Gt Bookham Belles WI

We welcomed Andy Relf to our May meeting to hear his talk on The History of Plastic Surgery and the Advances Made Since World War I. The talk explored how plastic surgery developed out of necessity during and after the First World War.

We were delighted to welcome Hayley Scott from The Forensic Experience. A former Crime Scene Investigator with 14 years of experience and over 10,000 crime scenes attended, Hayley shared truly fascinating insights into the world of forensics. forensicexperience.com/

Fun was had at our Women in Business event! We were lucky to be joined by so many fabulous women and even luckier that four of the exhibitors were members of our WI 😊 A special thank you to Roni B for sharing her inspiring story about starting her business @RoniBKitchen 💖

A great start to 2026 with a captivating talk from Jason Sandy - Thames Mudlarker. He captivated everyone with fascinating stories from the River Thames, sharing incredible finds and insights into London’s hidden history really bringing the past to life

The Belles gathered for a final festive meeting🎄kicking off fundraising for our Charity of the year East Surrey Domestic Abuse Service and then challenged our crafting skills felting an adorable seasonal mouse. Wishing all our members a very happy and healthy end to the year🎉

We kicked off the festive season in style with a Christmas meal at The Old Crown in Bookham🎄 A wonderful evening was had by all, filled with laughter, good company, and plenty of Christmas cheer. A big thank you to the fantastic staff for helping make the night such fun! 🎅

A great pleasure to present a cheque to our Charity of the Year Chloe's and Sophie's Special Ears Fund, which supports children and young people with hearing impairments. We also awarded our new bursaries and celebrated Carla being confirmed as our President for another year.

Amanda and Kara from @CunninghamEves Solicitors joined us for our October meeting. They shared legal advice and helpful information on topics we all need to know more about, from wills to power of attorney. Thank you for such an informative and enjoyable session 👍

A Calming Start to the Season ✨ An inspiring and soothing talk from rosdodd.com all about managing stress and finding moments of calm in everyday life 🌿Ros shared simple, practical techniques to help us slow down, breathe more deeply, and make space for relaxation.

Huge thanks to Dr. Anica Zeyen for joining us representing @guidedogs! A Professor of entrepreneurship and inclusion, supported by guide dogs like Lassie (2023 Guide Dog Partnership of the Year) & now Maisie, Anica shared her incredible story. Maisie was a hit, greeting everyone!

Our Out & About group had an a great trip to @AdamAaronson Glass Studio in West Horsley for a glass-blowing demonstration! It was a really fascinating (if a little hot!) trip. Adam creates sculptures, bowls, door handles at his studio. To learn more visit: adamaaronson.com

At last night’s Belles WI meeting, we had a great craft meeting where we decorated our Jolly Jars filled with sweets ready for Bookham Village Day. Visit our stall on Saturday, 21st June and try your luck to win one! #BookhamVillageDay #JollyJars #teddybearspicnic

At our latest m WI meeting, Tammy Ellis gave a fascinating talk on art ownership, authorship & creativity. Thought-provoking & insightful—thank you, Tammy! #Art #whosartisitanyway

We’re thrilled to share that we raised £500 for the wonderful @cssef A huge thank you to local historian Vivien White, who captivated an audience of 40 with the fascinating story of two families who shaped Little Bookham—the Maddoxs & the Pollens. A great talk for a great cause!

We had a fantastic Christmas meeting filled with festive fun! Members made beautiful garlands with cinnamon, dried fruit & cones. Our raffle raised £300 for @cssef -thank you! Mulled wine, mince pies, & Christmas jumpers made it magical. #MerryChristmas!

We kicked off our return from summer break with Dr. Nick Barratt, genealogist and former consultant for "Who Do You Think You Are?" He shared fascinating behind-the-scenes insights from the show's evolution over 20 years, captivating our members throughout. @familyhistorysh

We supported our charity of the year, Leatherhead Swans at their ‘Teas on the Green’ fundraiser where Belles baked & served cakes. It raised £800 despite big sporting finals! We hope to add to this with our ‘Race Night’ fundraiser on Sept 21st. Learn more: greatbookhambelleswi.org/eve…

Our ‘Out & About’ group visited @HighClandon Estate Vineyard & superb Art’s and Sculpture exhibition. It was a beautiful afternoon looking at all the exhibits and enjoying the country air. The afternoon was rounded off with a nice glass of bubbly from the Vineyard.

Our July Social was extra special this year. We invited back Eco-Social Enterprise speakers to sell their goods & share recycling tips. Our group leaders were also on hand to showcase various activities beyond monthly meetings. We raised £245 for our charity while enjoying fizz!

#Bookham Village Day is a great event that the Belles have enjoyed for 10 yrs. This year, we created Olympic-themed Jolly Jars. Despite the awful weather, our beautifully decorated stall won 'Best Dressed Stall' again, raising £262 for the BCA! Thanks to all who helped ☺️