Catering to your music tastes…

 We have listened to two of these musicians at our WI meetings!

Are you busy on Saturday? Indulge yourself and enjoy some live music!

A message from the Life on the Edge team

 Today, our conservation team found three black oil beetles in your WI meadow at Coleton Fishacre. See photos. This is a great sign that the meadow has taken well and is already providing habitat or forage for at least one of our special species. Thank you.

Brixham WI on tour again!

 A lovely walk, followed by a drink at Fishcombe Cove cafe this morning. A good blow of fresh air and some lovely conversation. Thank you ladies for your company. You can see how windswept and interesting we are!

Thank you to Tina for the photo, and for letting us know that today is National Walk in the Park day!

This month’s diary dates:

 Our new WI year begins on Wednesday this week! Brixham WI extends a very warm welcome to all of our members for 2026/27! Hooray! 🎉💃🏻🌟 Let’s have some fun together!

Beltane Border Morris

 We heard all about Beltane Border Morris and Morris dancing in general at our last meeting! Here is an ideal opportunity to experience the real thing!

New members?

 

Are you or one of your friends interested in joining us at Brixham WI?. Send an email to brixham@devonwi.org.uk . We will get back to you.

Please do not contact any member directly.

New Book Share!

 Book Share has moved on! 

We will meet every second Thursday of the month (next date is Thursday April 9th) at Churston Golf Club at 2 o’clock. We usually meet for about an hour. 
Our plan is to each bring the title of a book we have enjoyed and wish to recommend. (If you have an actual copy which you are willing to loan or give to someone else to read, then great!) Each person will then be able to choose a new title to read from that session. 
We welcome more WI members to join us, fully aware that not everyone can make it to every meeting! Just right for those who enjoy reading, sharing books and some social time together.

Let us know if you would like to come along! 

Resolutions - what do we think?

 The NFWI Board of Trustees has agreed to put forward the top two resolutions to the Annual Meeting in June.

The wording of the resolutions is as follows:

1. Accessible public toilet facilities to promote dignity, health, and social inclusion

   This resolution is a call for accessible, clean, free public toilets which are fundamental to inclusion and wellbeing, especially for women, older people, disabled individuals, parents and carers. It invites WI branches to take meaningful action—through advocacy, partnership, and community engagement—to support local authorities and civil society in reversing the closure trend and ensuring dignity for all.

2. Action on women’s homelessness 
   
   The NFWI echoes the calls of homelessness charities and urges all levels of government to take action to reduce women’s homelessness, reduce the number of women at risk of homelessness, and improve the quality of temporary accommodation. We call on WI members to support homelessness organisations in their communities and campaign to ensure that all women have a place they can safely call home.

In order to take into consideration WI and federation capacity, it is proposed that should both resolutions be passed at the Annual Meeting, the following approach would be taken:

• A local-only campaign is developed for Accessible Public Toilet Facilities should this resolution pass. This is in line with the focus of the resolution. NFWI support would include providing outline campaign guidance and signposting to relevant organisations. This would be an opportunity for WIs and federations to focus on local campaigning on this topic. Members have expressed to the NFWI a desire for more practical local campaigns, and this resolution lends itself well to this approach.
• A nationally focused campaign is developed for Action on Women’s Homelessness should this resolution pass. This would include educational activity on the topic, exploring national partnerships and much more limited local action.
• Taking a phased approach to implementing campaigns on these resolutions should they both pass at the 2026 AM.

Spring walk?

Fishcombe Cove cafe is opening this weekend.

Does anyone fancy a walk there, around the harbour from the Man and Boy statue on Monday? Meeting at 11 o’clock?

Book Share invitation!

On Thursday 26th, 2pm at the golf club we are having a meeting of the Bookshare to discuss what happens next. For one reason or another our numbers have dwindled and new members would be welcome. If you're interested in joining us, please come along. It's an enjoyable afternoon in pleasant surroundings and we talk about many things...

The coffee is good and sometimes there's cake!

What’s on?

 

Who remembers going to an escape room at Paignton library to find the Lost Librarian?

 We won a certificate - see our header photo! That was a fun afternoon! 

Fabulous meeting in March!

 We learned all about the history and development of Morris dancing and were able to watch the transformation from normal person to the Squire of the Beltane Border Morris. A fascinating talk, and a wonderful way to end our year. 

The room was full and buzzing! Lots of guests were welcomed and members enjoyed being mixed up with different people.

What will catch the attention in this week’s smorgasbord?

Visit Via to explore your options! Click on the link below, it will lead you to a talk about Dorothy L Sayers! 

 https://via.thewi.org.uk/courses/queens-of-imagination-dorothy-l-sayers?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026_03_15_newsletter&utm_content=history_dorothylsayers_course&utm_source=The+WI+Learning+Hub&utm_campaign=94585f7ac4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_02_07_05_54_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28d29065a5-51b7db6695-177046554

What’s On?

 

More from Brian Bilston

 

Beltane Border Morris, dancing in Totnes.

 

“Tea Bag” anyone? (Edit, the next day: someone has kindly volunteered! Thank you!)

 Who would care to take over from Jill P as person in charge of the “tea bag”? It involves bringing the bag of tea, coffee, sugar, and various sundry associated items to every institute meeting and then taking it home afterwards. Ensuring that the items are clean and the supplies are topped up (you can claim the cost of this from our Treasurer). Please and thank you!

Could we manage without a cup of tea? 🤔

 

International Women’s Day

 From All on the Board: 

Bookworms and Book Share members!

 This is especially for you - and all other readers! Who doesn’t love a good book? 

Brian Bilston - another corker! 

Cribbage, anyone?

 Come to Cribbage on Wednesday. 2pm Brixham Rugby club, downstairs bar. Newbies welcome!

Today's question. Which 2 cards would you put in the box? Does it matter whose box it is?

New courses on Via

 Click on this link to find out more information, and what else is on offer to you. 

https://via.thewi.org.uk/

What’s on in March?

 The last month of our 25/26 year, going out in style! 

Resolution results from Devon Federation

 THANK YOU ALL.

I am so pleased to say that the return of votes for this year's Resolutions are the best we have received in a long time. 86% return.

The resolution votes to come from

Devon Federation is

Accessible Toilets.

March Institute meeting

 Our speaker next month at WI is from

Beltane Border Morris. Morris dancing but not as you may have seen before….

Bystanders can be lifesavers - remember this?

 

Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers: Healthy Heart webinar 11 March at 1.00pm

As part of our Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers campaign, we are hosting a webinar titled: ‘Put your heart first: Everyday habits for lifelong heart health’, taking place on Wednesday 11 March, 13:00-14:00pm. This webinar will focus on ways to nurture your most important muscle, your heart. Learn simple, evidence-based lifestyle habits that can strengthen your cardiovascular health and promote you long-term wellbeing. If you can't attend the webinar, a recording will be up on My WI shortly afterwards.  Sign up for it by logging on to Via and search for Wellness-put-your-heart-first-everyday-habits-for-lifelong-heart-health

Friday night out, anyone?

 Brixham Library

Coming to Brixham Library on Friday 6th March, 7:30-9pm!

Double Bill Storytelling Performance: '23 Words' and 'Jane Eyre'

Experience a compelling evening of live storytelling with two critically acclaimed performances brought together for the first time. Suited Storytellers - Rosamund Clare and Katy Lee - present '23 Words', a bold reimagining of Chaucer's The Wyfe of Bath's Tale. Tanya Landman, award-winning author and seasoned performer, offers a fresh perspective on Jane Eyre.

Suitable for ages 14+, £5/£3 non-members/members. Please pop into the library or call us on 01803 853870 Libraries Unlimited Arts Council England @exetercouncil Torbay Council @devoncountycouncil

February Craft

 What a great afternoon doing a Tsunokabako sweet dish and a Kashizara tea plate for higashi(sweets). We did have a laugh! Thank you, Barbara!

Access MyWI and Via, the new WI learning hub!

 Several people have mentioned being unable to sign on to MyWI and the new learning hub, Via.

As everyone at Sew Mondays yesterday was able to do It using their phone, I thought it might be useful to Explain how it was achieved. Step 1 open thewi.org.uk and either click on MyWI in the top right corner, as shown in the photo, OR click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. A menu pops up, find MyWI and click on it.

Step 2 Click on Log in with SSO - circled in red in the photo

Step 3 fill in your email address - arrow pointing to the box in the photo

Step 4 click on forgot your password - circled in red in the photo.

Step 5 go to your email, open the one from NFWI and follow the instructions.

The email might not arrive instantly! You may have to wait a little! Please persevere! It is worth it!

What larks we had!

 

February Sew Mondays

 We had a great afternoon at Jill H’s house this afternoon, and we did actually do lots of stitching - well, most of us, anyway! We also chatted about many things from blood sugar levels to craft shops and from the temperature of the swimming pool to current affairs. Also! Everyone there was able to find and sign on the MyWI and Via!

The photo was taken at Killerton House when visiting the Red Dress. These old birds formed part of the panels created by local people in homage to the red dress. I thought it might be appropriate for our afternoon!

What’s on?

 

More information on the transgender issues.

 Take a look at this website: 

https://action.goodlawproject.org/help-support-wi-girlguides-trans-inclusive?utm_source=Good+Law+Project&utm_campaign=9fc49e40cf-EMAIL_WIGirlguiding_2026_02_20_06_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db5adb9599-308a8160b9-467476613&mc_cid=9fc49e40cf&mc_eid=6d957b6598&fbclid=IwY2xjawQHlchleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelM2hS1afqHgoQNyq9s3b3uXykhgYNsiDYP0O3nCNXeGnG3Qjq3mPDduFLgc_aem_xvcCJChAfyvvfqs_VLzSIA

This week’s timetable of courses from Via

 Click here to access the website: https://via.thewi.org.uk/

Sign on using the email you gave  to Tina when you joined us.

For your enjoyment…

 And, as they say, “many a true word is spoken in jest!”

. 

A timely message from Lancashire Federation of WIs

 

February Institute meeting - email to everyone.

 Hello Brixham WI Member!  Important information! Please read carefully!

At today’s meeting we enjoyed a most interesting talk from the National Coast watch team from Daddyhole, Torquay.

Barbara explained that she will be showing how to make boxes at the craft session on Tuesday 24th February (see the calendar on the blog!). Rugby Club, 2 until 4pm. Please pay £4, by bacs.

The votes on the transgender issues were as follows:

Do you agree with the setting up of sisterhood groups for trans women and, therefore, also men, under the umbrella of the WI?  Yes or No? 

7 yes votes  40 no  18 did not vote

Do you agree with the use of funds controlled by the WI to campaign for andset up the proposed Sisterhood Groups including seeking legal advice on this? Yes or No

4 yes votes x 47 no  18 did not vote

With regard to our Annual Meeting and payment of next year’ssubscription; some clarification is necessary!

Ann P announced that our subscription for next year will be reduced from £54 to £47 - £7 payable from our funds for each member joining from  April 26 - March 27. Multi members for whom we are not the primary WI will pay £20.10.

Our members will be able to pay their subscription from 1st March, if they wish, as usual.

Some of our members are undecided whether to rejoin and are waiting for the NFWI information regarding sisterhoods to be announced in April. They will be able to defer their payment of subs until 30th April.

 In previous years we have asked all members to pay by the day of our April meeting so that we are all able to attend and participate in our  Annual Meeting, usually in April. We have decided to move the Annual Meeting forward one month, to May,  in order to accommodate the as yet undecided members.

If, at the end of April, some members choose to leave, we will be able to accept subscriptions from new members from 1st May. 

Once again, Lynn asked all members present to consider very seriously stepping up to join the committee. Each one of us enjoys our WI and will benefit enormously from fresh ideas and an energetic, enthusiastic approach - we are looking for you folks who are new to the notion of being on our WI committee! Plenty of our long term, more experienced members have made their contribution - over to some new faces now! Now is the time! Pretty please! 

With best regards from

Your Committee

Insects Tea Party!

 Another invitation from the Life on the Edge team: 

(for more details click on this link https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/?s=Insects+tea+party

Pancake Day today!

 Here’s another brilliant poem from Brian Bilston! 

What’s On?

 

Half term week!

 Probably many of our members will be spending time with family during the coming week! 

Ask them what they think about gender fluidity! Get some opinions from the next generations on this topic - look at our burning issue through different eyes.

Coach trip, anyone?

Friends of Churston Library have posted on our Facebook page! As lots of our members love a coach trip, and Hestercombe Gardens are fabulous, I thought I would copy and paste it all here, too.

If walking on paths up and down through wild and tamed gardens is not your favourite, you may like to investigate the Hestercombe website https://www.hestercombe.com/ to get a bit more information.

New from the WI learning hub!

VIA launches Monday 9th February - and with it, a completely new chapter for learning. If you've been with us on the WI Learning Hub, you'll recognise the heart of what we do. But VIA? It's been reimagined from the ground up. Clearer navigation. Smarter course formats. A platform that works the way you do - whether you're squeezing learning into a lunch break or settling in for a Sunday afternoon deep dive.

Keep an eye on our social media channels and the WI Learning Hub website, where the link to VIA will be posted on Monday afternoon.

 

What’s On?

 

From NFWI

 Watching the news or looking at your social media feed, it’s easy to believe that the UK is more divided than ever. The voices of those who seek to spread hate, harm our communities and separate us are loud.

But the reality is millions of people across the UK show up for each other, their neighbours and their communities every single day. From monitoring our river health and helping keep our environments clean, to donating to food banks, raising money for charity, and extending the hand of friendship to refugees - acts of hope and kindness happen all the time.

These stories are too often left untold. So, in May 2026, The NFWI, alongside community and faith groups, and other charities big and small, will come together to celebrate and inspire A Million Acts of Hope across Britain. There is far more that connects us than divides us. We hope you’ll join us.