The Bishopstone with Hinton Parva Women's Institute

   

Click on a heading below to be directed to the selection of your choice
About Our WI
Our Committee
Our Annual Events
2009/10 Speakers Programme
2009/10 Competitions
2010/11 Speakers Programme
January 2010 - Snow Photos
Favourite Walks
Our Bursary
Our Lottery Grant
Our Catering Services
Our Village Halls
Wiltshire Federation Events
Ridgeway Group Events
About The Women's Institute
2010 Dates for Your Diary

About Our WI

The Bishopstone with Hinton Parva WI is a very friendly, active WI that offers its members companionship, as well as a range of leisure and educational activities. We were established in 1954 and currently have 40 members who come not only  from the villages of Bishopstone and Hinton Parva, but also from the surrounding villages of Ashbury, Bourton, Liddington, Shrivenham and Wanborough, as well as from Swindon.  Click here to meet us all.

Our annual programme runs from May until April and we normally meet at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of each month for about two hours either in Bishopstone Village Hall or Hinton Parva Village Hall. Ordinary meetings comprise a short update on current business, a guest speaker, competitions, a raffle and social time over refreshments; the annual programme for May 2009-April 2010 may be viewed here. We have two competitions at each meeting; bloom of the month, and a competition related to the evening speaker's presentation.  Click here for this year's topics and winners.

Bishopstone and Hinton Parva are charming Wiltshire villages sited very close to the ancient Ridgeway, Britain's oldest road. Click here to see where we are.  We belong to the Wiltshire Federation of WIs and to the Ridgeway Group of WIs, both of which are described in more detail below.

Guests and new members are always most welcome at our meetings - why not come along and give us a try?   You won't regret it.  Just call Diane (7107590) or Hilary (790815) to discuss.

 
 
 
Back row:  Margaret, Lynda and Caroline
Front row: Jean, Doris, Clare, Hilary, Diane and Hazel
 
The elected Officers and Committee Members for 2009-2010 may be found here. Committee Meetings usually take place on the afternoon of the first Thursday of each month.  Our members carry out a number of other duties, details of which may be viewed here.
 
 
Annual Meeting:  This takes place in March and is an opportunity to review our year and elect our Committee for the new session; we often have a craft demonstration to complete the evening, this year it was floral art.
 
Spring Events: Mr Ray Gigg from Ashbury organised a very informative photographic workshop for us in early May 09 ahead of our Annual Show, to help us get the best out of our cameras and improve print quality and composition.  We also enjoyed a really excellent evening meal prepared by the trainee chefs of Swindon College. 
 
Resolutions Meeting:  In May of each year our WI  debates and votes on resolutions that have come through a rigorous selection process and been chosen for debate at the AGM of the National Federation of Women's Institutes.  The 2009 resolution was "SOS-Honey Bees".  To help us get to grip with the problems facing honey bees and  bee keepers we invited Ron Hoskins, President of the Swindon and District Bee Keepers Association to talk to us.  He gave an excellent and beautifully illustrated presentation about the impact of Varroa mite infestation and the innovative, chemical-free techniques he is developing to combat it.  Click here to read more. 
 
Annual Flower and Handicraft Show:  This takes place each June and the schedule includes flower, cookery and craft classes as well as classes for children and men (click here for more photos). A dedicated Committee takes responsibility for organising and staging the Show, external judges evaluate the exhibits and there are trophies and other small prizes to be won (click here for details).  We also have a raffle and at the end of the Show we auction off entries donated by members to raise some funds for our other activities.  
 
 
 Flower and Herb Classes 
 
Summer Events:  Summer provides an ideal excuse for a BBQ, Safari Supper, or something similar; partners/friends are invited and we socialise in a relaxed setting, sometimes in the garden of one of our members.  In July 2009, Hazel and Peter took several members and their guests for a sail on their yacht Sea Tramp (pictured below) which is moored on the Hamble River, Southampton;  click here to read more about the voyages.  
 
 
We also held a Summer Garden Party plus Bring and Buy Sale in early August 09 at Lynda's house (click here to see more photos).  Afterwards we trooped off to see Lynda's new hive and bee colony which she recently installed after completing her training with Ron Hoskins, President of the Swindon Bee Keepers Association.
 
   
         2009 Garden Party  
 
       
Lynda, Ron and the bee hive
 
Birthday Party:  Each September we celebrate our "birthday" with a fun gathering of members, partners and friends. It may be a party in the village hall, a trip on the river, a meal out, or anything suggested by a member and agreed by the rest. Everyone contributes some food to the occasion and we have a birthday cake too. Other local WIs are often invited to join in and we usually receive reciprocal invitations to attend their celebrations.   In 2009 we celebrated our Emerald Anniversary (55 years) with two events.  Firstly, birthday cake and drinks at our regular September meeting followed by a wonderful musical evening provided by the very accomplished Geoff Walters on keyboard and his talented group of singers "Encore". To mark our anniversary all of our members wore something green.   
 
Members in green celebrating our Emerald Anniversary in 2009. 
Marie-Noelle, Caroline, Frances, Jacky, Val, Hazel, Rita, Sue R, Denise, Janet, Lynda, Maggie and Joan. 
 
 Margaret D, Doris, Diana, Clare, Audrey, Jane M, Jean T, Margaret S and Mary
                  
           Geoff Walters on keyboard and his accompanying singers "Encore"
 
Secondly, we went on a really excellent guided tour of Burford, one of England's oldest towns, located in the beautiful Cotswolds.  The tour, which was conducted by Mr John Cotterill from the Friends of the Tolsey Museum in Burford, took in both the town and the church and kept us engrossed for close to two hours. Afterwards we made our way to Burford Garden Centre for afternoon tea, which was unexpectedly accompanied by a very accomplished classical guitarist. We then tried and failed to keep our money in our pockets whilst looking at the wonderful array of plants in the Garden Centre. 
 
 
 John Cotterill (second left ) guiding us around Burford  
 
 
        Sue R and Hazel at the Garden Centre  

Members' Meeting:   There is always a “Members' Meeting” in October, which gives two of our ladies the opportunity to experience being President and Secretary for the evening with a view to perhaps becoming future Committee Members.  In 2009, Diana L and Jane M served as President and Secretary respectively for the evening and Marie-Noelle, another of our members, gave a talk on What it is like to be French.  

                          2009 Members' Meeting:   Jane M and Diana L (left) and Marie-Noelle (right) 
 
Autumn Events:  Around twenty of our members enjoyed My Fair Lady at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon  in early October 2009. At the end of the month we contributed to NFWI's Bee Aware Action Week by visiting the Stanton Park Apiary near Swindon, headed by Ron Hoskins, and holding a Buzzing Bee Afternoon Tea Party for which both the refreshments and raffle prizes followed the honey theme.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Our
 
 
 
 
Buzzing Bee Tea Party (left) and our visit to Stanton Park Apiary (right) 
 
Winter Events: We held a very enjoyable "Race Night with Ploughman's Supper" in early November 09.  This took place at Lynda's house and included a number of husbands, partners and guests gathered around a roaring open fire.  Given the strength of the gale raging outside, the warmth was much appreciated and the embers enabled us to make roast chestnuts too. A dress code of "big hats to be worn by the ladies" was strictly observed and the wearer of the most outrageous hat received a small prize.  As it was Lynda's birthday we were also treated to delicious home made celebration cakes. 
    
      
Sue G, Kathy, Jacky A, Doris, Lynda and Diane sporting their race night hats
      
Christmas Celebration:  Our Christmas meeting is an evening party to which we invite partners, husbands, friends, and members of other local WIs. The Committee provides the main course and our members contribute desserts. There is often some form of entertainment, either from our own members or an external group, a raffle, competitions and carols. It is always a good evening as well as a great opportunity to celebrate Christmas together.  At our 2009 Party, the very accomplished ladies of Purton Evening WI entertained us with a fine mix of sketches, poems and songs with which we all very much enjoyed joining in. 
 
 
      
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 Bishopstone (Courtesy Les)
 
Hinton Parva (Courtesy Marie-Noelle)
 
 Ashbury (Courtesy Diane)
  
 
 
1.     A Circular Walk from Ashbury Near Swindon (click here to open)  
 
 

Our WI provides a bursary of £200 every second year to enable one of our members to attend a course at Denman College, the WI's own adult education centre near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. The lucky recipient's name is drawn out of a hat at our Members' Meeting in March. The 2009 Bursary winner was Frances who attended and enjoyed a course on Back Care.  

 

Our Lottery Grant

In April 2009 we successfully attracted £9,900 in grant funding from the National Lottery's Awards for All Scheme to permit each of our members to attend a Denman College course of her choice up to the value of £250.  To maximise value for money of the grant, our members will produce illustrated reports about the courses they attend and these will be compiled into an end-of-grant-booklet.  As well as this, workshops and seminars will be organised as a means of cascading new found skills and knowledge not only within the WI but also to the local community.  The award provides a fantastic opportunity for members to increase life opportunities, enhance personal skills, experience new things and meet new people. Members celebrated with a classic WI cream tea at Hinton Parva Village Hall.

           

Diane and Lynda with the Awards for All cheque 

 

Our Catering Services

As well as making sumptuous dishes for our own special events and refreshments for our monthly meetings, our members help prepare and serve refreshments in our two Village Halls for other WIs and external Societies who pass through our villages on day outings. We sometimes also cater for celebratory events at other venues. This is a good way for our members to meet new people and also makes a little extra money to fund our other activities. Click here for more information on menus and to see photos of some of our recent events. Don't hesitate to give Lynda a ring on 791722 to discuss your event and requirements. The photo on the right shows Hinton Parva Village Hall prepared for a cream tea.  

 

Our Village Halls

  

                      Bishopstone Village Hall                                                        Hinton Parva Village Hall

Both Halls are situated in delightful Wiltshire villages close to the ancient Ridgeway - England's oldest road.  They both have a kitchen, disabled access, an audio system and a car park.  Bishopstone Hall also has an elevated stage. 

 

Wiltshire Federation Events

WIs are geographically linked within 70 County and Island Federations, each with a regional office. Our own WI belongs to the Wiltshire Federation which has its Head Office in Devizes; it deals largely with organisational matters, and offers help and support to any Institute. Within the Federation there are a number of County Committees which together cover all areas of WI activity in the County and also organise many events; for example, the Sport & Leisure Committee, the Home Economics, Arts and Crafts Committee, the Music and Drama Committee, and the Public Affairs Committee. 

The Sport and Leisure Committee of WFWI organises a wide range of visits, activities and competitions that are open to all WI members. Details are publicised in "Wiltshire News" and are also brought to members' attention by our Secretary at monthly meetings. We routinely enter teams for the County Scrabble, Indoor Skittles and Whist Leagues and usually do well – importantly, you don’t need to be an expert, the aim is to meet new people and have fun. As you might expect, cookery demonstrations are organised by WFWI across the County; these offer a great opportunity to make and taste new dishes and also to exchange ideas. As well as this, there are many events at County level focussing on new crafts, either through demonstrations or workshops, or via more formal courses at Denman College. 
 
2009 marked the 90th Anniversary of the WFWI; this was celebrated with a party in Salisbury, attended by members of many Wiltshire WIs including some of our own members:
 
 
Joy, Lynda, Doris, Jacky A, Les, Val and Rita
 
 

Institutes can choose to link together with neighbouring WIs to form a Group. Our WI for example, belongs to the Ridgeway Group which comprises seven WIs; the others are Stratton St Margaret WI, Upper Stratton WI, Chiseldon WI, Ermine Street WI, Liden WI and Ellendune WI. The Ridgeway Group holds Spring and Autumn evening meetings each year, with tasks being organised on a rotational basis. There is always a  guest speaker, a competition and a raffle, plus light refreshments.  Group events offer an opportunity not only to meet members of other local WIs, but also to exchange ideas about guest speakers and leisure activities.   The guest speaker in November 2009 was Mr Paul Mayhew-Archer who wrote the scripts for the Vicar of Dibley, Spitting Images and many other comical television programmes. He kept the assembled audience in fits of laughter for three quarters of an hour and we were all extremely sorry when his talk finally came to an end. He certainly is a class act!  The Competition was a home-made Christmas Tree Decoration; this was won by Ellendune WI, with Bishopstone with Hinton Parva WI taking second place.  

    

 Hilary's guest, Sue R, Maggie, Hilary and Denise 

                  

Paul Mayhew-Archer our guest speaker    

  

 The Ridgeway Group of WIs enjoying the evening  

2010 Dates for Your Diary

 

11th March  Denman "Antiques and Collectables" Feedback Event immediately following our Annual Meeting

18th March - Visit to the Defence Academy in Shrivenham

24th March - Meal at Swindon College Training Restaurant , 7pm

9th April - Start of Spring Weekend in Cumbria 

17th April - Denman "Cookery and Crafts" First Feedback Day at Bishopstone Village Hall

May - Denman "Cookery and Crafts" Second Feedback Day at Bishopstone Village Hall (date tba)

13th May - Denman "Back-Care and Alexander Technique" Feedback Event immediately following our Resolutions Meeting

20th May - Guided Tour of Avebury and Tea

11th June - Denman "Church Flowers" Feedback Event at St Mary's Church, Ashbury

24th June - Denman "Cookery and Crafts" Third Feedback Event at Bishopstone Village Hall

10th July - Lunch, Wine Tasting and Tour of Brightwell Vineyard near Abingdon

August - Safari Supper (date tba)

 

 

 

 
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