Meet the Committee

WI for the Modern Woman

Jane Miles

Jane’s our President & a  founding member. She’s been Vice Chair of Essex Fed’s Comms & Marketing Committee & Digital Storyteller, & currently manages their website and socials. Jane’s married with 2 ASD children & is active in the local community, including organising a Tudor Festival. A wannabe  children’s author, a vlogger & L&D graphics consultant, Jane helps run our online groups. Her interests include films, geeky science, Asperger’s & being creative.

President

Viv Shooter

Having recently retired as Headteacher of a primary school she now has more time for social activities and enjoys being on the Belles committee. Retirement has also given  her  more time for her  favourite activities, tennis and golf, as well as leading the Belles  walking group. She is  married with no children and if you don’t see her  at one of our meetings she is  probably on one of her  many well-earned holidays.

Treasurer
Secretary

Tricia Dyke

Tricia deals with all correspondence and keeps members informed via the monthly newsletter. A former primary school Headteacher not quite ready to retire her red pen, Tricia works on a part time basis mentoring student teachers. She likes reading, dabbling in craft and singing in a contemporary choir. Tricia is determined to make the most of her leisure time and get outdoors as much as possible and so started up the Walking Group.

Membership Secretary & Rufuge Liason

Margaret Webb

Margaret is a retired teacher, living in Billericay, and is married with two sons. Margaret is our Membership Secretary and also coordinates our donations to the Basildon Women’s Refuge. She enjoys being outdoors – walking, cycling, and playing tennis – and is also a keen allotment gardener. Other interests are swimming, knitting, and reading.

Minutes Secretary

Liz Southgate

Proud to be an ‘Essex Girl’, and a huge Musical Theatre fan, Liz is President of Brentwood Operatic Society, having hung up her dancing shoes many years ago. Liz loves cats and all things crafty and volunteers behind the scenes at Brentwood Theatre.

Events Photographer

Kirsty Halsey

Kirsty has been a Belle for several years and decided to join the committee to share her photography skills. Kirsty runs her own successful company, Little Black Cat Jewellery, and felt that her experience could also be of use to the Belles and their social media presence.

Social Media Secretary

Nicola Hatch-Lighterness

Nicola has been a Belle for several years and is a proud member of the committee. As a blogger (All Things Spliced – about travel and being a parent), and copywriter, Nic has lots of online social media experience to share and put to good use for the Belles.

Sub Group Coordinator

Gemma Carroll

Gemma moved to Brentwood without knowing anyone in the area and joined the WI to make some new friends. She is mum to two future Belles and works part time as a freelance subeditor/copywriter. She helps keep everyone informed as to when and where our many subgroups take place. 

Bookings & Spring Group Coordinator

Jan Donovan

Jan  joined the Belles after moving to Brentwood. She is a town planner by day, and an amateur potter, clumsy crafter and knotty knitter by night. A proud mum of three boys, Jan enjoys the female friendship of the Belles. 

Webmistress

Rosa Gevaux

Rosa is a writer and educator, and joined the WI to participate in the community dedicated to making Brentwood vibrant and Inspiring Women. She runs Creative Writing Workshops  at the Chicken and Frog Bookshop in Brentwood, and is very active in the Belles. Currently she organizes the Thirsty Thursdays and Neurodivergent Support Sub Groups, and manages the Brentwood Belles website.

Please feel to contact us with your query via email. Keep in mind that our WI Committee are all volunteers.  We will endeavor to reply to you as quickly as we can.

If you have a more general enquiry about the WI, you may want to visit the Women’s Institute website.

We follow the Privacy Policy of the NFWI with regards to all information and data collected. More information on the NFWI Privacy Policy can be found here.