DENMAN College in Oxfordshire is owned by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes – and a very special place it is. Ann Wood, immediate past president of Eardisley WI, was recently successful in obtaining a grant from Awards For All to fund 29 members going on a Denman course.

Six of these are attending courses on different dates but 23 women set off by coach on Friday, March 20, for a weekend treat (appropriately finishing on Mothers’ Day).

Over a year, Denman runs scores of different courses on a huge range of subjects. On this weekend, three courses were available: top 100 musicals, digital photography and craft medley. Participants in the first of these learnt about the history of musicals as they developed from opera and operetta, and spent some time singing numbers from Joseph, Les Misérables, The Sound of Music and Hairspray. The photography students (in perfect weather all weekend and in surroundings described variously as beautiful, delightful, picturesque and romantic) learnt to exploit much more of the potential of their digital cameras.

The craftswomen learnt techniques enabling them to make beautifully decorated greetings cards and gift boxes.

To judge from comments, whichever course they were doing, everyone had a great time: “I enjoyed being entertained by someone who is obviously very passionate about his subject” (Carole); “lovely break in delightful surroundings” (Chris); “Denman is a very special place. There are always smiling faces and so much laughter” (Avril); “the ‘Denman experience’ has to be part of your WI life. It emphasises what WI is all about and strengthens your commitment to the movement” (Gladys).