Our former President, Christine Toogood
Our former President, Christine, sadly passed away on 3 November 2022. Below is the eulogy which Gladys, our Secretary, read at her funeral,
Christine Toogood – One of the four founding members of Wanstead WI, President for many years, also served as Secretary, but always on the Committee. She loved the WI, its members and activities and generally loved being involved in whatever was going on. Always, always with a smile on her face and a happy disposition.
It would be so easy to use lovely superlatives about our Christine, but here are a few comments from the WI Committee:-
“Such a sad loss of a happy, enthusiastic person, full of life. I am enriched by having known her and spent so much time in her company over the years. She was really committed to Wanstead WI and thought a lot about what we could do at evening meetings and at additional activities”.
“A lovely lady, dear to all of us at the WI. Kind, thoughtful, quietly assertive, with a gift for bringing people together. Always with a generous smile. Wrote a hundred personal WI Christmas cards every year, one for every member! Loved the trips we did, whether a theatre, museum outing, a trip to the seaside or a walk through the bluebells in Wanstead Park. It was always a happy meeting if you saw her in Wanstead High Street”.
“We are indebted to Christine who had a vision of establishing a Women’s Institute in Wanstead. From small beginnings we grew to a successful and popular branch, offering women friendship, a rich and varied programme and speakers, activities and outings. Christine was fun, energetic, hardworking, kind and appreciative”.
“Christine had a remarkable gift for remembering faces and names. I had only been to the WI twice when I was approached in the library by someone who I thought I had seen somewhere before …. She greeted me by name and talked enthusiastically about the speaker we had heard at the previous WI meeting. Ah yes, I realised, this was the President of the WI, recognising me!”
“She had a fondness for the Rock Choir, her garden and my rhubarb jam!”
“She was always keen to ensure that everyone had an opportunity to contribute and get involved, so nobody felt left out”.
Goodbye dear Christine. Thank you for enriching our lives. Rest in peace.