Essendon WI

08/06/2026

Essendon WI - Wednesday 17th June
Essendon Village Hall, School Lane, Essendon AL9 6HD

Talk : "The de Havilland Aircraft Company - Hertfordshire's Contribution to Aviation History".

Commencing at 8.00 pm

Alistair Hodgson is Curator at The Bunker at Hatfield Police Station. In this iconic 1930's Art Deco building there is a small exhibition that tells the story of 60 years of aircraft manufacture at Hatfield starting with the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1930 and ending when the site was vacated by British Aerospace in 1994. The two original main buildings (the main office block and the Staff Restaurant/Canteen) were redeveloped in 2008 to form Hatfield Police Station and the Bunker Museum is located in what is believed to be the original air-raid shelter for senior staff during World War II.

16/05/2026

12/05/2026

Did you know that if you have a bus pass, you can get cheap train tickets in and around Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire?

A concessionary bus pass issued by Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council, Luton Council, and Hertfordshire County Council also allows you to travel by rail for half the normal adult fare on the following rail services:

* Thameslink and Great Northern trains between Sandy, Biggleswade, and Arlesey, and any station as far as Hadley Wood, Crews Hill, and Royston.

* Thameslink trains between Bedford and Elstree & Borehamwood and stations in between, and on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley, and between Watford and St Albans.

Discounts are valid from 10 am on Mondays to Fridays, and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays. At present, discounted tickets may only be purchased from any staffed ticket office or online by purchasing a child ticket.

You must carry your valid concessionary travel pass with you throughout the journey and must show it on demand.

No additional discount is available with any railcard.
If you are purchasing an additional full-price (or railcard discounted) ticket to continue your journey beyond the above-named stations, you must ensure you are travelling on a train that actually stops at those stations.

A discounted rail ticket, purchased with your bus pass, used in conjunction with a full-price ticket for the remainder of the journey is not valid on a fast train that passes through those specific stations without stopping, and the councils are not liable for any penalty fares incurred if these rules are not observed.

06/04/2026

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 15th April at the village hall, School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD, from 7.30pm.

When Adam Smith will be speaking on
Country House Servants.

Adam's talks are illustrated with slides, last up to an hour, look at social history and architecture and are delivered with historical accuracy and a sense of humour.

Come and join us and enjoy tea, biscuits and a chat after.

04/03/2026

Our next meeting is at Essendon Village Hall,

School Lane, Essendon, Hatfield AL9 6HD

On

WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH 2026

Judd Lander​​​Essendon resident

​​​​​Life of a musician, record industry executive
​​​​​and company director

Originally from Liverpool, Judd is an harmonicist and was previously a member of the band “The Hideaways. He has played on hits such as Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon as well as “Church of the Poison Mind” and the
Spice Girls hit “Say you’ll be there”. His musical career is huge and there will be insufficient time this evening to learn about​all of Judd’s incredible CV. Another evening perhaps to hear the rest of his story?

Come and hear his story and stop for tea, biscuits and a chat after.
First visit is free!

22/02/2026

We’re so excited to invite you to our upcoming WI pre-formation meeting!
Come along to find out more about the Women’s Institute (WI). We will be sharing our ethos, our mission, our 2026 programme and what this brand new WI will look and feel like.
This is a relaxed and friendly opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and see if you’d like to be part of something special in our community.
And of course… there will be tea, coffee and cakes ☕🍰
We’d love to see you there!

02/02/2026

Our next meeting is on

WEDNESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2026

At the village hall at 8pm when

Phil McKinder will be giving a talk entitled

​​​Guilty or Not Guilty. A Liverpool Murder in
​​​​​1931

See you there.

26/01/2026

Bennington snowdrops are amazing, a great trip out. Enjoy 😊

08/01/2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

Our first meeting of the year is on Wednesday 21st January and I am hoping to see you all for an 8.00 pm start. We have Zoe Jasko visiting and talking about the life of Joyce Grenfell. The January competition is : A LIMERICK....... Get the grey matter into gear and compose your own!!!

03/11/2025

OUR NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY 19th NOVEMBER.

The charity, Medical Detection Dogs, will be visiting Essendon WI in the Village Hall, School Lane, Essendon, AL9 6HD on Wednesday 19th November. Chris Gruber and his rescue dog, Arrow, will talk to the WI about Medical Alert Assistance dogs that are trained to support people with life-threatening health conditions and Bio Detection dogs that detect early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

WI meetings take place every third Wednesday of the month with doors of the Village Hall opening at 7.30 for 8.00 pm start.

For more information contact WI Secretary, Linda McCash, 07971 909540.

Look forward to seeing you there.