Over the coming year, we aim to offer members the opportunity to hear and interact with some fantastic speakers on many different topics. Members receive a monthly newsletter detailing what’s coming up, but can keep up to date via our social media pages: Facebook , Instagram (fulhamchelseawi) and Twitter (@fulhamwi) which are updated regularly.
Monday 9th January: Alice Hart-Davis, award-winning beauty journalist and author of The Tweakments Guide. Alice shared her extensive knowledge of the industry, having spent 20 years catching up with the practitioners, dermatologists, formulators and brands behind these fast-expanding technologies and the latest products, and having tried out a huge number of ‘miracle creams’, latest facials and cosmetic procedures in order to write about them. She is enthusiastic about the potential of tweakments for making people look that bit better, which in turn makes them feel better about themselves and better able to get on with the rest of their lives. But she is also more convinced than ever that a proper skincare routine, however simple, is fundamental both to skin health, and to looking healthy. We also gave away two copies of Alice’s books in a free raffle. You can follow Alice on her website and Instagram.
Monday 6th February: Hannah Porter of Restoration London. We practiced some Japanese visible mending techniques, including sashiko and boro stitch mending on various pieces of denim and a couple of canvas tote bags. It was a very sociable evening, and everyone enjoyed trying something new – whether or not they’d ever tried sewing before!
Monday 6th March: Lindsey Barrell, British Sign Language. Lindsey was such an engaging and amusing speaker, and it was fascinating learning more about BSL – and we all learned to sign our names.
Monday 3rd April: Hannah Joyce, Textile Conservator, V&A– In her talk: Textile Conservation: Behind the Seams, Hannah explained what her role at the museum involves and shared some of her work on recent fascinating projects. In 2022, Hannah designed the ‘Where’s Winnie’ craft competition for the WI, to knit a corgi to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We also held our Spring raffle with some lovely prizes!
Tuesday 2nd May: Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times and Personal Finance Journalist of the Year in 2022. Claer gave us a brilliant talk on a wide range of issues that we should be thinking about at different stages of our life and careers, from pensions, savings and investments, and not forgetting that pot of easily accessible cash for a rainy day. One of the most important points I took from the meeting concerned an expression of wishes where you give written instructions for what happens to your pension pot when you die. Claer was amusing, and ended up answering so many questions that it was close to the longest meeting we’d ever had! Her new book, What They Don’t Teach You About Money was published in April this year.
Monday 5th June: Valuation evening with Dawsons Auctioneers and Valuers. Our very own Antiques Road Show! Dig out your old jewelry, books, pictures or any other item you think might be of value, and their experts will be happy to look at it.
Monday 3rd July: Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Menopause – educator, journalist, editor, campaigner and writer.
Monday 7th August: Summer outing
Monday 4th September: Speaker TBC
Monday 2nd October: FCWI’s 20th birthday party!
Monday 6th November: AGM
Monday 4th December: Festive crafting event