that it was made by the Old Street company Henry Howell, which also made pipes, and this little bird was featured in the History of the World in 100 Objects. 

Heather brought two things: first, from when she worked in Sudan, an incense burner made by a neighbour and friend. Which presented a logistical challenge in getting it back to the UK – people returning were allowed to carry very little. The second object was a photo of two dalmations, much-loved family pets and friends in testing times.

Natasha brought a pearl necklace, once her grandmother’s, on loan when she had hoped to wear it for her wedding but eventually coming her way – and told a John Singer Sargent story of the painting Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children.

Along the way, there was chat about haberdasheries, circular knitting and the human things that make an object of value to us as it passes from generation to generation.

A big celebratory thank-you to everyone who baked, cooked, brought and joined in with the fun and games, a wave to those who were on travels or otherwise unable to make it and a round of applause for Celya, for her first meeting as President.

Our monthly coffee morning: Friday 28 June, meet at Tate Britain Djanogly café, 10.30 - 11.00

Join us for coffee, chat and a chance to see the exhibition of women painters of the last 400 years. There will be complimentary entrance tickets for our members courtesy of some of our members who volunteer their time to Tate. Tate Britain is near Pimlico underground, walkable from Westminster underground, and there are various bus routes.

Our June walk

Dr Salter's Daydream, a moated manor, two Scandinavian churches, Brunel, an 18th century school, bodysnatchers, dock history, the Mayflower, beach bags, urban woodland, world trade, a burst of opera and a farm: our June walk, in Rotherhithe

This month, we had a guest on our walk, Sandy Adirondack, who lives in Rotherhithe and has done extensive research into its history. 

Heading for the remains of the moated manor house of King Edward III, thought to have been used for falconry, we diverted first to Dr Salter's Daydream, a set of sculptures of Alfred and Ada Salter, their daughter Joyce and their cat. Setting up his practice in 1900, Dr Salter had offered free medical services to those who could not afford to pay and moved into politics to bring about further social change. Ada, similarly keen to improve lives, became the first woman mayor of a London borough. They insisted on living in the place they served and sadly, their daughter died at eight years old in an epidemic of scarlet fever.

Heading for the Norwegian church, the Sjømannskirken, we happened on a confirmation, with a procession of young people in traditional dress – and a tantalising smell of pastries...

...which led us to the first of two pitstops, at a local café with an exhibition, Bags of Life by Penny Dearsley, beach bags and hats, each with a subject, part of a body of work exploring memories.

While we paused, Sandy filled us in on the history of the docks at Rotherhithe, the first, Greenland Dock, dug out in 1696, then the largest dock of its time, and renamed in the mid-1800s for its use by Arctic whalers. Expansion of traffic, including timber from the Baltic and Scandinavia and food from Canada, led to the expansion of the dock, other docks followed and there were pools to float the timber until it was moved on. The decline of the docks started with WWII air raids and then container traffic making the docs unsuitable. They lay derelict until the major redevelopment scheme of the 1980s. 

Next, to the modern Finnish church with its handsome tower behind, along to the Brunel museum, where there were kilts (a wedding was taking place) and the history of the first tunnel under a navigable river, past the Mayflower pub and through St Mary's churchyard, where the captain of the Mayflower is buried, famous also for 'The Bishop's Chair', made from timber salvaged from the Fighting Temeraire. We passed the St Mary Rotherhithe school, a free school founded in 1613, and the watch house next door that guarded against bodysnatchers raiding the churchyard next door for bodies for medical research. 

Onward, then, to Russia Dock Woodland, a moment exploring world trade by way of a metal compass set into the path showing goods, countries and distances, and through to Surrey Docks Farm, at its entrance a procession of bronze animals. Unexpectedly, opera floated out from the café, which turned out to be a customer serving up a virtuoso performance. Spontaneous applause, then in past the forge to say hello to sheep with fringes, curly-tailed pigs, mischievous goats, glamorous chickens, and to admire the hanging tomato baskets with their linings of sheep's wool from shearing. There was even time for some quick sketches – and a second pitstop, at the café, with its river views.

"That was amazing!", said Christine as we headed into Canada Water station. "It was like having a Blue Badge guide!" Indeed it was – a massive East End WI thank you to Sandy for bringing so much knowledge and interest to our Rotherhithe walk.

Fancy joining us on one of our walks? Check our monthly 'coming up' blogposts for details and if you're a member, join our walkers' WhatsApp group.

Coming up in June

 

Party games, fun at the Farm and coffee at Tate Britain – what's on in June

Our monthly walk: Rotherhithe – Saturday 8 June, meet at 11am at Rotherhithe Overground station. 

We'll be creating our own walk through parks – Stave Hill ecological park, Russia Dock Woodland and Surrey Docks Farm (pictured, its glamorous chickens). If we have some energy left, we might return via the foot tunnel under the river to Canary Wharf .

Check in with the group on the Walkers’ Whats App Group for who is going.

Our monthly meeting: Thursday 20 June, 7 for 7.30 at our usual venue: St Margaret's House, 15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL and this month it's a party! We’re going back in time this month...

Our birthday is at this time of year, so we thought we would live it up like a vintage WI with a booklet of WI 1925 party games (pictured above) courtesy of one of our members, Carolyn. 

Perhaps dig out that 'New Look' frock from the back of the wardrobe and maybe add a hat...

We’re planning a show and tell which in the past have always been a source of fun and interest:- Maybe a game or board game -  if were you a brownie or guide do you have memories of games you played or the games you played the school playground. Do you have any photos of the above? Do you have a cherished piece of vintage craft? What about an object from your younger days that makes you happy/proud/giggle.

There will be the usual light refreshments, but do feel free to bring along any food that you perhaps used to have at parties or heard other generations talk about.... Pineapple and cheese on  toothpicks, vol au vents?

This will be our first meeting with Celya as our new President. Celya says, “To all our members – looking forward to another year of entertaining, informative and fun activities.”

Please note the arrangements for access to St Margaret's House:

The new code will be available for our regular members via our member WhatsApp group - if you attend regularly and haven’t had an invite to the group yet please contact us via our email.

If you are not a member of EEWI our white bell will be on the wall, so ring and someone will come to let you in. Sometimes this lets us down, so you can always ring one of the committee if other means of access fail!

If you are coming for the first time, contact us at EEWI via our email to check on access so we can make sure you are able to get access smoothly.

Our monthly coffee morning: Friday 28 June, meet at Tate Britain Djanogly café, 10.30 - 11.00

Coffee, chat and a chance to see the exhibition of women painters of the last 400 years. There will be complimentary entrance tickets for our members courtesy of some of our members who volunteer their time to Tate.

Tate Britain is near Pimlico underground, walkable from Westminster underground, and there are various bus routes.

Pictured: a speedy sketch by Lydia, made on her last visit to Tate Britain.

Our May AGM and talk

Annual General Meeting business and women’s work on the canals – our May meeting and talk

 

Every year, there’s one meeting where there’s WI business to be done, reporting on the year, approving the accounts and voting in committee and president and we combine the AGM with a talk or activity. 

 

Our AGM

We were delighted to welcome back Middlesex Federation adviser Fiona to guide proceedings. We were pleased to report on a good financial position and to look back on a year of wondrous variety in its talks, walks, coffee mornings with a cultural twist and fully-subscribed book club. Some of our activities have brought in external speakers and workshop leaders; others have made the most of the considerable knowledge and skills within our membership.

 

A theme that ran through all of the reporting was the commitment of our members and the dedication and mutual support of our committee, where tasks are divided up and we cover for each other as lives and commitments require.

 

This year, our President, Heather, has stood down and we have a new President, Celya, formerly our Treasurer and Secretary. A massive thank you to Heather, who has given her presidency style, wit and an elegant genius for delegation. (A special mention for Heather’s cheese scones, which have often sustained those of us dashing to meetings from work commitments.) And a warm welcome to Celya, already at the heart of East End WI and a Trustee of Middlesex Federation.

 

Our talk – women and Regent’s and Hertford Union canal history

For our talk, our very own Carolyn took us back in time for a fascinating look at Regent’s and Hertford Union canal history with a focus on women’s work. 

 

In 1829, Regent’s Canal merged with the Hertford Union, linking on to the coalfields and industrial heartland. Carolyn’s first picture, of a coal barge and people watching from the bridge, was typical of how we think of those times, work on the canals done by men. 

 

But the narrowboats were where the families lived. It was often the women who looked after the horses. The boats, like gypsy caravans, and the children of the families, were said to be presentable. “The women had long skirts and bonnets. I was fascinated by the men because of their earring. We called them monkey barges or water gypsies. They used to come out from Wharf Road and go down Chapel Market to buy food.” Ted Harrison

 

In World War II, the men went off and there was a plea for women to work on the canals. A lot of middle class girls took on the work and even if they had had experience of the canals on family holidays, it was a shock to the system. They hauled building materials, metals and uniforms (in bits, to avoid anyone stealing them). We saw a photo of tunnel keepers and women did that work too, one taking it over when her husband died.

 

The canals were arteries of commerce – even commerce of manure… Kingsland Basin was lined with manure wharfs, transporting it out of the city and boats coming back with grain. The canals brought coal to fuel the gasworks and people lived right on top of them. Kids would collect coal in all weathers and the coal tip was a no-go area, full of crime. Railways and canals worked together. There were tanners, wood yards (we were shown how wood was stacked to make steps that workers could climb) and veneer companies serving the furniture industry in the East end including Wright’s, which made the veneer for the Royal Festival Hall and dashboards for Jaguar cars, and Cullen at Chisenhale, making veneers from soaked wood with a machine like a giant pencil sharpener. Timber yards near gasworks would go up in flames, water boats sent out to fight the fires. There were works making smaller goods, one producing Mason Pearson brushes and employing a lot of women, and another making paintbrushes. There were gunmakers on the canal basin. All along the canals, there were factories linked with sewing, with a number in Vyner Street. Linked with the rag trade were the rag and bone men plying the streets. Small inlets, most now filled in, were used for loading and unloading. There was the Conway Stewart factory making Platignum pens “These girls were tough and usually called Maggie.” There were scrap metal merchants as late as the 1980s. Booth said of Fish Island in the 1890s, “The home is supported by women and children.” Boys would grow up, want more money and be replaced. 

Sweets were made by the canal, at Clarnico, another employer of women, with a good reputation, which needed huge amounts of sugar and coal. Frederick Allen & Sons made chocolate, promoted as a health drink. Their employment record was less sweet – soon after the match girls’ strike, workers came out in support of a girl who had refused to pay a fine, and won.

It wasn’t all grit and graft – there would be the ‘monkey parade’ where girls and boys would show off in their finery. Industries would empty warm water into the canals, popular for bathing children. Boys would bathe in the canals but girls were not allowed. The canals were a dangerous place. “We’d go down there and, you know, play dare, truth, promise.”

 

In time, though, there was a drive to clean up the canals’ reputation. In the 1960s, they were promoted for cruising. There were schools on the canals, with canalboat kids keen learners. The canals were nationalised in the late 1940s and towpaths opened to the public. But it would be the 1980s before they were fully open.

 

Carolyn told us how she came to be so interested. She was one of the kids who would go to the canals. She loved their mystery, in Birmingham and later in London.

 

A huge thank-you to Carolyn for a fascinating talk that brought canal history to life.

Find out more at the Regent’s Canal Heritage website, where you can also find Carolyn’s book, The East End Canal Tales.

 

Our May coffee morning Friday 24th May – The Old Baths, Hackney Wick, 80 Eastway, London E9 5JH. Meet between 10.30am and 11am

 

Our next coffee morning will have coffee, chat and artworks. (Bet you didn’t know that there is also a community sauna here, as well as The Hackney Wick Library of things… you can discover when we visit!).

WI Learning Hub

 

Sally reported back on the WI Learning Hub courses that she has taken part in, thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommends. We were asked for a link to the courses – find out more here.

Our May walk

Goslings ahoy! Our May walk in Walthamstow Wetlands

On a gloriously sunny Spring day, just a few steps in to Walthamstow Wetlands we spotted a gaggle of goslings and watched them snipping off bits of water weed pulled up by their parents. There were more, one group on the path so big that all we could do was potter along contentedly behind the family...

Winding our way to the Italianate Coppermill Tower, we climbed to the top for views across to Ally Pally, then chatted our way along the reservoir path, greeted by curious greylag geese.

Thanks to Alison's bird song app, we discovered that we had heard even more birds than we'd seen. As we ambled, there was time for sketching – and, of course, there were snacks, at the reserve's café.

Fancy joining one of our walks? Look out for our next 'coming up' blogpost for news of the next walk and if you're a member, join our walkers' WhatsApp group.

Photos by Alison, Christine, Dawn and Lydia. Sketches by Lydia.

Coming up in May

A watery wildlife walk, a bit of a bath house, well-being workshops, an update on our canals and taking care of business – coming up in May

Our monthly walk: Saturday 11th May, 11.00am – Lovely scenery, dabbling ducks and goslings at Walthamstow Wetlands, 2 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London N17 9NH

Meet at the entrance to the Engine House visitor centre. You can get to the reserve by either using Blackhorse Road or Tottenham Hale stations, both about equidistant in either direction (of note the visitor centre is a little closer to the entrance from the Tottenham Hale direction). 

There are some lovely walks around the reservoirs with a couple of bird hides to view the resident waterfowl. (If you’ve got binoculars they may well come in handy!) Currently there are also a lot of young geese and ducks. The café and well-stocked shop are also well worth a visit. There are also rest rooms. 

Find out more on the reserve's informative website. 

Our monthly meeting and Annual General Meeting: Thursday 16th May, 7 for 7.30pm start, at our usual venue: St Margaret's House, 15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL

For our AGM, we will be joined by reps from Middlesex Federation to oversee the necessary elections - to the committee and the named positions.  It is a vital and important part of what keeps us secure as a WI, and we warmly invite anyone who would like to, to join and contribute to the friendly ensemble of the committee and shape the events, companionship, learning and fun of our own EEWI.

Once the business is done, Carolyn – one of our own members – will talk about the history of the canals, with a focus on women. This relates to one of the previous, prescient WI resolutions on water, which has been brought into sharp focus recently with the Mighty Thames featuring unfavourably in the pollution charts.

Please note the arrangements for access to St Margaret's House:

The new code will be available for our regular members via our member WhatsApp group - if you attend regularly and haven’t had an invite to the group yet please contact us via our email.

If you are not a member of EEWI our white bell will be on the wall, so ring and someone will come to let you in. Sometimes this lets us down, so you can always ring one of the committee if other means of access fail!

If you are coming for the first time, contact us at EEWI via our email to check on access so we can make sure you are able to get access smoothly.

Our monthly coffee morning: Friday 24th May – The Old Baths, Hackney Wick, 80 Eastway, London E9 5JH. Meet between 10.30am and 11am

Coffee, chat and artworks. (bet you didn’t know that there is also a community sauna here, as well as The Hackney Wick Library of things… you can discover when we visit!).

In other news: the WI Learning Hub

A few months ago we told you about the re-launch of the WI learning hub. 

As a member, the majority of the events are free of charge. You can either join them live on Zoom or catch them as a recording in the next 7 days or so.

One of our members told us that The Hub has been a very welcome distraction, informative, fun and creative during a difficult time. With that in mind we wanted to bring your attention to a special week of sessions to be held on the WI learning hub:

Me, Myself & WI Week - 13th - 17th May

"The WI has an outstanding reputation for supporting members during times of change and uncertainty; the positive, motivational, and inspirational ways in which members support one-another, both within their WIs and with fellow members across the country is inspiring and empowering. 

In recognition and support of this, the WI Learning Hub is proud to offer members access to the Me, Myself & WI programme between 13th May – 17th May. 

Join us this week, to access a range of courses and content, that will help explore practical strategies for incorporating self-care into daily routines and highlight its significance for overall well-being."

Visit the WI Learning Hub and its wealth of wonderful activities here.