We meet on the third Thursday of the month at Thame Town Hall
Our Committee
This group of ladies keep the organisation going, from processing memberships and payments to organising each monthly event. Thame Belles wouldn't happen without them. We currently have nine committee members. If you'd like to join the committee just get in touch.
Peta King
PRESIDENT
What do you do on the committee?
I look after the database for members details and all the associated admin with that. I work closely with Treasurer Val to make sure our membership details and financial details all match!
What made you want to join the WI?
It was on my list of things to do when I retired.
What is your favourite place in Thame?
Southern Road Rec - it’s local to my home and my family and their families have spent many happy times there.
What's your favourite book?
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy is my current favourite. I was given this for my birthday it’s a wonderful book filled with love and kindness.
What do you do outside the WI?
I’m retired but enjoy spending time with my family, baking, gardening, walking the dog, trying new gins and DanceFit.
What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be good.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I dreamed of being Cabin Crew or at least working at an airport - I still love airports!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Sunday Roast Beef dinner with all the trimmings followed by blackberry and apple crumble with ice cream - yummy.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
1969 - the year I was 16 - when I discovered a whole new and changing world out there.
What has surprised you most about the WI?
The amazing mix of ladies and their hidden talents.
Who do you think is a good role model for women today?
Michelle Obama.
What was the last book you read? What did you think?
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. A newly discovered author and genre for me but I’m really enjoying the mystical and sometimes dark story telling.
What was the last movie you watched? What did you think?
The Lady in the Van on TV - the story of a true British eccentric which made me smile. Dame Maggie Smith was brilliant.
Do you collect anything?
Happy memories and photos.
What’s one of your ambitions in life?
To visit the Scilly Islands
Deborah Laxton
RESOLUTIONS CHAMPION &
VICE PRESIDENT
What do you do on the committee?
I assist my fellow committee members to ensure our meetings run smoothly. I'm also in charge of the refreshment budget so make sure we are fully stocked with tea and coffee! I have recently taken on the role of resolutions champion to try to get our members better informed and enthused about them.
What made you want to join the WI?
I wanted to be a part of something that was time for me, so I could be just Debs
How do you spend your time outside the WI?
I am part of a book club and at the moment I am busy looking after my baby boy
What's your favourite book?
I don't really have a favourite book but I have read some fantastic books this year. I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh a great thriller with lots of twists and Philomena by Martin Sixsmith a true story about a mother who gave up her son but never stopped looking for him. Her son also looked for her. Both brilliant reads I couldn't put them down!
What's the most important lesson life has taught you?
Never look back - onwards and upwards!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Christmas dinner - roast turkey with all the trimmings and cranberry sauce followed by Christmas pudding with lots of double cream - yummy!
Val Symonds
TREASURER
What do you do on the committee?
I am the Treasurer which means I am responsible for dealing with all our financial transactions and
the accounting processes.
What made you want to join the WI?
I had recently stopped full time work and was looking for new interests, to meet people and become
more involved with local Thame community
What is your favourite place in Thame?
Before lockdown - Thame’s pubs, cafes and local shops. Post lockdown - the countryside behind the
Rugby Club where we have spent many hours enjoying the local walks
What's your favourite book?
No real favourite - I just like to read
What do you do outside the WI?
I’m a volunteer and Trustee at the Thame Senior Friendship Club (formerly Thame Day Centre), love
to travel, cook and visit family and friends
What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?
Always look for the positives and treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
An Air Hostess - clearly before the days of Easyjet and Ryanair!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably Shepherd’s Pie made with slow roasted lamb
What has surprised you most about the WI?
How different in character the local WI Groups seem to be. I had always thought it was a club for
older ladies who liked to sit and sew or knit whilst drinking tea.
Do you collect anything?
Those that know me well would say handbags, shoes and scarves
Sarah Meier
SECRETARY
What do you do on the committee?
I am the secretary. Which means I work closley with the President and, like her, deal with the WI's consitution and rules. I share responsibility for the general arrangement of meetings and the smooth conduct of WI business. I write agendas and take minutes at comittee meetings.
What made you want to join the WI?
Friendship, activities, recently gave up permanent job as nurse practitioner so wanted something to keep my mind active.
How do you spend your time outside the WI?
Looking after my 2 daughters and taking them to various activities. Crochet, knitting, cooking, containing husband's enthusiasm.
Where is your favourite place in Thame?
I like the outdoor spaces and variety of parks, go to the quiz at the Cross Keys most weeks, and enjoy wandering round the town centre.
What was the last movie you watched? What did you think?
The 100 Foot Journey. It was really refreshing and heat warming. A real feel good film for all ages.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
A teacher or an orchestra member.
Sarah Griffey
COMMITTEE MEMBER
What do you do on the committee?
I provide the link between the OFWI (Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes) and Thame Belles.
Jane's on the left of the picture and I am on the right.
What made you want to join the WI?
I really wanted to meet women in a social context. My work in the aerospace industry is very male-dominated.
What is your favourite place in Thame?
The James Figg
What's your favourite book?
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I absolutely love a thriller and this novel has really stood the test of time. Those haunting opening lines. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” still send shivers..
What do you do outside the WI?
I work in an aerospace consultancy focusing on deep space exploration. I am also this year’s chair of Tetsworth Village Fete; I’m trying to improve my sewing, knitting and crochet projects, with varying degrees of success. Belong to the wonderful Belles Book Club. Visit the Ashmolean in Oxford whenever there’s a great exhibition. Walk in the country when it’s not pouring with rain.
What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?
Always go forward, never go back.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
A trapeze artist!
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Broccoli with chilli flakes. And a glass of champagne.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
To the Summer of 1915, to shadow Vera Brittain as she works as a Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurse
What has surprised you most about the WI?
Its desire to improve the lot of women across all communities. That it still has a popular appeal to all age groups and outlooks.
Who do you think is a good role model for women today?
That’s a tough one. Angelina Jolie. She’s lived a full life, seems to put her family first; addresses uncomfortable yet important issues affecting women who have no official voice.
What was the last movie you watched? What did you think?
Does Series II of The Crown, count?! The best dramatization I’ve ever seen about the Royal Family. Fascinating insights into our country’s history.
Jane Hornby
COMMITTEE MEMBER
What do you do on the committee?
I'm the founder of THame Belles and I have been Preisdent and Vice president during my time! Along with the team, I set the tone of our WI and put together ideas for the sessions. We want our members to be inspired and inspiring, enabled, motivated, and be able to learn new skills together whilst having a good time!
What made you want to join the WI?
My parents were in the Round Table and Ladies' Circle when I was young, and I saw what great fun and friendship this brought them (and still does). I'm the kind of person that likes to belong to something - and the WI's values and traditions fit with mine. Moving from London three years ago was the spur really, as I was keen to make friends and become more involved in the community. I met Kelly at Denman, we hatched a plan and here we are.
How do you spend your time outside the WI?
Mostly in the kitchen. I'm a cookery writer and food stylist which means that I develop recipes at home for all sorts of food clients, mainly magazines, and then make the food look pretty behind the camera somewhere in a studio in London. I also write and edit cook books.
What is your favourite book?
The Little Friend by Donna Tartt
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A cheeseboard with amazing bread and pickles. Or proper ragu pasta. Both with red wine!
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
I love deco style, so some point in the Thirties perhaps.
Mairi Lovatt-Smith
PROGRAMME
& COMMUNICATIONS