COMMUNITY CLOSE UP Focussing on….Otford Oast WI
Otford is home to three WIs: the Afternoon WI, the Evening WI, and the Oast WI. The latter is the most recent addition to the village, having been set up in 1995 to cater for mothers with pre-school children. The provision of a crèche is an important distinguishing feature in this respect. Members of this friendly club are fondly referred to as ‘the youngsters’ by the other branches, though I understand that you only need to be young at heart, rather than young in years, to be warmly encouraged to join.
The Oast WI meet in the Otford Village Memorial Hall, usually on the third Thursday of
the month, from 9.30 – 11.30 am. Meetings include a speaker as well as coffee, tea and homemade cakes, and the entry charge is just £1 for members and £3.50 (after an initial free visit) for non-members. Annual membership of the WI is priced at £30 for which members receive a monthly national magazine (WI Life). Other benefits include discounts on the excellent courses run at the WI’s Denman College and access to certain ‘members only’ areas of the WI website.
In the past a wide range of speakers have visited the Oast WI including representatives
from the National Trust, the Samaritans and Demelza House. More recently, members have enjoyed a Pampered Chef cookery demonstration as well as tuition on how to plant up winter baskets and on make-up and colour analysis. Meetings this spring will include a nearly new sale of evening wear and accessories, with a 60:40 split of the proceeds in aid of club funds. In March an ex-policeman will be talking about DNA fingerprinting and in April the topic will be ‘Gardening for Wildlife’.
In addition to the regular meetings, there are also some very lively sub-groups such as
the book club, the walking group, the knitting and sewing circle, and the gardening group. Furthermore, the Oast WI has a social secretary who organises dinners and arranges other activities, including a recent 10-pin bowling evening. The club also runs a number of fund raising events throughout the year such as quiz nights, raffles, and a stall at the village fete.
So, if you have recently moved to the village, or if you simply feel you would like to
enliven your days, broaden your horizons, and get to know some friendly new people, do get in touch with the Club President, Sue Isted, who will ensure you are warmly welcomed into this thriving organization.
For further information about the WI see
http://www.thewi.org.uk/index.aspx?id=1 For more information about the Oast WI contact Sue Isted –
sue.isted@
btinternet.com
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