The History of Bucks WIs Keep Britian Tidy (1950s)
| The 1950s and Keep Britain Tidy |
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1950 WIs were formed at Steeple Claydon and Westcott. 1951 Miss Mitchell, Chairman of the Handicrafts Committee, presented Her Majesty the Queen, who was then Princess Elizabeth, with a luncheon cloth, representing four years’ work by members from all over the county. The Produce Guild continued to flourish and a great deal of canning was successfully organised, while music and drama festivals were as popular as ever. The County Handicraft Exhibition was held in December, with 1,005 entries from 100 WIs. Freda, Countess of Listowel, performed the opening ceremony and in the afternoon the exhibition was visited by HRH The Duchess of Kent. No new WIs were formed this year. 1952 The Music Committee organised an outdoor festival on 19th June, in the grounds of Missenden Abbey. The weather was fine and many members enjoyed the beautiful singing of rounds and madrigals. The Drama Committee continued with its annual festivals, with 52 teams taking part in the 7 area festivals. Many members sent help to the victims of the Lynmouth flood disaster in the summer, helping to replenish store-cupboards and supplying household necessities. Mrs. Drummond of Chalfont St. Peter WI won a competition to design a tablecloth to be used by the Chairman at BFWI meetings. The members of her WI embroidered the cloth on linen. WIs were formed at Beachampton, Colnbrook, Gawcott and North Crawley. 1953 226 singers took part in a performance of Handel’s “L’Allegro” in Aylesbury Town Hall on 4th November. WIs were formed at Ford, Penn Street, and Simpson & Wroughton. 1954 The National Federation, under its Chairman Elizabeth Lady Brunner, passed a resolution to Keep Britain Tidy. A new WI was formed at Nash. 1955 At the annual Council meeting members were asked to help in persuading parents to have their children immunised against diphtheria. A scheme was started offering members the opportunity to buy a selection of bulbs at slightly reduced prices. A total of 20,550 bulbs were ordered and distributed. An Art Exhibition of members’ work, numbering 100 entries, was held at High Wycombe Library at the end of July, which aroused much interest. Considerable damage was caused to the County Office on 2nd August, when a runaway lorry crashed into the building completely demolishing the corner and front wall to the right of the front door. Fortunately there was nobody in the office as it was holiday time. WIs were formed at Ibstone, Moulsoe and Ravenstone. 1956 Over 350 members attended a Musical Garden Party in May and two Singing Afternoons in the autumn. WIs were formed at Templewood and Chalfont Common. 1957 There was a growing demand for evening meetings, for the sake of the many women who were out at work during the day or tied at home by young children. WIs were formed at Flackwell Heath (evening), Lavendon, Maids Moreton, Prestwood (evening) and Wheeler End. 1958 Her Royal Highness was presented with a bouquet by Mrs. Kath Dollimore who, at 80, was the oldest member of Ivinghoe & Pitstone – the oldest WI in the County. Standing behind Her Royal Highness is the County Chairman, Cecily Gamlen. After the deduction of expenses, the proceeds of the Rally, including donations, were given to the retiring Federation Secretary after 18 years of service, as she was unable to benefit under the contributory pension scheme. There were now only 6 canning centres left in the county. WIs were formed at Bletchley (evening), Chalfont St. Giles (evening) and Holmer Green. 1959 One of the resolutions passed at the Council Meeting was “that we should do our utmost to ensure that the revolting and inhuman practice of keeping hens in battery cages be declared illegal”. The County Handicraft Show was held in High Wycombe Town Hall in September. Lady Brunner opened the show and over 1,000 entries were staged. A performance of “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast” took place at the Grange School, Aylesbury in June. Fifteen choirs took part and were accompanied by a string orchestra. The County Office at Admiral Napier House was under threat of demolition due to new development proposals, so a search was on for another suitable office. WIs were formed at Leckhampstead and Little Chalfont (evening). The WIs at Speen, Cublington, and Little Marlow & Well End were re-formed after a short suspension due to wartime conditions. At the end of the decade there were 174 WIs in the County with a total membership of 9,563. |
The first Buckinghamshire Room at Denman College was furnished from Federation funds. Several members also contributed items of handicraft. 
The Women’s Institute and other voluntary bodies had met as the Keep Britain Tidy Group. In Buckinghamshire the campaign was wholeheartedly supported by the WIs, many of whom took action by keeping their own village tidy. 
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra attended the County Rally held on 28th June at Hampden House. Nearly 5,000 WI members and friends saw a grand parade of banners and a pageant giving a picture of the various well-known families living in Buckinghamshire at the time of the first Queen Elizabeth.