Claire - President
I am Brighton born and bred but have just returned from living in Dubai for 17 years, so getting back to being a Brightonian meant making new friends and joining some clubs. The Brighton Belles seemed like a great place to start! I love the meetings, book club and the social aspect as well as the new friends I have made and am now president so getting more involved and loving it!
Heidi - Treasurer and Membership Secretary
I joined the Belles in 2010 and became treasurer a year later. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for! However, I do love a spreadsheet so it suits me well.
Born and bred in Brighton, I work as a software engineer for an IT company
in Worthing. An obsessive crocheter, I also enjoy being a vegetarian, all sorts of crafts, playing the piano, practicing mindfulness and being tall.
I live with my retired partner Dave who looks after me and a Bulgarian rescue dog called Treacle.
Lynda
On moving to Brighton in the Summer of 2014 I wanted to meet some new
people. Joining the Belles was the ideal choice. It is a fun group for
all ages. It helped me settle back in the UK after living overseas for
over 8 years. Now I am giving back to the group by joining the Committee
and have taken over the running of the Book Group. When not out
attending WI events I run a Property Development company with my
brother. I love gardening, crafting, reading and playing golf badly (my son can attest to this!).
Rehanon
I’m
Rehanon and I help out with PR and events on the committee. I like to think of myself as a woman around town. I’m as likely to be found
sipping a cocktail whilst sashaying across a dancefloor as I am to be curled up in front of the fireplace at my local pub stitching and
bitching with the girls. It’s the variety I enjoy in life that spurred me on to join the WI in 2012. The cross section of women you get to meet and the things we learn and take part in are so vast. I mean brewing one month, burlesque another. I also enjoy the charitable aspect of being part of the Brighton Belles, getting to give back to my local community which is hugely satisfying. When I’m not WI-ing, I’m freelancing in PR, being a seamstress or running up hills. The one thing that ties it all together is that whatever I’m doing I’m usually doing it in leopard print. It’s a neutral don’t you know.
Sue
I joined Brighton Belles in 2017. If you want to join a WI with really interesting meetings, great women of all ages and a welcoming atmosphere this is the place for you.
I was a social worker in London. My husband and I moved to Brighton in 2015. We love living in this delightfully quirky city, seeing the sea every day.
I am a mother of two and recently became the Grandmother. My children may no longer live in the same city or even country as me but was not WhatsApp designed to keep track of your kids?
Ann
I returned to the UK in 1991, after having lived in Yugoslavia for 8 years. I’m now a retired teacher. My retirement “present” was to travel overland to Singapore and then Australia and South America. I joined Brighton Belles about 6 years ago. I am the person who organises the Stitch and Bitch Zoom meetings. We enter competitions when we can, and have been successful with most entries.
