RADLEY WOMENS INSTITUTE

When you think of the Women’s Institute you might picture silver haired pensioners sipping tea and chatting about their ailments! However, the WI has changed and in Radley WI we have nearly 30 members of all ages from various walks of life. We come together to meet like minded people, to build the community and to learn new skills over a cup of tea or an occasional glass of wine!

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We are now at the end of our Centenary Year and it has been a little less manic. We have, however, had a busy year with lots of catering for different organisations in the village, and I think we all felt that we had made enough cakes !

We have welcomed three new members this year, Sheila Smith, Bernie Watson and Pam Burchfield. June as a dual member has changed to Radley as her main WI. Welcome to you all and I hope you enjoy your time with Radley WI.

My thanks, as always , go to the Committee for all their hard work..

PAT, our secretary who as you know has been unwell for a big part of this year. Until her diagnosis she continued to carry out all of the correspondence and keeping our WI running smoothly, and I thank you for that, and also being happy to help me out with things I wasn’t too sure about. Unfortunately she has decided to stand down as Secretary, this time, and I thank you Pat for all your hard work over the many years that you have been our Secretary, and it is good to have you back and feeling well again..

MARIA Our treasurer has again done an excellent job in keeping our accounts in order Paying all the bills, Collecting our subs, keeping the books up to date, and everything else financial. Maria is also standing down, as Treasurer, due to relocating to Devon. You will be missed Maria, thank you for all you have done, and I hope you enjoy your new life.. …

CAROL…our Vice President…you have again been our fund raiser with another car boot sale ,and doing whatever you can to build our funds. Organising our raffle every month..You do lots more Carol, thank you for all your hard work….

SUE…No Fashion Show this year….but you have worked hard putting together a new programme for the year which I am sure will be as interesting as usual , you do really well, it is not a straight forward or easy task. Also the WI articles for the Radley News you make very interesting and often humorous. You have worked on the poppy displays for the Village Church for a few years now.. Thank you for all you have done. I must also at this stage, thank Jenny for the work she has put into providing the poppy display at the Village Shop. Thank you Jenny. It is appreciated.

Val has decided to step down from the Committee this time, after not being too well this year. Thank you Val for being on the Committee and for your help over the years you have been with us.

Trine, because of all her other WI commitments, has decided not to continue her membership with Radley WI and I thank you for all the help you have given to RadleyWI during your time with us and especially to me. I am sorry to loose you Trine, but do visit anytime are free..

Thank you again to Judith for being the custodian of our tea and coffee and biscuits, You never let us down…thank you..

I must thank Martin for all the “ techy’’ work he does for us..the website, newsletter,Facebook and providing projectors (and himself) for Speakers when needed. We are going to miss you Martin ..thank you for all you have done for Radley WI and for me, I hope you can still take phone calls down in Devon ! Thanks Martin.

Thank you to everyone for all your support and help..making teas, washing up, making cakes and helping with the catering we have been involved with…. everything else you do to help…

As you know, I am stepping down now after 10 years as President of Radley WI. It has been a privilege to have had so much support and friendship over the years. We had 15 members when I became President and we have now built it up to 30 members. We have sadly lost a few Ladies over those years and they are remembered for their work and dedication to Radley WI. During my time as President we had COVID and the lockdowns! Organising our meetings on Zoom, which we actually managed very well. Meeting in the playing field with our lunches and chairs, sitting 3 feet apart, just to be able to meet each other and thinking it was all very normal. My highlight has to be our amazing Centenary Celebration, I will always remember it as being a part of my time as President.

Thank you to you all for making Radley the friendly WI it has become, and I hope it continues in this way.

Best wishes to your new President and the new Committee..

That ends my last Presidents Report…!

Gill Munton – 5th March 2026