Past Events

Whether you belong to an established WI and are interested to know more. Or you are new to the WI and would like to find out what the WI has to offer you. Here is your opportunity to be part of a completely new kind of WI.  The WI has been successful for 105 years and although our values stay the same we are always looking forward to the next new and exciting way to bring our WI to more women. The role of the WI is to inform and educate but importantly to have FUN We would love you…

   Join Simon for a virtual tour of London at night told through photographs and poetry.  Simon is a graduate of Cambridge University and is a professional photographer and tour guide. Simon is one of the regular Denman at Home speakers and we are delighted that he is joining us as part of our Arts and Leisure programme.Email tickets@essex.wi.org.uk or phone 01245 382233 to book your place!  Please quote event reference LNP.   

Back by popular demand!This is a return of Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Royal School of Needlework Collection Curator and Archivist.. It will include a look at some of the interesting, unusual, beautiful and fascinating items in the RSN Collection of textiles and archive of designs and images from the 17th to the 21st Century.An event not to be missed so please book early to avoid disappointment.Email tickets@essexwi.org.uk or phone 01245 382233 and quote event reference RSN2

RHS Garden, Hyde Hall is presently one of four RHS gardens. Hyde Hall is undergoing major garden development including a new Winter Garden, large scale Perennial Meadow and a new Global Growth Vegetable Garden.With The Delights and Possibilities of RHS Hyde Hall, Robert Brett, the new Curator takes us on a journey detailing the changes that have, and are being made to this beautiful garden. The talk centres itself 2 years into this Strategic Investment, and explores these new developments…

Pat will be  demonstrating how to make a useful sturdy tote bag. The bag can have sides made up using a patchwork technique or a single piece of fabric.  The demonstration will show you how to construct the bag itself and also how to use one of the techniques to make up the sides.If you would also like a full colour instruction leaflet, with photographs of each stage of the process, Pat is offering this as a PDF download for the special…

By popular demand, and on Shakespeare’s birthday, the wonderful Simon Bridge is coming back to Essex WI with his fabulous take on Shakespeare. This time you can see him from the comfort of your own home. Simon will explore just what life was like for William Shakespeare, his actors and his audience and will try to answer the question “Why did Shakespeare write like that?” Simon will also relate some of his own experience of performing the Bard’s works –…

If, like me you still have awful memories of being taught to write at school and never quite being happy with your handwriting, FEWI Presents once again comes to your rescue with their latest in their Series of Zoom Talks and Workshops.   We bring you an opportunity to hear the renowned Jane Lappage talk about Modern Calligraphy and have a chance to try it our before her workshop that Essex Federation will be running later in the year.  …

If you are sitting enjoying a mug of tea or coffee as you read this, chances are it could be in an Essex WI Centenary Mug! The Arts & Leisure Committee are delighted that the designer of the mugs, Alison Gardiner, will be joining us by Zoom to talk about her life as an Illustrator and designer and how her career has developed after studying printed textiles to the giftware business she has today. Over the years Alison has designed…

If you like to ‘Shake It All About’ in the kitchen and dance like no one’s watching, then Arts & Leisure have the perfect event for you!   Liz Scholey is a highly qualified dance teacher and teaches line dance, salsa, Zumba, Bollywood and DDMIX (Darcey Bussell’s dance fitness programme). She brings her witty, glamorous style to all her classes and events.   Dancing is a great way to keep fit and have fun, and in this event, Liz will…

Aligning with May’s NFWI initiative Me, Myself and WI; FEWI presents the award-winning authors of Knit and Nibble and founders of the art of Knititation -James McIntosh and Dr Thomas A. Ernst FRCP.   James grew up on a farm in Portadown; by 35 a presenter on China Food TV and the Global Ambassador for AGA cookers (he was the man who put the AGA in Denman College!). Suddenly he was struck with severe depression. Unable to leave his flat,…

When Rachel was on maternity leave she picked up her love of crafting again and after asking her sister Siobhan to design her something to create she felt that these designs were too beautiful not to share and The Modern Crafter,their business selling DIY craft kits based on traditional crafts, punch needle and embroidery was born. Both are passionate about the wellness that comes from crafting and in this session Rachel will demonstrate punch needling using one of their kits,…

Clothes, what would we do without them? On the other hand, we tend to take them for granted, easily available, cheap and disposable. This talk from Towse Harrison of Sun Jester re-introduces the ‘invisible history’ of textiles from thread and weaving, to decorationand the clothes and fastenings of our ancestors in the near and far past.  Along the way we will get insight into the invisible makers and why thread and cloth has been so important to world history. To…

Join us online for our 2021 County Annual Meeting. A virtual hybrid meeting. On Friday 25th June 2021. Time 10.30 - 12.30 With special guests Danny Crates (TV presenter, Paralympic icon and former world record holder) and Nick Newland (Policy and Communications Manager for Associated Country Women of the World). One delegate per WI. Observer places free. To book your place, please go to ticketcourse.co.uk/fewi