Hunston WI

On January 12, 22 members and one guest gathered in Hunston Village hall for the first meeting of the new year.

Also present was the speaker for the afternoon, Sylvia Endacott, and her friend.

President Dawn Sudbury welcomed us all and Jerusalem was sung.

Denise Lickorish, Anne Hack, Pat Carroll, Barbs Harper, Rosemary Cox, Jean Hewett, Greta Byers and Jan Parsons had sent apologies for various reasons, including holidays and Covid precautions.

Di Redford was thanked once again for the table flowers and then the record of the last meeting, the Christmas Party, was read out.

Everybody agreed that the party had been most enjoyable.

Members who had attended the meal at the Palm Restaurant were also full of praise.

There is no West Sussex news in January but there was a letter from

West Sussex federation concerning the possible future production of this and whether we continue to buy it as real printed items or to continue as it has since the beginning of the pandemic as an online publication and the relevant costs.

We were also given an indication of the present state of Hunston WI’S present funds

There had been very few present at the last committee meeting and so there were no future plans at this time.

Secretary however, wished to know that everybody was happy to continue using profit from the raffle and sales table to offset the July and December parties.

The commission rate of 20 per cent of goods sold on the sales table going to WI funds also had to be agreed upon.

Joan Foster wished to tell members about a new venture for the village in a one-hour singing session for anyone wishing to join on the first Friday of each month at 12.15pm.

Our speaker Sylvia Endacott then took us through a collection of slides which she had prepared for the 100 years celebration of the Picturedrome Cinema in 2019.

In fact the collection was a complete history of the building which had stood there for 135 years.

In 1885 it was a ballroom, and community meeting room.

After the coronation of George V the small hall became the Queen’s Hall.

It was much used for events raising funds for the poor of the district.

Children were given a half-day holiday to be able to see an early film about ‘Our Navy’ – it was used as a roller skating rink, and for whist drives.

In 1910 it was announced that the Assembly Rooms were to be sold and it was after that that it was altered to become a cinema but still had meeting rooms within the building.

There were dancing classes, a pool room and Every Woman’s Health held lectures there, while in the Octagon room there was a preparatory and nursery school.

It could still be hired for private events and fund raising.

In 1982 as video films became the thing it was to be sold – to be razed and rebuilt as flats.

It was saved however and now has five cinema screens.

Sylvia was warmly thanked for the interesting talk by Sally Bamforth.

Refreshments were served by Gay Stacey and Anne Duffy, and members could mingle to chat while also putting their vote for their chosen resolution from the short list for discussion in June at the National Federation of WI Annual meting in Liverpool.

Arrangements were made for the February 9 meeting at 2pm.

Barbs Harper will be talking about Kosovo.

Bring along a holiday souvenir for exhibition.

After tea there will be a game of Hoy!

Flowers for the month were in short supply and was won by Di Redford’s.

The raffle was drawn and then the president’s raffle of a hamper was won by Jill Hodnett.

Dawn Sudbury decided that the table flowers should go this month to Joan Duberley because she does so much for our WI.