ACTIVITIES
Apart from the Cricket Coub and Football Club, the village boasts a number of regular activities, the main ones of which are shown above.
In addition there is an Annual Fete which always takes place on the first Saturday in July. This includes the usual stalls, such as the white elephant, cakes, books, produce, tombola, lottery, etc, but also has a number of attractions for all members of the family. In the past these have included pony riding, coconut shy, archery, go cart racing, tug of way and bouncy castle. A band provides background accompaniment and teas are served. The proceeds of the Fete go to a wide range of village organisations in accordance with the wishes of the villagers.
Other fund raising events for charity (e.g. NSPCC and Peggy Dod) and for the Memorial Hall are held most years.
Born out of the vast spaces and loneliness of frontier women in the prairies of Canada, the Women's Institute offered friendship, ideas on home management and social activities. Such was the need it answered that it rapidly spread, first to other countries of the Commonwealth then throughout the world. Local Institutes belong to an area federation, part of the National Organisation, which in turn is part of the larger movement of the Associated Country Women of the World. The W.I. is thus inter-national, national, area and locally organised.
The W.I is a non-political, non-sectarion organisation, but each year we debate resolutions about matters of national concern at the local level; these are then debated at the National AGM and pressure brought to bear on the Government. We have our own college, Denman College, which offers an amazingly varied series of one day, weekend or 4 day courses conducted at professional level, and we offer a biannual bursary to help one of our members attend.
Hinton Branch.
The branch has been existence for over 70 years. It meets on the second Wednesday in the month (except August) at 7.30p.m. in the village hall and the AGM is in November. Aa short business meeting is followed by a talk or demonstration in a widely varied programme. Many of the meetings are open to visitors for a pound to contribute to the cost of the speaker and the delicious cakes. There is also a fortnightly market on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Freshford Village Hall where anyone (not just W.I.members) can sell surplus produce from the garden or any items of home prepared food and keep 90% of the takings. The WI contributes to the success of the annual village fete, and occasionally runs jumble sales, Bring and Buy sales and coffee mornings. It also has day workshops; recent courses have included stencilling and First Aid.
Those interested in joining may attend three meetings before deciding to belong. The annual subscription will be £25 for 2006, payable in January - part of the subscription goes to National, part to Avon and part to run the Hinton Institute. The current officers are:
Secretary Mary Parkes
Treasurer Chris Nalder
Committee Members: Ethel Conway, Catherine Cunningham, Jean Miles and Alison White.
The Toddlers Group meets every Friday in the Memorial Hall from 10.30 am. to 12.00 pm. It caters for children from nursary to shool age and a variety of toys and equipment is available for their use. The cost of each session is £1 per child. Coffee is available for adults. Contact Isla Tuck 722372
ART GROUP
This is an informal and friendly group that meets on Thursday afternoons at 2.00 pm. in the Memorial Hall, or out and about weather permitting. The differing and individual styles, using a variety of medium, all benefit from the advice and expertise of Viv Jackson "the Guru". Contact Viv Jackson 01225 723578.
Anyone over 60 is entitled to join the Over 60s and they meet every month on the third Wednesday for lunch at the Rose and Crown Inn starting at 12.15 pm. The contact is Joan Davison 01225 723385 or David Woods 01225 722360.
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