Gallery and Past Events

12 November 2025: WI Meeting

What a delightful evening we had at our latest WI meeting!

We began with a fascinating demonstration from Suez, who brought along some beautiful singing bowls from Nepal. She showed us how they make their soothing sounds, and a few of us even had a go at making them “sing” ourselves — such a calming and interesting experience.

After that, we got into the festive spirit with some Christmas card making. Out came the buttons, sequins, and bows, and soon the tables were sparkling with creativity. There were lots of laughs (and a fair bit of glue!) as we admired each other’s designs and shared ideas.  We also handed out our birthday posies and finished the evening with a cheerful raffle, with plenty of smiles all round.

All in all, it was a lovely evening — full of friendship, creativity, and that special WI warmth. We’re already looking forward to next month’s meeting!

6 November 2025: Trip to The Spectacle of Light, Welford Park

We had a wonderful time exploring the illuminated trail around the beautiful grounds of Welford Park near Newbury. The autumn light displays were magical, and the setting felt special and festive. There was an opportunity to pause along the way for delicious hot chocolate (with marshmallows!) and plenty of tasty food stalls to choose from. All in all, it was a very enjoyable outing with beautiful lights, atmospheric music, and good company.

28 October 2025: Trip to the Houses of Parliament

The Purley on Thames Women’s Institute enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster this October. The fine weather made the day even more special as we admired the stunning architecture and artwork throughout the historic building. Our informative guide brought the experience to life with fascinating insights, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to watch a live session from the visitors’ gallery in the House of Commons.

8 October 2025: WI Meeting

This month, we were delighted to welcome Clare Goodall to our meeting. Clare entertained and educated us with her historical ‘Talks and Tales’. She arrived in costume and played instruments from the 14th to 16th centuries. Clare regaled us with tales from this era, retold in character with enthusiasm and expression. Her talents continued to amaze us as she played music on early medieval instruments, including the bagpipes, lyre, and crumhorn, explaining their anatomy. Our members thoroughly enjoyed Clare’s talk, and there was much laughter in the hall.

We are a busy group! Upcoming outings include a trip to the Houses of Parliament as guests of our MP, Olivia Bailey, a visit to see the lights at Welford Park, and a Christmas lunch at Cobbs of Englefield. Our members also enjoy three monthly sub-groups: Book Club, Scrabble Club, and Craft Club, all of which are growing in popularity. Some of the craft items being made will be sold at our upcoming coffee morning at the Art Cafe on 29th November (all welcome).

Our next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12th, at 7:30 pm at the Memorial Hall. We will be trying our hand at drumming!  If you are interested and keen to know more about our W.I., please come along as a guest and join in the fun; you would be very welcome.

Further information can be found on our programme.
 

Jacqueline Powell

10 September 2025: WI Meeting

On a wet September evening, following a beautiful summer, WI members gathered at the Memorial Hall for our monthly meeting. Our President, Marilyn, opened proceedings with a warm welcome to all and introduced our speaker, Mr Jim Mack, a professional Toastmaster and member of the U.K. School of Professional Toastmasters. Dressed in full ceremonial attire, Mr Mack immediately set the tone for an engaging evening.

He began by addressing us as “Gracious Ladies,” which raised a ripple of amusement across the room, but his impeccable delivery soon drew us into the traditions and formality of his profession. With humour and insight, Mr Mack explained the history and role of the Toastmaster, illustrating his talk with entertaining anecdotes. He also guided us through the etiquette of titles, the significance of precedence among guests, and the customs associated with weddings—including speeches, rings, flowers, and cakes. A number of artefacts were passed around for members to examine, which added further interest to his presentation.

One highlight of the evening came when Mr Mack described the art of sobrâge—the opening of a champagne bottle with a sword. He told us how, with one assured stroke, he can remove the cork and a section of glass in a single piece, leaving the bottle perfectly safe to drink from. It certainly is an impressive skill!

Following a vote of thanks from Marilyn, members enjoyed tea and biscuits before turning to business matters. Updates were given on our expanding recycling initiatives, which now include batteries, spectacles, medication blister packs and bras, as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Plans for future events were also discussed, including a visit to the Houses of Parliament and an evening walking the Light Trail at Welford Park. These will complement our regular programme of clubs and monthly meetings. The meeting concluded with a review of the Late Summer Show, at which all entrants and winners of the WI classes were warmly congratulated and thanked for their contributions.

Purley WI meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Memorial Hall. New members and visitors are always welcome.

Jacqueline Powell

6 September 2025: Late Summer Show

On Saturday, 6th September, the 41st Late Summer Show was jointly held by Purley Horticultural Society and Purley Women’s Institute. The event was held in The Memorial Hall with a very well-attended lunch hosted by Purley Sustainability Group in the garden. As ever, this popular event showcased the skills of local residents in areas such as the growing of fruit, flowers and vegetables, arts and crafts and baking. The hall looked magnificent, with tables laden with entries.

Our President, Mrs Marilyn Hoare, reviewed the event in the September meeting of the W.I. Marilyn thanked members for a great selection of entries, over 100 entries in the W.I. classes!

Congratulations were given to Pat Roper, who was awarded the Purley Women’s Institute Cup, the Purley Homecraft Salver and the Frankston Vase, a very impressive three awards! The Neil Buckle Trophy was awarded to Wendy Chapman for her fine achievement, gaining the most points in the Floral Art section. In addition, many of our members were awarded placings in the classes. Marilyn congratulated all who entered and contributed to making this a highly successful event; every entry was greatly appreciated. 

Please see the photographs of the event, including Pat and Wendy receiving their awards from Marilyn, together with the full list of results, which can be downloaded here. A final ‘Well done’ to all 2025 entrants!

Jacqueline Powell

13 August 2025: Fish and Chip Supper!

Our August meeting was held in the Memorial Hall garden, where we enjoyed a very tasty fish and chip supper, followed by a lively quiz and a raffle. Alongside the fun and food, we were pleased to recycle nearly all the waste from the evening — an effort we’re proud of. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening spent in excellent company.

We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to our next meeting on Wednesday, 10th September, at the Memorial Hall, starting at 7:30pm. If you’re thinking of joining us for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity—come along and give it a try!

Jacqueline Powell

9 July 2025: A Look Back at Our July Meeting

Our July gathering was both enlightening and engaging, as we welcomed Dr. Richard Marks from Industry Past. Dr. Marks captivated us with a richly illustrated talk on the origins and growth of Sutton Seeds, a name deeply woven into the fabric of our town’s history. His insights shed light not only on the company’s development over the decades but also on its influence on local industry, horticulture, and community life.

Sustainability in Action

Our ongoing sustainability project continues to gain momentum, reflecting our collective commitment to small actions with meaningful impact. At every meeting, we now offer convenient drop-off points for recyclable items, including:

• Old eyeglasses, helping provide vision aids for those in need
• Empty medication blister packs, which are otherwise difficult to recycle
• Used batteries, to keep harmful materials out of landfills
• Bras (with underwires removed), which support both recycling and charitable reuse initiatives

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far—your thoughtful participation is helping build a more responsible and resourceful community.

What’s Next?

We’re looking forward to our August social, where we’ll enjoy a traditional fish and chip supper—a simple pleasure that always brings warmth, conversation, and a sense of togetherness.

Our next formal meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 10th, and we warmly invite both returning and new faces to join us. Alongside our friendly atmosphere, we offer a varied programme of engaging guest speakers, informative talks, and occasional outings and trips—there’s truly something for everyone. If you’re curious, come along and see what we’re all about! 

Jacqueline Powell

11 June 2025: Bystanders Can Be LifeSavers 

We had an informative and lively meeting on the 11th of June in the Memorial Hall. The WI has voted at a national level for our 2025 resolution to be, "Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers." So, embracing this theme, our very own member, Tessa Martin, gave a presentation on how to give CPR should the need arise. Tessa brought with her a dummy that we could practice on, and also pillows, which were used to show where and how to apply cardiac massage. Although the message is serious and potentially lifesaving, that didn't stop us from having fun and joining in with the training. People everywhere across the room were laughing and encouraging others, but that wasn't surprising. That's the WI. Learn, support, encourage, and laugh together. And although we hope never to have to use this new skill, we know we can now do so with confidence. We rounded off the evening with tea and biscuits and gifts of birthday poses for the ladies with June birthdays. New members are always welcome, and our next meeting is on the 9th of July at 7:30 PM.

Debra Jennings