An experience of Denman College

Pat Pryke, writing on Facebook

They say you have to experience something before you can fully appreciate it. Well, I have just spent four days at Denman College, my first visit, and I am hooked! On an organised Suffolk East Federation visit I joined in the Arts and Crafts Movement course. With excellent tutor Anne Steven we visited the Watts village near Guildford to look at George Watts paintings in the gallery, visit Linnerlease his Arts & Crafts designed home and then the Grade 1 listed Arts & Crafts masterpiece Watts Chapel. Another day we enjoyed a guided tour of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Exeter College Chapel and the Oxford Union library. A feast of art, paintings, ceramics, murals etc. In between visits there were lectures, presentations to complement the course. Added to this the 'College' experience of enjoying this wonderful building and grounds (at the moment full of spring flowers). I was allotted the Humberside Federation en-suite bedroom so thank you Humberside for a very comfortable room with many personal touches amongst the furnishings. What price would you put upon excellent food which includes full board plus mid-morning coffee with home-made biscuits and afternoones with home-made cake, coach transport to and from Suffolk, transport to all the venues visited, a tutor and guide for all the four days plus class handouts, all included entrance fees to places visited, your own en-suite fully fitted bedroom, a comfortable House and grounds to relax in and well appointed workshops. Well for us just over £100 a day. I know some have thought the Denman experience was expensive but when you break down all that is involved I think it is great value for money. Save up and go - keep our College going - it really is the 'jewel in our crown' - we should be proud of what we have got. The WI is fun, friendship and education. I've certainly experienced all of that in the last few days.

Kingswear Group Meeting - with a farm theme

As our speaker's topic was 'A Boy on a Farm', we decided to theme our afternoon accordingly! Everyone arrived in some kind of farm gear: plenty of beautifully adorned hats, some authentic Americam cowboy gear, a beautiful old smock and plenty of jeans and boots! Our raffle prizes were also on theme: cider, cream, butter and jam, and a lovely array of vegetables. (There was another prize, too, which I forget! Perhaps someone could remind me?). 

The food was a farmhouse tea - delicious light scones with cream and jam and a wonderful selection of cakes. Also, lots of tea! 

The talk was very entertaining, evoking memories of all sorts amongst the audience: outside toilets, syrup of figs and old money, to mention but a few! 

Finally we had a couple of brain teasing quizzes - causing much head scratching and discussion!

Stencilling at the craft club today - wow!

Our resident experts had covered the table tops with stencils (who knew they could be made of metal? Shiny, slim and intricately detailed) paper, card and all manner of paints and inks, with amazing names! 

Thank you to Barbara and everyone for their help - what a lovely afternoon. 

I wonder what they have planned for next month? 

A very interesting and enjoyable meeting!

Sarah Jones, 'the wig lady' gave us a very interesting and entertaining talk about wigs. She had a range of wigs for us to see and try on - which caused a great deal of hilarity! 

Members brought plenty of mugs, filled with lovely gifts and beautifully presented, ready for sale at our next coffee morning, and I have another huge pile of donations ready for the refuge. 

Are you still confident that you are a good driver?

Brixham WI Lunch Club

At our inaugural lunch eleven of us met at The Devon Dumpling for a very sociable, entertaining time! Thank you very much Beryl for organising it. 

We are all looking forward to the next one, in about six weeks! All members welcome to join us - just be sure to sign the board at our next meeting. 

The resolutions chosen for this year