Gallery and Reports

Christmas Decorations - Alma House and Long Preston

Sheila Carr assisted by Gail Evans provided two enjoyable days making paper decorations for Christmas and made some beautiful decorations.

Cathedral Window Patchwork - Alma House

Anne Starkey provided another day of relaxed learning and support to learn form of patchwork with those who attended making a christmas decoration, cushion cover or Christmas Tree(bit ambitious for some so to be completed at home)..

Here is a photo of a cushion made into a cushion by Janet from the patchwork block she completed on the day.

Autumn Lunch at Tennants 9 Oct 2024

A very enjoyable day was enjoyed by 191 members with a presentation by Dianne Sinnott of Tennants in the morning followed by lunch and Nicola Mills entertained us in the afternoon with a variety of songs of different genres.

Visit to Littlethorpe September 2024

The members who were lucky enough to have places on this event particularly enjoyed the new Medicinal Garden dedicated to the work of the Thackwray family and company in the development of Hip replacements reflected in the sculptures and water features. We are looking to arrange another visit next year with priority for those who missed out this time .

History Wardrobe at Masham

Another enjoyable afternoon at Masham with Lucy providing her talk on Ladies of Leisure providing an insight into the life of women of Jane Austin's era who were wealthy enough to have leisure time to follow cricket, tennis, football as well as pursuits we knew about music, embroidery, card games etc. We saw the type of outfits they wore and the equipment they used. We also enjoyed a meeting other members and enjoyed a  delicious scone  and tea.

GYS 2024

The Thank You party involved presentations and a quiz about the show together with a supper and time to reflect on another great event as a result of a lot of talent and effort from WI members. CONGRATULATIONS

Thank you to all who helped, entered competitions or visited with out you it wouldn't be NYWFWI at GYS. Don't forget if you helped you are invited to the Thank You party of Friday 19th at Alma House - phone the office if you didn't put your name down.

Day 4

The last day is always busy with everyone busy from the demonstration to the cafe ares, which means the back room preparation area still working at speed right up until close and then the work of clearing begins and packing up ready for returning hired equipment. The Federation Equipment ready for collection and return to Alma House.

Day 3

The Cafe is busy from before 8:00am - enjoying fresh bacon sandwiches, freshly baked scones, sandwiches and cakes. Julie chair of GYS is interviewed by Harrogate Hospital Radio, Trustees meet incoming GYS President and GYS Exhibitor co-ordinator. In the background Helen checks badges and trolley dollys provide more for the dishwasher as well l as very geasy bacon trays.

Day 2

The sun shone and the smiles came out. The well oiled machine that is the kitchen produced breakfasts, sandwiches, plated salads, cakes, scones, strawberries  from before 8am until 5pm and of course there is tea and the teapots lead a revolving life.

Day 1

Dawned wet and got wetter, but early bird helpers were not deterred and breakfast rolls were being served before 8am, in the back kitchen preparation was in full flow ready for a very wet and bedraggled public looking for shelter. They were met by smiling WI  faces in both the cafe and in the display -all under cover.

Final Day of Preparation - Judging and Setting the display

In the kitchen prep work has been completed ready for an early start on Tuesday

The preparations have been completed on two days Tuesday and Friday with willing helpers who have scrubbed, washed, moved furniture,laid tables, put up signs, labelled food and laughed - thank you to all who were able to help.

Water Colour Workshops June 2024

Two very enjoyable days with lots of laughs with Gail in Alma House and Gargrave Village Hall in June.

Here is a collage of images from Gargrave Beginners workshop

Here is the morning efforts and picture of attendees discussing which flowers to paint in the afternoon at Alma House

AGM 2024

The Membership Team led the singing in the hotel on Tuesday evening ready for the Albert Hall on Wednesday. We had a brilliant location right next to the stage and we all dressed for the occasion

Spring Council -  Hampsthwaite 10 April 2024

Our two Speakers

  • Ruth Packwood from Hope at Home providing save spaces for Survivors of Modern Slavery
  • Alan Dedicoat - Radio and Television Presenter -  known for  Radio 2, Lottery Numbers and Strictly Come Dancing
  • If you require a photo for your records from below  please contact the office for the original image - these have been reduced to allow for web downloading and fit the site

    Sorry no photos of Heather Stoney on Platform but here she is with Helen meeting and greeting members as they arrived for the day

    Norah Worth Joint Winners   - Lesley Fidler and Linda Johnson with Julie Clark

    who created an article from 1 ball of wool see the Sun Chaser and Beret

    West Tanfield award for new Members  and Janet Kazlauciunas retiring Board of Trustee Member

    Certificates were presented to both WI's and Members for long membership by Julie Clarke as Heather Stoney announced names from the Platform

    Climate Change Afternoon

    An afternoon spent challenged by four different topics related to Climate Change - lots of food for thought

    • Farmer James Johnson on Healthy Soil, Healthy Planet, Healthy Planet who has spoken at COPs at Glasgow and Egypt
    • Rotters on Composting
    • Palm Oil - Good or Bad
    • Methodist Church working towards net zero

    Here are a couple of photos from the day


    Handmade Not Homemade with Lesley Fidler

    An enjoyable day knitting and gaining handy tips to make a knitted garment something one can be proud. We learnt new ways of working including 4 different buttonholes and edgings - all by knitting a small bag - the item below has errors but that shows where we could go wrong. Errors were left in as examples of how not to do it ! Very hands on session.

    Easter Cookery with Julie Clarke

    Log Cabin Patchwork with Anne Starkey

    An enjoyable day was spent in Alma House  with Anne Starkey who is now living in East Yorkshire learning how to make 3 different Log Cabin patches which could form the basis of a larger project or just coasters. Anne is show here demonstrating how to create a Grid for a project of any size and width of patches.You can also see a couple of examples of items created.

    Food and Flowers 2023

    A day enjoyed by over members in Darley Village Hall with a large screen and clear audio provided so we could all see the detail of the cookery demonstration in the morning and a flower extravagance demonstration in the afternoon. A super lunch was served by the catering team prepared mainly on site allowing time for chat.

    Wacky Wreaths - November 23

    Here is  a photo of wreaths created at Alma House - the workshops at Hellifield where two different days were arranged due to the popularity of this event produced equally good wreaths

    Hellifield 9 November 2023

    Two days later in Hellifield  concentration created another set of brilliant wreaths

    Alma House 7 Nov 23

    Beginners Water Colours 24 Oct 2023

    Below are two photos showing what attendees achieved in the morning and their second effort after lunch showing the achievement.

    Ukraine International Day

    Please see below some images from the International Day on Saturday 16 September which was organsied by Public Affairs Team, catered by NYWFWI catering team but all the presentations were organised by The Ukrainian Womesn Organisation many of who belong to groups in Bradford and West Yorkshire

    Five images from Washday at Coronation Hall - 27 July 2023

    Lucy in 1940's and Lucy in Victoria  Dress

    Washday Mistake or is it Dying?

    BOT Member demonstrating skills??

    Ready to work??