I love the WI. Absolutely love it. Ever since I joined about three years ago I feel like I’m with kindred spirits and the friends I’ve made there are second to none. Through my involvement I’ve also been able to try my hand at so many new things – everything from burlesque keep fit to decorating biscuits. I’ve also been involved in some amazing ventures from serving tea to 500 pensioners to helping to renovate a caravan that went to a family in need in the Calais Jungle. As I say, I love the WI.
It was therefore with great excitement that I joined 13 other members of the Herts Belles this morning to go to London to the WI Fair at Alexandra Palace. Described as “celebrating everything about the great British institution that is the WI” it sounded like it was going to be right up my street. I love a spot of crafting, baking and various other things that fit into the WI remit so to speak. I was also looking forward to a good day out wth some of my WI friends, and from what I’d read online from people who had already attended it sounded like there was going to be a spot of gin to be sampled too – something I always enjoy.
I’m now collapsed on the sofa having had a fantastic day out. I’m shattered, feel like I have walked miles and may be showing some effects of all the gin I’ve tried, but more than anything I’ve had a brilliant day out with some wonderful women. I went to a couple of really good talks (on gin cocktails and from ActionAid about the support they are giving to women through their work overseas) and have also exercised the credit card a fair bit at the many wonderful food and drink stalls. There’s one thing missing though – and that’s the buzzing feeling that I came home from Tea and Tents with. I was so inspired by everything I’d done, seen and heard there that I agreed to join the Belles committee as soon as I came home. I thought I’d have the same buzz when I came home from the WI Fair. But I didn’t.
Whilst it has been a great day out, it just didn’t really feel like a WI event at all. There was a NFWI stand where I was finally able to get my hands on a WI sew on badge and a tea towel and I even found that they’d use the picture of us all power hooping on a big display, which was quite a thrill. But other than that there wasn’t that much else around to mark it out as a WI event and I feel that the WI may have actually missed out on quite an opportunity.
We were talking about it in the car on the way home, and there were just a few simple things that we were surprised they didn’t do. For starters, the huge campaign at the moment to save Denman. Now I’ve not been to Denman yet, so buying a tote bag saying “I ❤️ Denman” didn’t seem that appropriate. Nor did the similar car sticker, yet I’d totally get a WI car sticker if they made one. But why did they not have having anything else to raise money for Denman? Even if it was just a big collection box on the way in and out. Or even have some short sample courses from there as workshops. Half hour tasters of what you might get on a Denman course.
Whilst it was wonderful to hear from ActionAid about the work they are doing, I wondered if the Fair could have been an opportunity to hear speakers talk about ways in which we could at a local level support the WI resolutions. Someone like FoodCycle could have come along to talk to us alleviating food waste and the work they are already doing towards it. There could have been speakers on the two resolutions that we’re going to vote on at the 2017 Annual Meeting – alleviating loneliness and plastic soup – to help members be informed about these issues prior to the vote.
WIs have also got involved in loads of things at local level to support charities. Not just in terms of raising money, but also doing practical things like making twiddle muffs or collecting sanitary products for homeless women. Why not have some of the charities at the Fair explaining to members what their WIs could do to the help.
Then there was the shopping. I always expected shopping at the Fair, after all it’s a way these people make money; by selling their wares. The food and drink section was fantastic, with lots of lovely samples, and I seem to have come home with a bag of delights. Gin featured prominently, and whilst as a gin fan I’m not complaining about this, gin is a high price item and not affordable to everyone.
The craft section was not at all what I expected though. I was really hoping for stalls selling the things you need and use for crafts that so many of us in the WI love. I was expecting people selling yarn, haberdashery bits and pieces, cake decorating stuff, preserving apparatus and the like. Instead there were some beautiful items and lots of jewellery and clothing, but everything had very high price points. Why not have a companies there selling items at lower prices? Someone like HobbyCraft (who let’s remember have a WI yarn range!) could have made an absolute killing there today, even if they just brought along their WI yarn. Lakeland would have also been fantastic for all the baking and preserving stuff that they sell. And what about gardening? Surely a stand selling packets of seeds and bulbs would have been perfect, especially at this time of year. I was just really puzzled that people selling that kind of thing weren’t there.
There was also so much more WI related stuff that I would have liked to have opportunity to buy. There are various WI books that have been released over the years, and other books that cover the role of women in history, especially during the war years, yet I didn’t see anyone selling anything like that. The NFWI stand had a few bits and bobs, but again not as much as I would have liked or expected. Having lost my brolly last week I nearly bought one there, but again it talked about Denman, which just didn’t quite seem appropriate having never been there. Had there been a standard WI one then I would have snapped it up.
In terms of helping WIs at local level what I would have loved was an opportunity to hear about what other WIs are doing. Maybe a room or area where every half an hour another WI or prominent WI member talks about something that they have done at local level. Ideas sharing to inspire and help others. There must have been a wealth of WI knowledge in that hall today, but I just didn’t hear enough of it.
It may feel like I’m being a tad harsh about the fair, but I will say again that I had a fantastic day today. I really enjoyed myself, as I think did the rest of our group. And there were some points of the organisation that were brilliant – in particular there being a large room for people to eat their refreshments in, the “meeting point”, and the excellent use of social media during the fair to tell people about what was going on. But I just feel that the WI can do so much more with the opportunity that the Fair gives them having so many members coming together. I hope that by speaking out I can find out if others think the same, and if so how the NFWI can make that happen. If no one else agrees then I’ll just shut up!
Just in case anyone’s in any doubt, these are my personal views as a WI member, not any formal views of the Herts Belles or any other part of the WI.
100% agree with all that you have written.
I agree wholeheartedly. A lovely day but a bit of a disappointment. I love your ideas.
I absolutely agree. I also had a fantastic day with a coachload from Gravesend WI, but maybe we should all send these comments to the event organisers and the National WI bods. They seemed so out of touch. We should also offer to advise the organisers for any future event. Your blog post would be an excellent blueprint or starting point. It would be interesting to know if they had any imput from members like us. I doubt it. I’d volunteer my suggestions and my time and organising skills. I’m sure others would too. They should feel free to get in touch with us.
I agree with everything you said. WI wasn’t the prominent thing today. I could have been at an ideal home show for all the spiraliserz or gadgets I saw. Nothing jammy cakey about the day
Spot on – sums up how I felt. There was a lot of high priced stuff ( probably because the stalls cost a lot) and much of it was interesting but could have been any fair. At Harrogate in 2015 there was much more in the craft section and actually much more over all. Still missed the bits that would have marked it out as a WI Fair! Totally agree about Denman too – lots of talk opportunities at the different theatres could have had people snapping up courses.
I thought the same thing about the umbrellas. I saw them rolled up and would have loved to buy one that had something about WI on it as this would really make a statement, but I really don’t want to carry Denman around in the rain, much as I love the college.
You’ve elequently summed it up for me- I visited yesterday from Lincoln- I had a lovely day with friends from our WI but left wanting more. WI friends who were at Harrogate last year said Harrogate was far better- perhaps London and London prices for stalls priced some exhibitors out?
I totally agree with you, it just didn’t feel right,big it hadn’t been for a notice saying it was the WI ,I would have thoughtbitva run of the mill show. When you think of the Stitch and Craft fair which is always held there, then you are therEIn wavelength, what a pity they can’t join forces with them, that would be fantastic!!
I hope you get to make suggestions if they plan this event next year, you have lots of good ideas.
I totally agree with the sentiments on your blog. I loved it for the same reasons but didn’t need any more scarves , jewellery, saucepans and definitely not a tree lopper!
I totally agree with all you have said. I went yesterday with a group of WI ladies. I too had a great time. I enjoyed a cookery demonstration and part of a craft one too but felt there were too many travel stands and not enough craft ones. There were many workshops but no chance to buy materials afterwards to continue to try out new skills learned. Some of the clothes on sale were beautiful but so expensive! Let’s have more WI orientated items next time!
I totally agree. Came with a coachload from Hastings and most of us felt the same. I am another blogger – have had a v busy WI week so will be doing my piece today. My Hastings Battleaxe blog covers all sorts of things, not just WI, but there is plenty of WI stuff on there. I will add yours to my ‘blogs I like’ list.
I do so agree that National need to listen more to this type of feedback. Sometimes I despair!!! We are asked to raise all thin money from Denman but do I see a proper business plan to market the college? No.
I’m kinda glad I didn’t go now! We ummed and aahed about it but we couldn’t make our official WI trip as it was a weekday (the Friday) and didn’t bother booking individually for the Saturday. Agree with you that it needs to represent all of these elements. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I totally agree with all your comments. The NFWF have work to do on this event.
Absolutely spot on! Lovely day out but not a big enough WI stamp to say ‘This is us’
Last year we checked out the traders who were to present and decided they were all too ‘high end’ and maybe more for the Harrogate market – i.e. expensive luxury goods -the fair clashed with the Northern Quilt show which was cheaper and full of crafty deliciousness and held at the Harrogate showground so it was no contest. I hope your comments are read and appreciated by the great and the good though, because they are positive and constructive!
I totally agree with you. I am part of a new W.I.group formed in our area. The fair was good but did feel like any other show & if there wasn’t a W.I. sign up you wouldn’t have know any different.
They didn’t bring the true feel of the W.I. to the stands. The togetherness & helping others, the silly things that can happen & the goal of making people feel better in some shape or form. Yes the crafty bits & cooking were there but where were the real W.I.ladies on show a little? I’m glad I’ve been but will not be attending next year.
You should be one of the organizers for the next one. I would have liked to have gone ,but another thing on that day,,will be interesting to see what my fellow members think as we had a coach going .very interesting to read
Marion
I agree 🙂 I wanted an ‘I heart WI’ badge, that seemed a missed opportunity …i do love Denman but I’d rather my badge was WI, but with funds going to Denman. I was very disappointed with the crafts. All of your suggestions would have been great 🙂
Unfortunately you have to remember that the organisers are a commercial set-up and probably approached the WI with the idea of having a show using many of their exhibitors from other shows – i.e. the possibility of a bit of a watered down version of 2 or 3 shows put together. We were invited (as a textile company), but the cost of the stands are literally thousands of ££ (not to mention accommodation in Muswell Hill), so the fewer “free” stands i.e. charities, space for info is probably kept to a minimum.
The exhibitors need to sell a lot of stuff to make it worth their while and so smaller companies won’t risk it, though I would have expected Lakeland perhaps or a big gardening company to have been there. The WI stands (that are all run by volunteers I assume) have got to work out how to keep their costs down to a minimum when the show is in London. Paying for travel to and from the show, accommodating them all adds up which might be why there wasn’t so much of a WI feel.
I agree with everything you said and some of your ideas would not have cost anything, just a bit of thinking beforehand. Giving members a ticket discount if they volunteer on a WI stand for an hour, or give a talk or get involved in shaking a bucket for Denman would perhaps be something that could be thought about for the future??
I was going to go on Friday but ended up with no-one to go with and didn’t want to travel on my own as the journey is quite awkward. Alexandra Palace is not one of the easiest places to get to by public transport. However, from various comments I’ve seen I’m relieved that I saved my entrance money. I don’t drink, so gin no use to me, can’t justify expensive clothes and can’t afford a holiday. Craft a different matter, that does appeal to me and I would have been very disappointed not to find any.
Totally agree with your comments. I had a lovely day, chatting to other members, and tasting the gin and sausages!!! The WI stand was very disappointing…tea towela, tote bags??? I don’t think so. How many scarves and floaty tops and vegetable peelers does one want. As said before apart from a couple of signs and the signs on the front of the coaches, who would knitted have known it was a WI fair. The WI stands in the entrance hall were so dark you could hardly see their handy work. Most stalls were very expensive. All in all too many scarves,wraps,jewellry tand not enough craft. I enjoyed the experience, but don’t think I would bother again.
I had a feeling that commercial interests would be the case and decided not to bother. Ally Pally is worth the trip for the knitting and stitching show in the autumn but just to buy a lad of expensive tat? Thank you no