On this day in 2018 and 2019 we took great pride in being part of the Remembrance Day parade and service in Bognor Regis.
Of course this year we will not be there as it is a greatly reduced event, due to the pandemic.
However, I’m sure many of us will have observed the 2 minute silence on our doorsteps and watched the very moving ceremony at the Cenotaph in London.
You may also like to remember how we took part in previous years by clicking below …
Kate Claisse
Covid-19 influenced our Autumn Walks with a vengeance!
That did not stop us getting out and about, however, and our walks were managed within coronavirus guidelines 6-person rule and NFWI guidance for WI activities. 18 of our members, please note – not all at once, have taken part in one or more walks. Recruitment of additional walk leaders has gone very well, and sincere thanks goes to those volunteers.
Bognor Pier to Aldwick along the beach at low tide was the first walk. As it coincided with a dress down day at Sage House, one of our WI charities, walkers wore unusual hats and raised £40.00 for their funds.
Halnaker Windmill walk, on a bright sunny morning, was a tribute to our late member Stella. The information our walk leaders share about key points on the walks, extended to a reading of a poem, written by Hillaire Belloc, about the similarity of Halnaker Windmill’s dereliction in 1923 to the state of the country at that time.
The erosion that the last winter’s storms caused at Climping shocked some of us on the walk along the shoreline from Middleton to Climping. Does anyone know when Climping was spelt as Clymping? Jan, our main walk leader, had to concede that Climping spelt with an ‘i’ seems to have been around longer than Clymping spelt with a ‘y’. £41.50 was raised for ACWW, Associated Country Women of the World – we were taking part in Women Walk the World Day.
The next walk took us back to Pagham Harbour North Wall to Siddlesham Quay. Sadly, no one saw the Cattle Egrets, that had recently arrived, with their yellow beaks – however, there was plenty of other wild life to spot, along with some rather tricky puddles!
Now looking forward to the rest of Autumn. Details will be sent out shortly, and more WI members would be welcome.
Jan Marsden
Lockdown thwarted the newly formed Upcycling Group, led by the lovely Sarah, after only one project. But we are WI and will not be kept down. Keeping to the “Group of 6” restriction, the group returned with a project to up-cycle jam jars into candle holders.
Sarah patiently led us through the process and we all got to try a glue gun….the glue is hot. In addition to bringing home some beautifully crafted candle holders it was an opportunity to catch up, chat and have a laugh. Such a tonic for your mental health in these surreal times.
Coming next…..a festive wreath.
Sue Harris
Five of us meet up for our weekly book group in West Meads field. The postman said hello as did a cockerpoo puppy, we’re a bit of a fixture now. The sun kept us warm, but fleeces were needed in the breeze. We are currently reading I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.
June Salter
Sage House, one of our charities for 2020, asked for support so that they could be ready to reopen their facilities at Tangmere for people with dementia, and, of course Bognor Regis WI responded! Their request was for face masks as Coronavirus guidelines advise that face masks are worn whenever groups get together indoors. Armed with a large donation of knicker elastic from one of our members, 12 of us raided our fabric boxes. A couple of broken needles later and with some frustration over the multitude of designs out there, we made well over 100 face masks. Well done, Bognor Regis WI.
Jan Marsden
Easing of coronavirus lock down gave us an opportunity and we made the most of it!
Our WI Walk Group re-started in June, within Covid-19 guidelines, and managed 10 walks before the evening light diminished. Exercise, laughter, Jan’s shortbread, warm sunny evenings and conversation proved a successful formula for over 20 of our WI members.
The walks were arranged in or around Bognor Regis, with the exception of the walk to the WI Federation Centenary Oaks Wood at Slindon. We found pockets of Bognor Regis and its environs, that many of us did not know were there. We increased our knowledge about where we live and some of its history. Karen, Mandy, Frances and Sheila supported Jan is taking on the lead for some of the walks. Here are a few of the special moments:
The Walk Group also ventured further afield by Zoom in July. We took ourselves somewhere even more special for 30 minutes! Amazing views of the high Himalayas, insight into family and farming communities, and the role of women there. Thanks to Jane Weston, a friend of Jan’s, for sharing the photographic journey – on paths most of us will not have the opportunity to walk on.
There were so many more special moments during the 2020 Summer of Bognor Regis WI evening walks, but most of all thank you everyone for joining in and making our walks so enjoyable.
I will miss them, and you!
Jan Marsden
Jan’s photos are in our photo album. To view them, please click here.
To see all the entries and results for our third virtual competition during lockdown, click on the different classes below …
A July evening saw a social get together in Gina’s garden, backing on to the prom in Felpham. Following in the tradition of previous year’s Gin and Swim and Pimms and Paddle came our Fizz and Float.
11 intrepid women left the safety of Gina’s garden, on to the prom, and into the sea for a swim. After an initial chill when we got in, we had great fun swimming and floating around in the choppy waters.
Check out our video on YouTube – proof that we actually did get in!
Then back to Gina’s garden for fizz, nibbles and a long overdue catch up.
The evening not only benefited members but also our two local charities with £80 raised for Sage House, and two boxes of donated food for the Bognor Foodbank.
Looking forward to next year already.
Words Sue Harris
Photos and Video Joyce Aird and Gina Fitch-Roy
