Womens Institute

Smisby Women's Institute

Smisby WI was founded in 1934 and we celebrated our 80th anniversary in 2015. A short history is available via the history page. The national WI organisation celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2015. Smisby is a membef of the Derbyshire Federation, and the DFWI celebrates its centenary in 2018, see below for more information.

Smisby WI are a very friendly institute and meet on the third Thursday in the month in various locations.

Currently membership has risen to 60, so at the moment new membership is restricted to Smisby residents. We have a varied programme with a speaker at most meetings.

Smisby WI meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month, 7.00 pm for 7.15 pm prompt start. The 2019 and 2020 programme is now available on the programme page and has details of some new events.reports about past activities can be found on the Past events page

Note: Weekly Keep Fit with Hannah Starts on 22 October 2pm to 3pm £5

All meetings normally in Smisby Village Hall, Main Street LE65 2TY at 7pm for a 7.15pm start. In addition, monthly craft sessions and walks aare organised on the first and second Thursday of each month respectively and also weekly canasta/card games on a Wednesday afternoon.

Refreshments are £1 per meeting

Guests (carers exempt) maximum of 3 meetings per year

A waiting list is now in operation for new members who live outside of Smisby parish.

Secretary; Mrs Suzanne Jones 01530 415346

We are part of the Derbyshire Federation

DFWI Headquarters

“Derbyshire House”, Sherwin Street,

Derby, DE22 1GP

Telephone 01332 342596

New Dates for the Calendar

Race Night 7pm Saturday 2 November

Another Night at the Races with Pete, an open meeting

Don't Forget Walking netball at the Green Bank Leisure centre Swadlincote

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Buxton Visit 23rd to 24th Sept

The overnight trip to Buxton, staying at the Old Hall Hotel, was a great success. The rooms and hotel meals were excellent. The weather allowed the walk from Hollinsclough to Chrome Hill

as planned. It was interesting that October's Derbyshire Life had an article about this area, which provided some additional information and history. The walk was followed by lunch at the High Peak Bookstore Café before travelling the few miles into Buxton to our comfortable hotel. Depite the weather on the foll0wing day we managed some Buxton sight seeing and some went to visit the nearby natiional trust property , Lyme Hall. Click on pictures to enlarge.

Children's Friday craft mornings

Suzanne organised two Craft mornings 5 to 12 year old children and their carers, on 2 August and 23 August. Here is her report and some photos.

In June, Barbara and I attended the National Federation of Woman's Institute AGM in Bournemouth. On one of the stalls there were leaflets advertising the Craft Council of England, they were promoting various crafts like knitting, crochet and sewing to be taught to children, as these are very rarely taught in schools. After reading the literature and some provided by the NFWI it gave me an idea. Here at Smisby we have a very active craft group and the committee thought it would be a wonderful opportunity do some very basic crafts with members grandchildren.

After getting the go ahead from the committee, four members were roped in to help, Hazel who runs a craft for mental health people, Ann who has been on the Leicestershire craft committee, and Pat who just loves cooking. We got together and for the first morning butterfly cakes were made, cards with trains, cats or dogs or aCinderella coach, and in the "mucky corner" they had to glue pieces of material to a flower pot and then planta sempervivum or house leek in it.

Our second session was even more challenging, dinosaurs, cats, dogs gingerbread men, and stars cut out of pastry, whilst the cookies were being cooked the children then went on to make rocky road cakes, high light of the morning was licking the remaining chocolate out of the bowl. At the sewing table the girls and boys made a rabbit from a glove, and on Hazel's table Hedgehogs were constructed out of books and decorated, the tree of friend ship was the next project where they could let their imagination run away with them.

At the end of both sessions there was a tray of mixed fruit put out which was soon eaten, photographs were taken and all the children took home something to remember the morning. Two superb morning were had by nine children on both mornings, we insisted that the grandparents had to stay with the children to help them with the projects,

The feed back I received from the grandparents was that they enjoyed it just as much as the children, and when are we going to have some more craft mornings for grandchildren.

Charity Strawberry Tea July 2019

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Saturday the 6th of July was the day chosen for our afternoon tea in aid of "Breast Cancer Care Charity".

At 6am it was a beautiful morning with not a cloud in the sky, but by 11 o'clock the rain started as forecast and didn't stop for two hours. Undeterred we were still going to use Barbara's beautiful garden so Jane and Barbara carried on and put out the bunting and bra's ready for the balloon's.

By 2.p.m. the rain had stopped and people started to arrive. Although the weather was a little over cast strawberries and cream could be served on the patio with assorted cakes.

Many local businesses had donated superb raffle prizes. The raffle together with the sales table and members' donations we raised a total of £520 for the charity.

Thanks to all members and friends for the support we had before and on the day a fantastic sum to raise for a very worthy cause. The picture is of Jean Raynor our President admiring one of Barbara's garden decorations.

Annual Monthly Competition Trophy 2019

Jean our President is seen presenting Marie with the trophy won for gaining the most points in the monthly competition. The photograph also shows some of the sleeping bags, food, and blankets that were donated by our members to the Derby Soup Run Charity. Jackie Newbery Chair of the charity was overwhelmed by the generosity of our members.

Cynthia's Retirement from the WI Committee

Forty years ago, after she came to live in the village, Cynthia Massey joined Smisby WI. Previously she had been a member of Woodville WI and taken on the roles of President and Treasurer. When she attended her first Smisby WI AGM, by the time she left that evening she was their new President.

Ever since then Cynthia has been on the committee and acted as Treasurer and also taken on the role of President several times.

1985 was the Golden Anniversary, past presidents were invited to the celebration and a visit to Stardust was arranged. The first photograph shows Cynthia as President and Secretary Marion Baily cutting the anniversary cake with former President Madge Hewitt on the left. The second photograph shows members at Stardust. (click on photo to enlarge)

Cynthia also hosted the Strawberry Tea Garden Party at her home for Smisby WI’s Diamond, see the third photograph. The third photograph shows Cynthia with some of the guests around Sheila Heaps Anniversary cake.

At our AGM in May 2019, two of our newer members were voted on to the committee. Cynthia has said over the past few years she would like to retire and so this was her opportunity. We could not let this occasion pass without giving her a small reminder of our appreciation of her years of commitment as a committee member and also for the use of her house and garden for committee meetings, Christmas and garden parties. Jean our current President presented Cynthia with a ceramic planter containing golden patio roses and violas (see fourth photo above).

Thank you Cynthia for all your hard work and commitment to Smisby WI, we will miss you at our committee meetings. Time now to enjoy being a member without the responsibitlies of office!

Smisby WI visit to Elford Community Gardens June 2013

Smisby WI Pages

Smisby Women's Institute