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!