Calendar - 2025/2026

Our Membership Year runs from April 2025 to March 2026.

28 April Line Dancing - Vicki Frennessen, DanceRite Principal

DanceRite School of Ballroom & Latin dancing is located in Basingstoke, Hampshire and Camberley & Guildford, Surrey. The principals, Fredric & Vicki Frennessen cater for all, from beginners to advanced, and from the young to the young at heart. Come and try line dancing in a friendly environment. Make sure to wear comfy shoes.

19 May Action for Carers - Tim Bevans, Chief Exec.

The charity which helps Surrey’s unpaid carers, aged 5-95, giving advice, support, information, a range of online and in person free activities. It helps people to feel more in control of their lives and less alone. There are a lot of carers out there who do not even realise they are caring. Come and learn about this wonderful charity, and you might realise you are a carer or know somebody who is.

16 June Forensics - Hayley Scott

Crime Scene Examiner with over 14 years of experience working with the Metropolitan Police.

21 July Storyteller - Alistair Daniel

Alastair is a performance storyteller. He specialises in a participative style of storytelling in which a conversation is created between teller and audience. Sit back and enjoy an enthralling evening of storytelling.

August ** No Meeting, Social Gathering instead. Date TBC.

15 September Ghosts - Sarah Slater

Sarah is warder and guide at Hampton Court for nearly 20 years, shares the human stories of those who lived and worked within Hampton Court Palace walls over the centuries and to the present day. Wearing period costume, Sarah will regale you with tales of ghosts that haunt the palace rooms and reveal the secrets and scandals of the royal court. Her takes will keep you on the edge of your seat. Not for the faint hearted!

20 October Beetle Drive

And

21 October Joint Chobham Ridges Meeting

17 November Annual General Meeting & History of Pantomine

Considered one of the most quintessentially British traditions, the pantomime is a must for thousands of families. Today we associate pantomimes with recognisable names from soap operas and talent shows taking to the stage for fun and laughter, but where did the tradition begin? Fun and laughter will fill this evening - Oh no it won’t. Oh yes it will!

15 December Christmas Party

Enjoy the festive cheer and a relaxing evening in the company of your WI friends. Bring and share some good food, and use the opportunities to get to know other Athena members better.

19 January Athena's 7th year Anniversary & Scottish Country Dancing

A fun evening to get the blood pumping and toes tapping. A typical Scottish Country Dance consists of a series of formations that are arranged in a different sequence for each dance. Learn about it and have a go!

9 February Essie Fox, Author. Her debut novel, The Somnambulist, was selected for the Channel 5 Book Club. The Fascination was an instant Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller, and her forthcoming novel, Dangerous is a dark mystery featuring Lord Byron, when the poet resided in Venice.

16 March Milliner (TBC)

* All Speakers are subject to change