Denman College
Denman at home
Check website www.denman.org.uk
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June 2022 update from our own Denman Rep, Christine Farmer
This is all we can offer at present I’m afraid, but there are a lot of different courses to interest everyone, just at the press of a button! Got a computer - but not yet tried the courses out? It costs £5 for a session, usually lasting for an hour and it is very easy. If you are not sure how to go about it, ask one of your WI friends to help - you will need a Debit/Credit card though. If you happen to have missed part 1 or 2 or whatever, of a particular subject - these may be available for catch up on ‘Denman on Demand’ - still only £5 a session and you can watch whenever it suits you within a seven-day time frame from when you book. All this in the comfort of your own home with refreshments readily available whenever you want them! Give it a try this month. https://www.denman.org.uk/at-home/
Denman College – Northampton Room Furniture and Effects
You may remember that when Denman closed down all Federations who had a named bedroom were given the opportunity to collect the contents of that room. During the pandemic we collected everything available in the room and it has been residing in our Chairman's attic ever since.
We would like to offer the members of Northamptonshire County Federation the chance to take any of these things off our hands for a small contribution to Federation funds. They can be collected from Great Doddington by prior arrangement,
The photos and a brief description of the items are with your Secretary this month and also on the NCFWI Facebook page.
All offers considered.
Annie Rodwell (Great Doddington Evening WI)
March 2022 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
Don’t forget to keep the Denman name alive by tuning in to the Denman at Home or Denman on Demand programmes - excellent value at £5 and many different subjects to choose from. Please look on their website https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/
January 2022 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
No substantiated news - good or bad I’m afraid!
However the success story is Denman at Home. During the year over 90,000 people took advantage of these on-line courses, which are set to continue. There isn’t quite the same demand as there was at the beginning of lockdown, so the number of courses on offer is slightly less, but the high standard is maintained. Should you miss a particular course there is a ‘catch- up facility. Keep your eye on the Denman website https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/ as there will be a short break over the Christmas period, restarting in January 2022.
A Great Billing WI member made this fabric door wreath with the very talented Claire Salmon. She reckoned £5.00 well spent on the Denman Zoom workshop.
December 2021 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
Nothing much to say – the Estate is on the market and rumours are flying around!
Denman at Home continues to offer excellent on-line courses at a bargain price of £5. If you like History – one of the Tutors -Dr Simon Gregor is living in USA and is doing a fascinating series of talks on the American Presidents – that should keep him going! Something for everyone – cardmaking, patchwork, cookery preserves, ukulele, yoga and MUCH more.
Check out Denman’s website, https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/ or alternatively look on the Unofficial WI Facebook page as I post the daily programme.
November 2021 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
NFWI have now received authority from the Charity Commission to sell the Denman estate - it is not yet on the market (nor sold) - we have been assured we will be kept up-to-date with any developments.
Any proceeds, after loans and any additional costs have been repaid, will return to the Denman Trust and be restricted towards the Trusts educational charitable object.
We have been promised a member consultation to help identify what you, as members, want the Denman Trust to deliver and how the spirit and legacy of Denman can be kept going for the future.
So, when invited please do take part in this on-line survey.
Denman At Home is offering a wide variety of courses in November, from Travel talks on Sicily, Instanbul or Bath (which is on the itinerary of our Cardiff holiday!) to Yoga and Tai Chi or Christmas crafts and cookery.
Find out more at https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/
October 2021 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
Do keep supporting Denman at Home, there are plenty of good courses to suit everyone on Denman and at £5 a session are very good value. Denman have recently announced they are to offer Denman on Demand, so if you miss a session you can always catch up. Visit Denman’s website to find more information. https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/
In a recent letter from the Charity Commission (full of legal jargon!) is seems that the way is now clear for Denman to go onto the market.
Hugo Brunner, the son of Sir Felix and Lady Brunner, who originally gave items to help furnish Denman (and also money to help build the Brunner bedroom accommodation) has very generously given some of this furniture to Oxfordshire Federation for them to auction for their Federation funds. If you are interested look out for the leaflet.
On the weekend of 13 September some of the original volunteers for the Denman Faberdashery shop helped to organise a sale in Marcham’s new community centre to raise funds for two of their village projects. Two of the catering staff from Denman who live in the village - Paula and Claire - had stored the items in their garage for over 12 months. On Friday afternoon a good number of the villagers helped to transport it to the hall and by Friday night it was all ready for the 10 a.m. Saturday morning opening. We had a good sale but unfortunately the advertising had been a bit sparse and so not the usual crowds. However a good amount was made and divided between the community centre and Marcham scouts (5 girls in the pack)! Even though we sold a lot there was still a lot left but at 3pm, Botley WI, which is just a few miles from the college, turned up with a big van and three burly men and their wives and took the lot! They own their own WI hall and want an extension so are going to have some sales to raise some money. It was a very sociable weekend, lovely to see old friends, but more importantly nothing went into the skip!
To be continued............
September 2021 update from our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
Still no news, except some of you MAY have seen the photographs on the Unofficial page which showed the sorry state of the grounds and how quickly nature is taking over.
August 2021 update From our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
Just to say the ‘Save Denman’ group are still working away, behind the scenes, hoping to reverse the decision to sell Denman, but at this moment, nothing to report – we must ‘keep the faith’.
Do visit https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/ to view courses on offer in August, including:
* Poetry of the First World War
* Exploring Oxford College Gardens
* Travel Talk on the Swahili Coast
July 2021 update From our own Denman Rep - Christine Farmer
I am sure things are happening behind-the-scenes but we are not privy to any of these discussions. If you were at the annual general meeting, which was from a virtual platform last Tuesday, you will have noted that hardly any mention was made of Denman. Reprinted below is the little bit we were given on the finances of Denman and a bit of a blurb from their promotional page from the Denman ‘room’ at the meeting.
‘DENMAN COMES TO YOU…
Learning and development have been at the heart of the WI since its very beginning. In May 2020, we opened our virtual doors to Denman at Home, our latest offering in a long history of delivering added value to WI Membership and the community at large. Just one year since the launch of Denman at Home, we’ve had over 70,000 different people join794 online courses and events. Could you be the next to discover that hidden talent you never knew you had? There’s something for every ability and interest – and all at the click of a button.’
And on the finances –
TOTAL INCOME £1.324m
TOTAL EXPENDITURE £2.489m
DEFICIT £1.165m
GAINS ON INVESTMENTS £16k
NET DEFICIT £1.149m
Go to https://www.denman.org.uk/whats-on/ to view courses on offer in July, including:
* The History of English Gardens
* The Spitfire Women of World War II
* Getting to know Beethoven’s 5th Symphony
In the future
Something to look forward to – when WI House does reopen,Christine has some Denman goods, ready priced - and they will be on sale!
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Maddy Harrison of Great Billing WI enjoyed a Zoom embroidery meeting with Claire Salmon. Very clear
instructions and list of requirements before meeting started.