Chatteris Women's Institute - October 2025

Talk, Woodturning Demonstration & "Have A Go" Session

It was great to be invited to the Chatteris WI group yesterday evening. We received a lovely, warm welcome and it was nice for me too as a few years ago I had started taking my mum to their regular meetings, so I recognised some familiar faces.

We set up the lathe and then provided the group with a talk about what we do here at Blended Monkey, including our creative therapy work, our 1-2-1 and pairs workshops & our guest tutor small-group experiences, where we invite guest tutors here to our Blended Monkey Studios in Upwell to come and teach their craft.

Simon then gave a demonstration of woodturning on the electric lathe, turning a honey spoon which he then presented to the group to be used as a raffle prize. Following on from the demo, members were then invited to come up and have a go at woodturning themselves - and a couple of the ladies did indeed have a go. Well done to them for trying a new craft!

As we had some time left, Simon then turned a little mushroom to be included as another raffle prize for the group.

Thank you to the Chatteris WI ladies for their warm welcome.

If you live in the Chatteris area and would like to join this friendly, welcoming group, I'm sure they'd love to see some more faces and have some fresh input.

The ladies meet on the second Thursday of each month at the King Edward Community Centre, located on King Edward Road, Chatteris, PE16 6NG. The meeting starts at 7 PM and finishes at 9.00 pm, but for more information or to confirm details, get in touch with Sharon Selman, the Chatteris WI president, on 01354 694298 or 07811 676909.

One of the Chatteris WI ladies having a go at woodturning

Simon turning a honey spoon as his demo at the Chatteris WI

Group of Chatteris WI ladies watching Simon demonstrating woodturning

Woodturning talk, demo & "have a go" session