The WI Story

The original objective of the WI was to ensure, through education, that women would be able to play their part in forging a better future – the skills they learned would make them more capable of feeding and caring for their families and in the community they would have more confidence to express their views and to work together to get things done.

Much has changed since the first meetings in 1917, not least the role of women in the home and the workplace, and WI has endeavoured to change with the times whilst at the same time remaining true to the philosophy of its founding members.

Aimed at all women, we are a lively group with an interest in what is happening locally, nationally and internationally – and we don’t take ourselves too seriously! We are non-sectarian, non-racist, non-political and non-ageist (in either direction) but we are definitely ‘genderist’ so ladies only, please!

Speakers at our monthly meetings are carefully chosen to cover a wide variety of topics and interests – obviously, like other organisations, we have had the occasional ‘Calendar Girls’ experience but over the years we have been, for the most part, inspired, enlightened and entertained.

We have also enjoyed the wonderful friendship offered by the network of ‘sister’ Institutes across the UK and, through the National Federation of Women’s’ Institutes, we have a powerful voice on the issues and concerns that affect the world we live in.

Our Institute has a long history dating back to its founding in 1917 (two years after the national movement began in 1915). The old minute books provide a fascinating insight into the lives of the members and the community they lived in. Many of the first lectures and discussion topics reflected the needs of a country at war and the importance of producing foodstuffs by making the best use of what was available.

Over the decades that followed, great enterprise and ingenuity were shown in the projects that were undertaken – a soup kitchen, the ‘Patriotic Rabbit Club’ and, yes, a lot of jam making..!

One of the most obvious and lasting examples of WI effort was the fundraising in the mid-1980’s for the new WI Hut – our splendid ‘community hall’ was designed to be user friendly and to provide flexible accommodation for meetings and other events. We are delighted that the Hut has such a high level of usage and those of us who remember our Playgroup committee days as a continual running battle with a hall committee of one type or another are particularly pleased that we are able to provide a venue for Pre-School.

Anyone wishing to book the Hut for a meeting or party should ring our Hut Lettings Secretary, Irmgard Finnigan, (01949) 20215, who will be happy to help.

 December 2009