Looking Ahead to What's On

2018 -  was our super  Centenary Year (click here)
NEW -  Northamptonshire Federation Newsletter September 2024

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Wednesday 11 September  TRIP TO LINCOLN -
Members £27, non-Members £30. Coach only
Join us on a voyage of discovery to Lincoln. Attractions include the Cathedral, the 16th century castle, the Guildhall and the museum. A shuttle bus is available to take you up Steep Hill to visit the large array of independent shops, full of wonderful places to buy that little treat you have been promising yourself, be that a book, art, a bottle of something or some fudge. There are plenty of eateries in which to enjoy lunch, and to take a moment to watch the world go by

Sunday 15 September  NENE VALLEY FESTIVAL  11am to 2pm
Celebrate WI Day at the Nene Valley Festival. Bring friends and family for a lovely day by the river!
Can you volunteer to help us spread the word about the WI?
WhiteWater Centre, Bedford Road, Northampton, NN4 7AA
Car parking available.

Saturday 28 September   Woodford Walk
9.45 for 10.00 am start.   Approx 4.5 miles
We will meet outside The Dukes Arms at Woodford, where we can pre-order lunch. We will do a circular walk around the surrounding countryside of Woodford, come back partly on the Nene Way, and then finally back to Woodford through Woodford Shrubberies. There are no stiles on this walk. Mainly grass fields and a well trodden track. Please let the leader know by Saturday 21 September if you would like to join the walk and if you would like lunch. Please note we are limited to 30 diners so this will be on a first come, first served basis.
Venue: The Dukes Arms, High Street, Woodford, Northants. NN14 4HE

Saturday 5 October    CRAFT FAIR   £12 per table
WI House  10.30am to 1.30pm   Come and take a look at what the crafters are selling. Maybe pick up a gift or two. WI refreshments on sale.
Free admission

Tuesday 8 October  SPEAKERS SELECTION EVENING  Tickets £5 each
WI House  7pm to 9pm        Maximum of 2 members per WI  
Do you want some new ideas for speakers for your WI meetings? Be the first to see some potential new speakers and have your say. This is the final selection evening this year and will showcase future speakers for you to consider as you plan your programme for the new year. Always a popular event, these evenings get booked quickly, so please get your applications in early. Application Form with your Secretary this month

Saturday 13 October  WALK AROUND KETTERING WICKSTEED PARK
9.45 for 10am start.  Approx 4 miles
We will take a pleasant walk across what is known as The Wilderness, part of Barton Seagrave Park and then into Wicksteed Park. We will follow the perimeter path which encloses the parkland and its many attractions. The river Ise runs along one side and includes a wildlife lake, which could be a bit muddy after rain so walking boots are advised, although the walk does follow mostly gravelled paths. Please let the leader know by 9 October if you wish to book a meal.
Venue: The Piper, Windmill Ave, Kettering NN15 6PS

Thursday 24 October 2024  NCFWI Annual General Meeting
Northampton High School, Hardingstone, Northampton NN4 6UU

As we continue to organise the AGM we are pleased to announce that Wilson Browne Solicitors are supporting this year’s event.
We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Northampton High School for Girls to listen to guest speaker, Turi King.Professor King is a distinguished geneticist with an internationally recognised career where she uses genetic methods to advance research in fields including forensics, history and archaeology.
In addition to our local VIPs we are delighted to be able to welcome National Chairman, Jeryl Stone, and Melissa Green, National CEO. We have invited various stallholders to join us including Zuche Boutique, Sixty Two Homeware, Whimsy and Wist Candles, Ruthies Home Comforts, with Charity representatives from Cynthia Spencer, Ability Transport and AGE UK. Access to stallholders will be from 6 pm.-7 pm. and during the interval. Many of the stallholders will take Debit/Credit cards and if you intend to buy refreshments then the school operates a Card payment only system. A raffle with some great prizes to win will also be available. Competition entries for The Challenge Trophy and Pauline Duff trophy will be on display and winners announced on the evening.

Saturday 9 November CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOPS
WI House  10am to 12.30pm AND 1.30pm to  4.00 pm W
Members £18 Non-members £23 PLUS £7.50 PAYABLE TO THE TUTOR ON THE DAY FOR MATERIALS
This may seem a long time off, but it will be here before you know it! You may have attended one of Tina Bodsworth’s workshops with us before (Mindful Mandala Dot Painting). This time she’ll be leading us through the process of candle making, so something new, and most importantly we’ll have fun. You’ll go home with a hand-poured Christmas fragranced candle in a 9cl votive glass container in a decorated box, and a 4-clam wax melt. Please ask your secretary to apply for either the morning or afternoon session. Application Form with your Secretary.

Wednesday 13 November 2024  Day Visit to the National Memorial Arboretum
Members £26 Non- Members £29 - Coach only  Entry is free but donations on-site welcome.
Back by popular demand, a day visit to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire. The nation’s year-round place to remember, with people from all walks of life represented in memorials. This will be such a special time of year to visit, with trees in their autumn glory and days after Remembrance Day. Come and join us. Application Form with your Secretary this month.

Saturday 16 November 2024  WALK NEAR TOWCESTER
Full details next month

Friday 22 November 2024  A LITERARY LUNCH
11am to 3 pm Delta Hotels (Marriott Hotel) Northampton Members only, £35
Please get your application forms in for this prestigious annual event at the Marriott Hotel, Northampton. A Literary Lunch and  Talk from local author Graham Brack. Menu and Application Form with your Secretary.

23 November 2024  Treasurers Financial Statement Workshop Saturday
WI House   10am or 1.30pm      Members only           £5
Whilst this workshop is aimed primarily at those WI Treasurers who do their accounts using the Accounts Book, it will also benefit those who complete their accounts online. Helpful tips will be shared by members of the Membership & Training Sub- Committee, to give you confidence you have all your financial year-end paperwork in order, ready for your WIs Independent Financial Examiner. WIs pay for their Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer to attend. Come along and learn about Acting as Agent to Year-End jobs to be done to ensure your year-end runs smoothly. Tea/Coffee provided.
Application Form with your Secretary

Friday 6 December  Coffee Morning
WI House   10am to 12 noon
SAVE THE DATE!  £3 including coffee and cake.  WI refreshments on sale

Wednesday 11 December 2024  Oxford City and Christmas Market Wednesday
Members £25   Non-members £28
Our drop off and pick up will be St Giles in the city centre, near the Ashmolean Museum and Randolph Hotel. Close by are the Natural History and Pitts Rivers Museums. Heading towards the city centre is Board Street, with its open air Christmas Market, Blackwell’s Bookshop and Balliol College. From there you can head to the Bodleian Libraries and Radcliffe Camera – real “Inspector Morse Land”. Visit the ‘High’ for the world famous covered market. Mainstream shopping experiences can be found in Queen Street and Westgate Shopping Centre – yes, M&S and John Lewis! This will be a great day out with plenty to see and do - enjoy festive cheer with friends, in the numerous eateries and coffee stops. If you fancy knowing more, regular walking tours leave from outside Blackwell’s Bookshop. Come and enjoy. Application Form with your Secretary

SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday 9 to Thursday 13 March 2025 - Holiday in Devon
In 2025, the bi-annual Federation Holiday is a fully-escorted 4 day holiday – with Avalon Tours – based in a sea-front hotel in Torquay, breakfast and dinner. Visits to Exeter, Greenway NT, Buckfast Abbey, Britannia Royal Naval College, Kingswear, Paignton and Swindon Steam Museum on return. Booking form (per room) will be with your Secretary next month

SAVE THE DATE!
Monday 14 April 2025  Bi-annual County Quiz - Mercure Hotel, Daventry
Teams of 4 paid up WI members (so those subs next year will have to be promptly paid!). Would say ‘Brush up your Shakespeare’ as the song goes - but who knows?!