WI Finchley

15/05/2026

This month Finchley WI celebrated its 17th birthday 🥳
We also held our AGM which provided an opportunity to reflect on another successful year for our institute. We reviewed the annual reports, finances, and achievements and the committee were thanked for their hard work and commitment throughout the year.
Committee members were elected along with our chosen charities for the coming months.
At the conclusion of business we enjoyed a Cha Cha Cha session with James from Saracens. We learned the basic steps in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with plenty of laughter and enthusiasm.
For more information on Finchley WI please see our website -

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26/04/2026

There could not have been a more beautiful spring morning to set out on our April walk. We started at the Hertfordshire village of Lemsford and our 5 mile walk took in some beautiful countryside in the Brocket Hall Estate, through the Lea Valley and along the Ayot Greenway. The bluebells carpeted the woodland and other flowers were blooming in abundance. The morning was rounded off by lunch at The Sun Inn. Thank you to Karen for all the planning.

26/04/2026

We have just read Tell Me How This Ends a debut novel by Jo Leevers about Henrietta who records the life stories of terminally ill patients and her bond with Annie who has a sad mysterious past.
As Annie nears the end of her life, she begins to revisit the past, to uncover what really happened to her sister years earlier. Moving between timelines, the story reveals how hidden truths, guilt, and silence have shaped both women’s lives, building toward a clearer understanding of the past and its lasting impact.
We all enjoyed this book and the idea of recording memories for a life story book before they are lost forever.
Our next book is We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker.
Many thanks to our wonderful host Mary.
For more information about Finchley WI please see our website.
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16/04/2026

09/04/2026

Our speaker this month was award winning textile artist Holly Searle AKA The Subverted Stitcher. Holly explained how she uses her needle and thread to soapbox social issues, following in the tradition of women using their needle to get their voices heard.
In 2020 she began her Subverted Tea Towel Series as a platform to place a spotlight on issues which are close to her heart.
We were so inspired by Holly we decide to have a go at designing a tea towel (in 20 minutes) to showcase a WI resolution.

For more information on Holly and Finchley WI please go to - www.thesubversivestitcher.com
www.wifinchley.wixsite.com

24/03/2026

Subversive Stitcher and Surly Queen, Holly Searle will join us for our 8th April meeting. Holly is an award winning textile artist who uses her needle to soapbox social issues. In 2020 she began her Subverted Tea Towel series following in the tradition of women who have used their needle to get their voice heard.
https://www.thesubversivestitcher.com/

23/03/2026

A great day yesterday at our Spring Fair. Thank you to the crafters and small businesses that took a stall, the hard working staff our brave WI volunteers on the Human Fruit Machine and the whole community who came to support us. Our enormous gratitude to who does all the hard work organising this wonderful community event.

20/03/2026

Our monthly Craft Group getting ready for Easter.

12/03/2026

Thanks to our fundraising throughout the year, we have been able to support our two chosen charities this year with a generous cheque each. Last night we were delighted to present our donation to Lara Philippart of the Royal Free Charity (https://royalfreecharity.org).

Through a combination of in-house services and strategic grant making, they design, deliver and support �a suite of programmes to support:
• NHS staff wellbeing, reward and recognition
• patient experience
• research

Shoulder-to-shoulder with their hospitals, they design the right response at the right time to support their incredible NHS frontline workers and their local communities.

12/03/2026

How did a girl from the East End of London come to be writing The Turkish Detective series? Barbara Nadel the author behind the TV series explained her long relationship with Turkey and the surprising similarities between Istanbul and her home town. Inspector Ikman, the detective at heart of her novels, was never intended to be more than a minor character but 27 books later she's happy she kept him in. Barbara shared the influence her own Romany roots, working class East End upbringing and work in psychiatric health has had and is reflected in the the diverse and colourful characters that inhabit her Hakim and Arnold detective series situated around Forest Gate E8. If you want a good read, look no further.

09/03/2026

A celebration of community, creativity and craft at Finchley WI Spring Fair. With over 40 local, small businesses under one roof.