Other connections were made and we found that both WIs had walking groups. It was suggested that we might get the groups together to explore each other’s part of the county. It took quite a bit of comparing dates and ideas, but eventually in November 2023 four members of Sopley Village WI were picked up from Basingstoke Station by four members of Oakley & Deane WI and we all went to Steventon, a very small village not far from Oakley where Jane Austen was born. After a look round the lovely small church (see picture of us all in front of the church, taken by the very friendly local postman), we walked around Steventon, seeing the field in which the rectory, where Jane was born, used to be. Then we went to Oakley, enjoying a lunch in the local pub and visit to the village pond, before taking the Sopley ladies back to Basingstoke for their train. We were so lucky with the weather, the next day was very wet. We all got along famously and there is a plan for the Oakley walkers to visit Sopley and walk around Christchurch in the spring next year.