Monthly Meetings
BOOKHAM BUTTERFLIES WI meeting is on
the 2nd Monday
of the month at 8.00pm - 10.00pm
at: The Harrison Room
The Barn Hall
55 Church Road
Bookham
KT 23 3PG
We start our meeting with a cuppa and a chance to catch up with fellow members, followed by WI News and a Guest Speaker .
Doors open from 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start.
Membership
BOOKHAM BUTTERFLIES WI membership is full currently. If you would like to be added to our membership list or perhaps attend one of our meetings as a visitor before joining please follow the link below.
Alternatively please contact one of the other local WI Groups.
The Bookhams WI, Eastwick WI, Fetcham Village WI, Mole Valley WI, Bookham Bees WI or Great Bookham Belles WI.
Speakers 2024
8th January ( date subject to change )
Dance & Fitness
Annabel Brash
12th February
Marianne North: A remarkable Victorian Flower Painter
Sarah Oldridge
11th March
WW2 Women
Fiona Jane Weston
8th April
The Life of Agatha Christie
David Allen
13th May
Raw Honey Distilleries Gin
Sam Robinson
10th June
A Royal Progression
Helen Naylor
8th July
Tollsworth Manor
Gordon Gillet
12th August
Summer Party
9thSeptember
A taste of Honey
Peter Smith
14th October
Peruvian Rainforest
11th November
Commonwealth Wargraves- CWGC
History and Development since 1st WW & some relevance to Great Bookham
9thDecember
Christmas Party & Our 10th Birthday
Speakers 2025
January
February
March
April
May
June
A Few Monthly Reviews & Photographs
27th January Meeting 2020
The speaker at our January meeting was none other than Gordon Stein, our very own Janine Stein's husband! Gordon treated us to a fascinating talk about his once in a lifetime expedition on foot to the North Pole in 2004, which he completed as part of the "North Pole Leadership Challenge". The group consisted of CEO's, Chief Finance Officers, Lawyers and other leaders from across industry, including the founder of Carphone Warehouse, who dreamt up the idea of "Talk Talk" while he was on the trek!
We heard about how Gordon trained for the challenge by dragging a tyre called "Tina" across the North Downs, to replicate the action of pulling a sledge. By the time he set off for the North Pole, he had the equivalent fitness level of an elite athlete! Gordon showed us the huge mountain of clothing which the team had to wear, including gloves and shoes which looked like sleeping bags. They had to walk for 10-14 hours per day, with just ten minute breaks every two hours for food, drink and a quick comfort break, whilst keeping a look out for polar bears!
Gordon raised an incredible £63,000 in sponsorship money by making it to the Pole. The team total was a staggering £6000,000, enough for the Hope HIV charity to build two schools in Africa. To put Gordon's achievements into context, back in 2004, only 125 people had actually reached the North Pole. Gordon remains one of only two Scots to have made it. By contrast, 5,000 people have climbed Everest. A really interesting evening- thank you Gordon and congratulations on an amazing achievement!
Jen Broh
24th February Meeting 2020
Our speaker at the February meeting was Mimi Bogelund, who talked about " An Organised Home Life " Mimi is a professional organiser who works with people of all ages to reduce the clutter in their lives. She explained that the cost of clutter could be an increased fire risk in the home, more stress, as well as tome and money being wasted. It can also have an impact on family relationships. Mimi works with the organisational methods well - known organising consultant and expert Marie Kondo. These include tidying by category, rather than by room. You should start sorting your clothes, followed by your books, papers and then everything else including anything "sentimental," which you should sort last. Marie Kondo also suggests that you finishing discarding, before you do any organising. Mimi finished by showing us the small boxes she uses in her drawers to organise her clothes, including her knickers! We all left the meeting, armed with lots of tips to take home with us.
Jen Broh
Photograph from June Meeting 2019
World Trip on a Bicycle : Pam Goodall
The speaker at our June meeting was the engaging Pam Goodall, who told the story of how at the age of 59, she decided to leave her life in Horsham and cycle solo around the world. Pedalling her way through Europe, Asia and America on her red bike named Alchemy, Pam encountered many characters along the way. Most of them were hugely supportive with their kindness and hospitality, providing food and a bed for the night - sometimes several nights! Pam freely admits that she wasn't an experienced cyclist before she set off on her year long trip and had never fixed a puncture. Which makes it all the more surprising that now at the age of 78, Pam doesn't own a car and her trusty bike is her sole method of travel. Attached to the bike is a small knitted mascot, which you sense has travelled with Pam for a fair few miles. I asked Pam about the mascot, but she told me I would have to read her book " Riding it Out" to find out more! Intriguing!
Jen Broh
July Meeting 2019
Jubilee Sailing Trust: Steve Poole
The speaker at our July meeting was Steve Poole, a singer and guitarist who has supported the Jubilee Sailing Trust for many years. The trust runs two Tall Ships, the Lord Nelson and the Tenacious, which are designed so they can be sailed by a mixed ability crew, including people with a wide variety of impairments and health conditions. a number of the sailors use wheelchairs. Sadly, Steve told us the Lord Nelson will soon be retired, because of recent expensive damage to the ship. We saw some inspiring photos from the various sailing voyages of which Steve has been part and he also sang us a number of sea related songs and sea shanties, including Sloop John B, Sailing and The Drunken Sailor. A very entertaining evening.
Jen Broh
Photographs from April Meeting 2019
Bags & Hats from Madagascar
Photographs from March Meeting 2019
Life on a Harp String
Photographs from March Meeting 2018
Lavender Ribbon Cushions
August's Monthly Meeting
20.08.18
Line Dancing
Our August meeting was a chance for members to try some line dancing. Our instructor, Beryl, soon had us on our feet and showing us some simple steps so that we could ( hopefully) move our feet in the right
order. The accompanying music soon had us bobbing away and everyone had a good time. A very enjoyable evening and a big thank you to Beryl.
Speakers 2022
10th January : Zoom, Neil Sadler, 'Gonzoogling for beginners, life on the canals '
14th February : Zoom, Alison Hoyland, image consultant ' Power of Style'
14th March : Lesley North, 'Swimming in Suburbia'
11th April : Steve Lewis, press photographer, 'My life as a photographer'
9th May : Ray Watters, drum group workshop 'Drum with us'
13th June : Annual Summer Party celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with themed quiz.
11th July : Jeff Rozzalaar, 'Bagels & Bacon, growing up in the East End'
8th August : Louise Camby, 'Bees and their amazing products'
12th September : Siobhan Daniels, 'Travels in a campervan'
10th October : Callum Russell, from Sight for Surrey on his life.
14th November : David Allen, 'The weird and wonderful world of law'
12th December : Christmas Party & 8th BBWI Birthday
