Looking Ahead to What's On

2026

Monday 27 July 2026     David Austin Roses    Members £32 and Non members £35
If you love flowers, if you love roses or you simply want a day out then this is perfect for you. You will arrive in the comfort of a luxury coach, catch up with your WI friends and meet other members from the Federation. There will be enthusiasts waiting to help with your questions.
The deadline is fast approaching and all you budding gardeners out there won’t want to miss this one.

The outing is booked via TicketSource so please click on the link below secure your place.

https://www.ticketsource.com/northamptonshire-county-federation-of-wis/david-austin-roses-visit/2026-07-27/11:00/t-qmmmzer 

Please book directly and not through your WI Secretary or WI House

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Tuesday 28 July  TREASURERS ON-LINE WORKSHOP  Members Only.   £7.50 
WI House  6.30pm                    STILL TIME TO BOOK
Do you do your WI accounts online, or would you like to do them online? If yes, and you would like some help, do come along to WI House and members of the Membership & Training team will take you through the information that is available to assist you. Come and see how much time you can save at year end by using the on-line system.
There will be time to practice the skills needed, with tea/coffee provided.
Participants will be required to bring along a copy of the Treasurers Handbook. If you would like us to print a copy for you this can be done at a cost of £5. 
Application Form with your Secretary
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Saturday 15 August - County walk  near Great Doddington
9.45am for 10am prompt start  Meet at ~The Stag's Head  NN29 7TQ
Enjoy the summer with a walk around Summer Leys and a stroll along the Nene Way. There should be wild life and flowers to spot. As usual lunch will be booked for those who wish to join in.
Venue: The Stag’s Head, 1 High St, Gt Doddington NN29 7TQ - has a good size car park

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Thursday 3 September 2026   WILSON BROWNE WORKSHOP  Jess Leech, Family Solicitor
WI House   2pm to 4pm     FREE
We welcome back our friends from Wilson Browne Solicitors to provide information on and discuss;
Cohabitation orders.
Pre/post nuptial agreements.
Domestic violence.
Tea and Coffee available (Donation required)
Email admin@ncfwi.org.uk to confirm a place.

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Friday 4 September 2026   WILSON BROWNE WORKSHOP  Vicky Pearce and Jenny Woodruff, Solicitors
WI House  10am to 12 noon      FREE
We welcome back our friends from Wilson Browne Solicitors to provide information on and discuss;
The 'bank of mum and dad’  What to say yes to and the legalities behind it all.
Tea and Coffee available (Donation required)
Email admin@ncfwi.org.uk to confirm a place.

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Saturday 12 September  - County Walk near Cosgrove
9.45 for 10.00 prompt start  Meet at~The Barley Mow
A varied walk in the south of the county, including a canal, a viaduct and a nature reserve. Lunch will be booked at The Barley Mow.
Venue: The Barley Mow, 7 The Stocks, Cosgrove. MK19 7JD

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Sunday 13 September 2026  Boobs and Brass Concert  £10 per ticket
Open to  members and non-members
2.30pm Brooklands Suite, Whittlebury Park. NN12 8QH
Don’t miss this great opportunity to listen to a fantastic group of musicians who play together to raise funds for a number of charities.
Boobs and Brass are a band of female musicians who offer their services to play for free to raise funds for Breast Cancer and on this occasion NCFWI too. The afternoon includes a varied programme of music in a delightful venue. We are certain you will not want to miss this event.
Tickets are being sold on a first come, first served basis.
For tickets contact the organiser as below.
margaretbetts@btinternet.com
01832 720401
07833 663448

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Friday 25 September 2026  COUNTY LUNCH  Members Only.  £32
Parsons Memorial Hall, Leys Lane Great Houghton NN4 0AN
We are delighted that our guest speaker is Northamptonshire farmer, social entrepreneur and community champion Milly Fyfe who has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in His Majesty The King's Birthday Honours List 2026 for services to farmers and family nutrition.
The award recognises Milly's work as Founder of No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC and creator of its flagship initiative, The Countryside Kitchen, a pioneering field-to-fork education project based on her family's farm at Yelvertoft in Northamptonshire.

For more than two decades, Milly has dedicated her career to supporting farming families, improving food education and championing the connection between agriculture, health and wellbeing. Through No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC, she has worked tirelessly to make healthy eating accessible and achievable for busy families while helping people better understand where their food comes from.

The Countryside Kitchen, which officially opened in 2025, has become the physical embodiment of that mission. Situated on a working mixed livestock and arable farm, the project includes a purpose-built classroom, demonstration kitchen and community honesty shop. Together, these facilities provide hands on opportunities for children, families, schools and community groups to learn how food is grown, prepared and enjoyed.
Tickets are now available to book. Please click on the link below secure your place.
https://www.ticketsource.com/northamptonshir e-county-federation-of-wis/county-lunch/e kqqjzj

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Monday 5 October   SPEAKERS SELECTION EVENING   Members only £5 each,  Max 2 members per WI
WI House 7pm to 9pm
Would you like some ideas for speakers for your WI meetings? This popular event gives you the chance to hear new speakers and have your say. This event always gets booked early so get your application in early.   
Application form with your Secretary.

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Saturday 10 October  County  walk near Wicken
9.45 for 10.00 am start.
The walking should be good even if it has been wet. There are no styles. It will be necessary to order lunch in advance – more details in the September newsletter.
Venue: The Old White Lion, 7 Deanshanger Road, Wicken MK19 6BS

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Thursday 8 to Saturday 11 October  WI 4 DAY HOLIDAY IN CHESHIRE
Members sharing £574, non-members £584 Members single occupancy £638, non members £648 £23
Supplement for non National Trust Members.
Deposit £100 required on Application with final payment by 27 July 2026. 
Only 6 WEEKS to go so get your place booked on our fantastic WI holiday. Deadline is 27 July. There is so much to do and see in Cheshire and all from a comfortable coach and an equally comfortable hotel.
Check out the hotel website to see what is on offer
https://all.accor.com/hotel/A0H4/index.en.shtm l?utm_term=mar&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrZTRBhDSA RIsAHidYfe8v4K08c8gmpaZ7YEstVFQlANNL S8FxwhzHQe4Za5nDcrtezouMtkaAn_SEALw_ wcB&utm_campaign=ppc-mer-mar-goo-uk-en dom_rest-mix s&utm_medium=cpc&wiz_campaign=1606048 1741&utm_content=uk-en-GB V192326&utm_source=google
With everything included it is just a case of sit back, enjoy and make new friends.
Application form and full details with your Secretary

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Wednesday 21 October  NCFWI Annual Meeting
Northampton High School for Girls  Hardingstone Northampton NN4 6UU
As we continue to organise the AGM we are pleased to announce that once again Wilson Browne Solicitors are supporting this year’s event. We are really looking forward to welcoming you to the Northampton High School for Girls to listen to our guest speakers who will focus on farming as this is the International Year of Women Farmers.
We are excited that our main speaker will be Fay Johnson. Fay is from a family of traditional farmers who are passionate about birds & conservation. Philip (Phil) Johnson & Daughters are an award-winning, multi generation farming family based just over the border near the Leicestershire and Rutland border. They are prominent wheat growers for the Weetabix Food Company and operate the highly regarded Eyebrook Wild Bird Feeds directly from the farm.
Our second speaker is Louise Penn, an Agronomist.
Manor Farm is a part of the Castle Ashby Estate in Northampton and is run by the Penn family. As 2nd generation tenants, they have been farming wheat, for Weetabix, for as long as they can remember. A qualified agronomist, Louise is responsible for choosing the crops, when they are planted and implementing regenerative techniques to ensure the farm is working towards being as sustainable as possible.
Pride, in Everything We Do…..we are very much a family farm, all helping out at the busy times like harvest.
What the Penn family say sets them apart is the love and pride as a family that goes behind producing everything on our farm. We truly care for our crops and it’s great growing wheat and knowing that our hard work will be feeding thousands of people a healthy and nutritious breakfast.
Transport: If a few of you are thinking of coming along why not consider hiring a community bus or share with your neighbouring WI(s).
Application form with your Secretary

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Saturday 7 November 7.30pm prompt   An Evening of Entertainment with the Northampton Rock Choir 
7.30pm  prompt    The Abbey Centre, Northampton, NN4 0RZ
Members £10   Non members £12   This event is booked via ticket source   Closing date is 5 October
Why don’t you come along, bring your family and friends for an evening of entertainment by the Northampton Rock Choir. There will be singing, with some audience participation, which triggers the release of the brain’s “Happy Chemicals” which is a win win for all of us. Tickets are now available to book. Please click on the link below secure your place.
www.ticketsource.com/northamptonshire-county-federation-of-wis/rock-choir concert/2026-11-07/19:30/t-yzzxvky

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Wednesday 11 November 2026   Standing with Giants
Members £27.00 Non members £30.00  Application via ticketsource - see link below
Additional charge to the grounds for non-National Trust Members. £11.90
(Entry to the house may incur a further cost. )
We are pleased to be visiting Waddesdon Manor on Veterans Day (Remembrance day) to see the amazing 1475 D-Day installation and some of the 110,849 poppies that have been donated this year, the vast majority by WI members.
With new figures of Beach Masters, Dog Handlers, Royal Navy Officers, Tank crew, Merchant Navy personnel and Royal Engineers, together with 40 additional silhouettes representing British Commando Frogmen and personnel serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps being included. This will be a poignant day for us to visit.
Tickets are now available to book. Please click on the link below secure your place.
www.ticketsource.com/northamptonshire-county-federation-of-wis/coach-trip-to-standing-with-giants-at-waddesdon-manor/2026-11-11/11:00/t-ejjdnrl

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Reminder
Events must be paid for at time of booking. Cancellations made up to 3 days before the Ticket Allocation Date will not be charged but cancellations made after that will be invoiced and must be paid for.
Please do not turn up to Events if confirmation of attendance has not been received. If the event is fully booked we will not be able to admit you.