Stokes Bay WI

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Stokes Bay WI

President’s Welcome
Welcome to Stokes Bay WI, founded October 2014. We hope to inspire (occasionally) and be inspired (frequently)!

We meet on the third Tuesday of every month, 10.00 – 12.00, at St Mary’s Parish Centre in Alverstoke. Although our membership is closed, please contact us by email if you would like to be added to the waiting list. We have a variety of speakers and activities planned for our Tuesday sessions, the main details of which are posted on our website. In addition, pending the easing of restrictions (2022), there will be more events, diversions and outings. We happily embrace the ethos of the WI Federation and its dual interpretation of ‘inspiring women’. We return our votes on the shortlist of Resolutions each January and look forward to learning which one gains support at national level.

07/10/2026

Coffee at a garden centre – Alver Valley - 6th October 2026
There was a pleasant surprise at our regular coffee morning this month. There were twenty-four members at Alver Valley – quite a record - taking up a lot of room and it was even waving distance to those at the other end of our table!
Some were on a pre-festive diet (already!) and others had delicious looking breakfasts. It really didn’t matter – it was about the chatter from people who wanted to be together and were happy to be there!
There was quite a discussion about the benefits of Stokes Bay WI having members with such a wide range of ages - and we do!
Well done to Joyce for organising us all – we appreciate it.

28/09/2026

Michaelmas Fayre 26th September 2026
The early bird catches the marmalade!
Well done everyone for all your hard work, over many months, preparing for the annual Michaelmas Fayre in Alverstoke.
It took many of us, behind the scenes, to make the stall successful and our talented cooks produced a wonderful array of jams, jellies, marmalade and chutneys.
We noticed it’s often the first stop for other stallholders who would stop by to bag their favourites on their way in! In addition, we offered tea loaf slab cakes, gingerbread slices and delicious cheese scones. Plants too were on offer, in fact something for everyone!
It was an amazing day, and we were so lucky with the weather, bringing out shoppers who visited our stall – and what a variety we had on sale! It all helps the charities YOU chose for 2026/2027 which are the Fareham based ‘Rainbow Centre’ and ‘Let us Play Scheme’. We had fun and know the charities are grateful for our support.
Joyce can, at last, have her dining table back - our produce was stored there for a long time - thank you Joyce!
It’s a BIG thank you to everyone who helped in any way. It was great teamwork and we are proud of all who contributed to such a successful (if tiring!) day.

26/09/2026

Lunch Club at Lizz Turkish Restaurant
September 2026
Darcey and Thelma organised a wonderful lunch enjoyed by members at this lovely restaurant. We all appreciated the open kitchen, seeing the chefs at work, and the customer care which is always good.
Quite a number enjoyed moussaka although there was a slight mix-up by the staff in knowing meat from vegetarian versions!
I don’t think anyone could have gone home hungry. With a starter, main course and (for some) a dessert along with refreshments it was a big meal by anyone’s imagination.
Conversation flowed as always and, with a change in the day of the week, there were some new faces too!
Many thanks to Darcey and Thelma for their organisation.
PR Pam

22/09/2026

15th September 2026
Peter Ashburn gave us a fascinating talk about ‘Orchids: Wild and Beautiful’.
He explained that these amazing flowers were first discovered by the likes of botanists such as Joseph Banks in the 1770s, and by the 19th century plant hunters were sent out to search for new species. These chaps tended to be quite ruthless adventurers who often came to a sticky end! Though they did provide about 7000 samples.
There are more than 30,000 species of orchid worldwide, 55 in the UK. They are often quite difficult to identify but, although not all orchids have a bonnet, they all have a labellum (lip). They hybridise easily and Peter showed us some slides of the most beautiful and intriguing flowers, some of which he described as ‘criminally deceitful’ in the way they attracted insects for pollination purposes.
Peter highlighted where we could find orchids locally; he also explained the best way to grow them, and how to maintain shop-bought orchids.
After the talk ended Peter kindly diagnosed the issues with problem plants brought in by members.

21/09/2026

A Softer Way To Talk About Dying
Darcey Cook
15th September 2026
After our regular WI meeting this month, 25 members attended Darcey’s talk about Soul Midwifery, ‘A Softer Way to Talk About Dying’.
Normally a member would report back on their SBWI Bursary during a meeting, but we hosted this outside of our usual meeting due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Darcey explained the theory behind the concept of Soul Midwifery which embraced practices going back centuries with roots in Eastern traditions. She told us there were thought to be four stages of dying related to the elements of Earth, Water, Fire and Air, and how we could identify where a person was in the process of dying.
Darcey told us that Soul Midwives may ease the passage of a person and their family through the process: how to listen to, to watch, to touch and soothe the passing person. The talk was sensitively handled and opened a door to discussion of our own experiences.
If any SBWI member would like a copy of the slides just let our Secretary know and she will pass them on. Our grateful thanks to Darcey for her presentation, and the sandwich lunch which provided the opportunity to talk about things in a relaxed way.

11/09/2026

In summer last year Stokes Bay WI entered a prize draw, advertised in WI Hampshire News, to win a private group tour for 20 people of some of the fascinating medieval vaults hidden under the streets of Southampton. We didn’t win! However, we booked a tour anyway and had a most enlightening afternoon learning about this historic city from its first establishment as a Roman port to its modern iteration as the largest cruise port in Europe.
Our knowledgeable guide Caroline escorted us into several medieval stone vaults, explaining about the goods that were stored there, largely w**e and wool, underneath timber houses.
Around 60 vaults have been identified so far, about 48 have been accessed, often hidden behind very ordinary-looking doors by a main road, one was tucked behind community wheelie bins in a residential estate!
Our group really enjoyed the experience and it whetted our collective appetites to arrange further visits to hidden Hampshire.
Of course, being Stokes Bay WI, we finished up with a cream tea at a nearby hostelry at West Quay.
Highly recommend (tour and tea)!
Sally R

06/09/2026

T-Walkers – September 2026
We enjoyed a five-mile circular walk around the Droxford area of the Meon Valley.
Our route took us past a quirky bird sanctuary with various cages and a row of numbered bird boxes, aptly named 'Birdie Stweet'.
After so many weeks without rain the landscape was very dry and parched in places, though we were pleasantly surprised to find the river flowing freely beneath us when crossing bridges.
We enjoyed a picnic sitting on the ground at the side of a field - and then much laughter as we struggled to our feet.
Fine weather and lovely scenery, good exercise and good company, a most enjoyable day out.
Liz K

02/09/2026

Coffee at a Garden Centre
Garsons Titchfield
1st September 2026
I thought, when I started to write this, that it would probably be the same as every other garden centre coffee morning report. Well, there is a common factor and it is LAUGHTER. You can truly tell that Stokes Bay WI members are ‘in the house’ with the noise level. Happy chatter prevails with people who are pleased to be together once more.
Some struggled (just before a cruise – no names!), having decided not to eat anything naughty, then succumbing to a huge fresh scone with jam and clotted cream. Others tried the salted caramel cheesecake (10 out of 10 apparently) and toasted teacakes were evident too.
There was a beautiful Robin hopping around (some hated it, most loved it) who enjoyed any crumbs he could find.
Talk on one table centred around gadgets on the market to make life easier. Top of the list was the one to balance a walking stick on a table so no-one tripped over it! You doubtless have your own favourites.
Why do we like these monthly coffee mornings? It is such a lovely way to meet members individually with quality relaxed time to get to know each other even better.
Thanks Joyce for organising us once more!

29/08/2026

Ahoy me hearties!
August 2026
We went down to the sea and saw ships today with the Stokes Bay WI Lunch Club as we met in Premier Marina in Gosport, on the edge of the water, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour.
Members were treated to the sight, from the Boat House Café, of two aircraft carriers, a number of ferries and some very smart yachts.
The main purpose though was to have a delicious lunch, with a wide variety of food choices, and some excellent conversations.
Some had a tasty warm Mediterranean Tart, others enjoyed scampi and chips, while those less hungry opted for delicious baguettes.
Conversation as always ‘changed the world’ – if only we could give our common sense solutions to the politicians! Many discussions revolved around proud grandparents looking after the children during the holidays – and now feeling exhausted!
Our monthly lunches are always popular and it’s thanks to Darcey and Thelma we are able to enjoy them.
PR Pam

27/08/2026

Wednesday Wanderers
26th August 2026
You may not have heard of the Stokes Bay WI “Wednesday Wanderers”? We enjoy monthly gentle walks in this beautiful area.
There is the most stunning walk along the so-called Golden Mile of Stokes Bay beach, looking towards the Isle of Wight, and today was just the right air temperature too.
There were five of us wandering alongside the sea. We set off from the Parish Centre (having viewed our beautiful SBWI brick of course!) stopping off at Pebbles café. This was mainly for a drink to quench our dry mouths from chatting so much! Brenda, a Gosport girl now in her 90’s, told us about being evacuated by train to Colden Common at the start of WWII. She remembered her Mum waving goodbye from the crossing on Military Road. We are always spellbound by her memories of a town long forgotten.
Obviously, there is always one who has to try out the delicious looking cakes, and they didn’t disappoint.
Afterwards, we continued along the promenade and then headed back to our starting point.
Thank you ladies for an enjoyable wander!
President Tracey

Address

St Mary's Parish Centre, Green Road
Gosport
PO12

Website

http://www.stokesbaywi.co.uk/

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