2020

2020

Feb                  History Of Haunted Huntingdon with Mark Egerton

March               Cancelled - no meeting

Lockdown starts in March Online offer

April                 Cancelled - no meeting

May                  Cancelled - no meeting

June                 Godmanchester Plant Nursery with Oscar Jeakings – cancelled. Virtual gathering

July                  WW2 talk with Roger Leviers – cancelled. Virtual gathering

Summer social in person at the Old Bridge Hotel

September        Virtual Gathering

October             Harvest Festival including readings

November         Guide Dogs are for life

December         Beetle drive and Christmas Quiz night – held online as hoped!

January            WW2 talk with Roger Leviers

February           Show The Love – all things green

March               Godmanchester Plant Nursery with Oscar Jeakings

We started the year, like all WI’s with a planned programme of meetings and expecting a ‘normal’ year of activity. We were aware from news headlines over the first few weeks of the year that Covid 19 existed but had no idea what was to unfold. By March 23rd we were heading into a ‘lockdown’ thinking we were all going home for a week or so. We cancelled our meetings with the thought that we would resume the programme as soon as the Government released us from being asked to stay at home.  Our wider community rallied round and sourced food and medicines for those who couldn’t get out, which included many of our ladies.  We kept in touch by email but still though it was a short-term prospect. It then dawned on everyone that this was not going to be over quickly, and we considered the radical suggestion that we could meet over the internet as a stop gap.  It was not something we had practiced and most of us had no idea how it would work but we gave it tr with help some one or two who were doing this for work.  A few met the first month with more joining for subsequent meetings.  We had the usual challenges of making the technology work – switching cameras on and off, muting and unmuting microphones and glimpses of people’s domestic arrangements! For many it was an important lifeline. But we didn’t forget the members who couldn’t, or preferred not, to join us online – offering help, reaching out with cards and small gifts as well a regular newsletter (hand delivered) to know they were very much part of our group. We were looking forward to seeing them in 2019.

To note we changed our AGM date from November, in line with national advice, and will now hold our AGM in March 2022.  Our committee kindly agreed to hold on until then!