Our Activity Groups
At the brilliant suggestion of some of the ladies we’ve formed a few sub-groups to cater for different needs. They are all very informal and you can drop in or out. To attend an activity we do ask that you are a fully paid up member of the WI. If you want to be involved or go along, please contact their leader. If you wish to organise a sub-group, we would love to hear from you – please speak to a committee member or Sue. See some images from the outings on our Gallery page.
Link to our calender of meetings & activities
Supper Club
The group plan to dine within the Didsbury radius until they have exhausted all of the restaurants but will possibly look at other things as well as dining out e.g. wine testing night and nibbles. We choose a set menu so that we know the price and any booze is paid for individually.
Contact: Sheila Lane dsaclane@aol.com
Cake Decorating Group
You don’t have to be any good at cake decorating (most of us aren’t), and you don’t need to buy a lot of equipment either. Most sessions involve learning a technique from our resident sugarcraft expert Pauline, but we also have ‘pitching in’ sessions as well (where people bring all their sprinkles to share). We also have field trips to cake shops for ‘research’. The group meet at Didsbury Cricket Club on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7.00pm. For all those hopeful new cake decorators, I’m afraid the group is full at the moment. Contact Norma to put your name on a waiting list. They may start a second night if there are enough people interested.
Contact: Norma Fletcher (norma527@hotmail.com)
Wild Walking Group
For ladies who enjoy exploring the outdoors, or those who’ve always wondered what natural beauty lies on Manchester’s doorstep and further afield. Walks will be roughly every month during the ‘summer’ season (weather can’t be guaranteed of course!) Kit: Please make sure you always have the following: Waterproof walking boots or shoes; waterproof coat and trousers; warm hat and gloves, bottle of drink; a snack; clean shoes to change into afterwards (for the pub!). See the Calender of Events page for information about the latest walks. Some images from walks are on our Gallery page.
Contact: Zoe Barton barton.zoe@gmail.com (especially if you have a walk you’d like to share with the group)
The Book Club
The book club meet at one of the members homes to discuss a novel read in the last month. The current group is full and we are now hoping to start another group. If you would like to join the new group please email Melinda at travis_melinda@hotmail.com.
Contact: Ruth Price (bomalon@btinternet.com) for book info or host address for the existing group.
Knitting Groups
The WICKERS (WI crocheters and knitters) has been formed for all abilities. They are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, upstairs at The Didsbury pub.
Contact: Sandra Hoath sandra.hoath@ntlworld.com
Art Class
The Art Class is run by our ex-art teachers Wena and Judy. The group meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 7pm -9pm at Didsbury Cricket Club. There is a small charge to cover the cost of the room and materials. Spring 2012 sees them work on printing and with clay.
Contact : Wena Stevenson art1morris@ntlworld.com
Didsbury Village WI Quiz Team
The group meet up weekly and take part in local quizzes and hope to enter in the WI County quiz
Contact: Anne-Marie Glennon Anne-Marie.Glennon@bjl.co.uk
Theatre Groups
There were so many suggestions of outings to the theatre that it now falls under a separate group. Listen out at the meetings or check our Outings page for current suggestions to theatres. Due to the burden of the organiser having to often pay for tickets up front, and a history of people then not fulfilling their request, we often now ask for the money up front or deposit. Please be prompt with your payment – Thanks!
Contact: Wena Stevenson (art1morris@ntlworld.com)
Outings and Tours
We often go on one-off outings and tours. Claire Cloherty is our outings organiser. Listen out in meetings for the latest outings and please do remember to pay your deposits! Previous Outings we enjoyed include:
- Stockport Air Raid Shelter
- Tour of the Hilton Hotel and High Tea
- Rylands Library tour
- Wild Walks
- Debenhams Personal Shopper experience – April 2010.
- Chester Federation HQ, tea and tour – 22nd March 2010
- Tour and Tea of The Midland – Feb10
- White Christmas at the Lowry – Dec 09
- Dinner Ladies at the Lowry – 8th September
- Manchester Beekeepers – 9th August - see the MBKA pics here.
- BBC Manchester Tour – July 5th & September- see the BBC pics here.
- Gorton Monastary – March 2009
- Walking Tour of Manchester – April 2009
Further details about individual activities may be available on the Diary of Events page which details the latest details, dates and times of each.
Our activity co-ordinators are Claire and Carole, please contact them if you have any general enquiries about the activity groups : ccloherty@btinternet.com or CAROLE.SELBY@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk
1.
Ken Binch | March 28, 2012 at 11:11 pm
I am not sure that I am even allowed to contact the WI (being male!) but permit me a request:-
Does the WI recommend any local ‘informal’ organisation/body that provides a (paid for) cooked meal daily for the elderly? I ask because my father, who is 95, lives in East Didsbury and I feel he would benefit and enjoy a change from the meals he is currently receiving from a commercial company that works for the Council. He normally receives his meals at lunchtime.
He does not go out but is still very independent minded, and prepares the table and washes up after his meals. He is supported by visiting carers (when he lets them!)
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
With kind regards
Ken
01372 273398
2.
Salt | April 30, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Dear Ken, try contacting Didsbury Good Neighbours http://www.didsburygoodneighbours.com/ I don’t know if they provide such a service but they may be able to give you some advice. All the best, Zoe (secretary)