Wickhambrook Womens Institute
Our W.I. is a lively and friendly group of approximately 50 local women, of all ages – all interested in making friends, learning new things, contributing to the community and getting involved in local and national issues.
We meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm in the WI Hall. Our monthly meetings though are just the tip of the iceberg! We have book groups (daytime and evening for our working members), a craft group, two walking groups – as well as a programme of pub lunches, cinema / theatre trips and so much more!
A very warm welcome awaits you – come give us a try.
Latest Wickhambrook W.I. Events…
Wickhambrook Womens Institute
Wickhambrook W.I. started in 1926 and moved to its own hall in 1929. It is one of the few WI’s in the country to have its own hall which give us lots of scope to have a wide-ranging programme of events. The Hall has several Trustees and the work of the WI is led by a committee of members elected annually.
Officers
Each year the members elect a team to support the running of the WI. The committee has about 8 members (including a President, Treasurer and Secretary) and they work together to organise meetings and events. They actively welcome new ideas from the wider membership to ensure the programme of events is fresh, inviting and what members want!
Subscriptions
Subscriptions are paid every April. If you join us midyear you pay a pro rata rate – so no need to wait to a new year to begin!
Activities
Weather permitting the Wednesday Walkers and the Thursday Strollers meet weekly for walking, chats and the occasional cake stop! Our Craft Club meets monthly on a Saturday afternoon – where members showcase their skills and teach it to others. We have 3 books clubs – two daytime ones and Books & Shenanigans who meet in the evening, read books and organise bookish activities. We are also keen to support members set up their own groups and clubs – so if there is something you’re interested in let us know.
Keeping in touch
After each meeting we send all members a catchup newsletter so they can put social events and activities in the diary. We also have a notice board outside our hall that we use to promote our activities. Members also receive regular mailing from the local and national branch of the WI – including a monthly newsletter and national magazine.
Latest Wickhambrook W.I. news …
WI Literary Lunch with Hilary Taylor
After a delicious lunch prepared by the members of Wickhambrook WI Reading Groups, Hilary Taylor talked about her book Sea Defences,a novel set on the Norfolk coast where two families are facing emotional issues, with the backdrop of the crumbling cliffs…
WI Meeting Reflexology with Kerri Plummer
For our June meeting we welcomed Kerri Plummer who came to talk to us about Reflexology. Kerri has been a reflexologist for 7 years after finding a way to work from home with three children. She now works from a “cabin” in the back garden of her home in Kedington....
Wickhambrook W.I. Celebrates VE Day
To celebrate VE Day 80 Years Wickhambrook WI held an event at their WI hall on 8th May 2025…
A Tai Chi Taster Session with Peaceful Warrior Tai Chi
Our monthly meeting was held on Thursday 10th April, a change of day due to the speaker not being available on a Tuesday. The meeting was billed as a Tai Chi Taster Session with Peaceful Warrior Tai Chi…
Wickhambrook WI Craft Group
On Saturday 15th March our craft group held a class learning how to make hand tied bouquets…
WI Meeting – Acting Superintendent Janine Wratten
Members of Wickhambrook WI were on their best behaviour as we welcomed a visitor from the police to our March meeting. Acting Superintendent Janine Wratten came to talk to us about her career in the police force…
View our photo gallery …
W.I. Website
More information can be found out about the W.I. by visiting the Womens Institute website.
New Members are VERY WELCOME
We welcome new members to our WI. You can come for a few meetings before you join to see what it is like.
We meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in the WI Hall. It’s also worth checking out our Facebook Page to see what we’ve been getting up to. We love new members – they bring fresh ideas, and energy to the group and we are always on the lookout for new ideas for meetings, socials and things to make and do!
Check out the notice board outside the hall for our current programme. We also have an active Facebook page where you can see what we’re up to and send us a message – https://www.facebook.com/groups/wickhambrookwi/
Our W.I. Hall
FOR THE ATTENTION OF ALL HIRING THE HALL
Our hall is available to hire – at just £10 an hour (which includes all your heating, electricity and water). It’s a perfectly sized space for meetings, fitness classes, dace classes, yoga, birthday gatherings and celebrations. We have a fully equipped kitchen and brand-new heating, installed in 2025. It’s a cosy, welcoming space.
Jackie Fieldsend manages our hall bookings – please contact her on 01440 820108 it youd like to enquire about availability.
A Short History of Wickhambrook W.I.
The information about our W.I. has been sourced from the wisdom, memories and guidance of the members who have lived through almost the whole life of the Institute since its formation in 1926.
Wickhambrook W.I. has thrived from that day to this, providing a forum for women to meet, talk, create, argue, support and educate while enjoying themselves. Women from all walks of life contribute to the community spirit and can have a real influence on the policies of local and national governments but most of all we enjoy helping our village community and have each others friendship throughout a varied and busy year.
The changing face of the Women’s Institute nationally has been mirrored by our own Institute.
Originally meetings were held in the afternoons when less women went out to work, now it is rare to find a member who does not do or has not done a job at some point in their life giving us a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap into when necessary. Although things have changed in many ways the fundamental reason for the Institutes existence still remains that of support, friendship, education and information for all women.
The fun we have had along the way is evident in the Scrapbooks lovingly put together each year. In the past years the highlight was always the meeting held at “The Manor” the home of President Lady Briggs, who held this position for 21 years in all, quite some achievement. We still have Summer Garden Evenings there from time to time at the kind invitation of Mrs Gill Hanbury, her daughter and W.I. member of equally long standing.
Nowadays we have many excellent evenings but Carnival Day has to be the busiest when everyone helps serve teas, the profits from which enables us to maintain the W.I. Hall for the use of all village folk and beyond. We are one of the few Institutes with their own premises and a piece of the past that we want to keep so it’s worth the effort.
Another delight for members at meetings are the talks, demonstrations or visits included in last year as programme, you are never 100% sure how the evening is going to work out, we have had lots of surprises along the way from slightly tipsy speakers, absent ingredients for recipes, messy but challenging tries at different skills from hand bell ringing to line dancing. We are definitely not all Jam and Jerusalem at Wickhambrook although these to have their places at the W.I. too.
Why not come along and join us and help make the next chapter in Wickhambrook W.I.’s history with us, you’ll be made very welcome.
