The History of Bucks WIs Into a New Century
| Into a New Century |
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| Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:21 |
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2000 Mrs. Margaret Scott, of Lane End Evening WI, was commissioned by the Executive Committee to design and paint the page depicting Buckinghamshire for the Denman College Millennium Book. This she did most beautifully, the background being a beech tree and the page showing buildings and places of interest in Buckinghamshire along with our native flora and fauna. Mrs. Scott was presented with a framed copy of her work, and there are also framed copies at the Federation Office and in the Buckinghamshire room at Denman College. A further publication in partnership with Countryside Books, “Buckinghamshire Good Old Days 1939-1969”, was launched at the October Council Meeting. A WI was formed at Fairford Leys. 2001 In August 200 members enjoyed “A Russian Caravan Tea” and listened to Mr. Sam Twining speak on the history of tea with particular emphasis on Russian Caravan Tea. After sampling this particular tea, together with sandwiches and cakes, Sarah Johnson spoke about Fabergé Eggs – bringing with her some wonderful examples of this particular art. Then, in November, members were back at the Civic Centre for “On Wings of Song” where, with a Victorian parlour recreated on stage, they were taken back in time to the days of songs round the piano and the gentle humour of the Victorian age. 2001 also saw the publication of “Those Were the Days in Buckinghamshire in the Forties, Fifties and Sixties”. This highly entertaining book was written by WI members and published, once again, by Countryside Books. Certainly a good read at £5.95. A WI was formed at Central Milton Keynes. 2002 During the summer months the extensive drama wardrobe was disbanded and WI members, local drama groups and museums were able to take advantage of the varied collection of costumes. The empty room on the ground floor of the County Office was then decorated and transformed into a much needed reception office.
No new WIs were formed this year. 2003 The Buckinghamshire Federation website was launched and members were encouraged to log in and promote their own WI. In March WI members were entertained by the drama team’s production “Off the Peg” held in Princes Risborough. The Federation took part in an International Women’s Day event run by Soroptimist International in Aylesbury, where the Countess of Wessex was pleased to accept a copy of the Buckinghamshire WI publication “Those Were The Days”. No new WIs were formed this year. 2004 Following a request from the National Federation, a full inventory of the fabric archives of all the WIs in Buckinghamshire, along with those of the Federation itself, was conducted in order to enable this to be sent to the National Needlework Archive. Hundreds of items were photographed, measured and detailed as to colour and type of work. The National Federation of Women’s Institutes/Makower Quilt Competition was won by Mrs. Jennifer Sharpe of Marlow Bottom WI. Working in partnership with the County and District Councils, the Education and Current Affairs sub-committee held an Environment Day in High Wycombe Town Hall. At this event a challenge was issued to all those present to reduce by half the amount of refuse placed in their bins. A very eye-catching, eight foot long dragonfly made from plastic bottles, tin cans, plastic bags and wire helped to illustrate the main theme of the meeting. During the year members obtained, through courses run at Denman College, Open College Network Certificates in a wide range of subjects including Independent Financial Examiners Training; Improving Assertiveness; Parchment Craft; Patchwork, Quilting & Appliqué; First Steps in Embroidery; Metal Thread Embroidery; Beading and Beginner’s Watercolours. No new WIs were formed this year. 2005 Members and friends enjoyed “A Night at the Opera” held at Hall Barn, Beaconsfield in June, where they were entertained by four members of the Royal Opera Company singing popular arias from the world of opera. An “Old Time Music Hall” was produced in February with the participation of members throughout the County and produced by Muriel Rutherford of Downley Evening WI, while in December over 400 WI members boarded coaches to Kew Gardens for “The Magic of Christmas”. A WI was formed at Calvert Green. 2006 The National Federation’s “Packaging Day of Action” was supported locally with letters sent to supermarkets and an interview on Three Counties Radio. Following the National Federation’s 90@90 Conference there were three teams working within the county to promote the reduction of waste, energy use and water consumption in members’ homes. Janet Woodall of Emberton WI was trained as a tutor for the Food Standards Agency’s “Let’s Cook” project. This project aims to teach young parents from disadvantaged areas basic food preparation skills and ways of providing a healthy diet on a low budget. The bags entered into the Recycled and Environmentally Friendly Shopping Bag competition at the Chilterns Show demonstrated what could be achieved by using discarded materials, and just how innovative some WI members are. A very successful “Your History” day was held in Cheddington Village Hall where Anne Stamper, National Federation of Women’s Institutes Hon. Archivist, spoke on “Our Living Legacy: Care of the WI’s Archival Treasures", Sue Norton, BFWI Hon. Archivist spoke on “Who were the Men on your Village War Memorial”, and Eve McLaughlin spoke on “Climbing the Family Tree”. A WI was formed at Westbury & District. 2007 In June, Broughton Pastures WI seconded the resolution on the closure of community hospitals at the NFWI Annual General Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall. The WI submitting the resolution had asked them to second it because the only other resolution concerning hospitals had been submited by Broughton Pastures WI. The Exhibition of Tutankhamun’s Treasures at the O2 Dome in London attracted 138 members, which was all the tickets which could be obtained in November. After the cultural content of the day the members were driven through the Christmas lights in central London to complete a magical experience. No new WIs were formed this year. 2008 In April a Basic Food Hygiene course was organised, and all eighteen participants were awarded a Basic Food Hygiene certificate, a qualification which they will use when providing refreshments within the WI and in their local communities. Fabric Archive items from the Federation and from a number of WIs were loaned to NFWI as part of the exhibition “Textile Treasures of the WI”. This exhibition was staged in Exeter, Harrogate and Cardiff in 2007 and in Brighton, Glasgow and Birmingham in 2008. Visits were made to the British Museum’s “First Emperor” exhibition, to Westonbirt Arboretum and to the Dorney Lake Rowing Centre. A”Taste of Poland” day allowed members to find out more about Polish history and culture, while “Eat, Think and Be Healthy” gave them time and information to examine stressful lifestyles and how to make subtle changes for the better. No new WIs were formed this year. 2009 Federation Chairman - Mrs. Jean Morris A resolution “SOS for Honeybees” was debated at the Annual Meeting of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. This resolution highlited the plight of honeybee populations all over the UK, which had suffered huge losses in recent years. The BFWI stands at the Chilterns Show in July and the Bucks County Show in August both featured educational displays about this campaign.
An exhibition of archive material was staged at the new High Wycombe Library. The exhibition, “All Our Yesterdays”, ran for three months and was visited by both WI members and the general public. The history of the WI in Buckinghamshire in words and pictures, from its formation to the present day, was put onto the BFWI website. This will continue to be updated each year. A WI was formed at Stony Stratford (Evening)
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Three very successful fundraising events were held this year. In March members enjoyed “A day with James Martin” at the Civic Centre in Aylesbury, when the celebrity TV chef cooked with panache and entertained his audience with humour and information.
Thirty-eight members of the Buckinghamshire Federation had the honour of preparing and serving tea to over four hundred and fifty guests of the Lord Lieutenant, Sir Nigel Mobbs, KStJ, JP, during the Golden Jubilee visit to Buckinghamshire of HM Queen Elizabeth and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 10th May at Higginson Park, Marlow. The Federation Chairman, Mrs. Ann Spalton, was presented to the Queen and Her Majesty also cut the celebration cake made by Mrs. Spalton.
In August members thronged to the Bucks WI Country Fair held at the Chiltern Open Air Museum. The Group Competition “Our Countryside” was well supported as was the watercolour competition entitled “A Bucks Village Green”. There were craft classes for cosies for teapots and cafetières, domestic classes for spiced honey cake and preserves, and a special class for whisky tea bread (gentlemen only). WI members worked hard to produce Story Sacks, which were beautifully displayed and augmented during the day by the telling of some of the stories. Demonstrations of quilting, gold thread work, paper flowers, lace and knitting were greatly admired along with a “hands on” session of tea bag folding with the Townswomen’s Guild. In all over thirty buildings at the Museum were open and there was even a Wandering Scarecrow and a Swan from Swan FM Radio to be seen on the Village Green.
At the October Council Meeting, following a presentation by Ms. Sheryl Knight of Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust, an urgency resolution was taken on the future re-organisation of local hospital services. Given the mandate by Buckinghamshire WI members the Federation were able to make representations to the public consultation meetings, and a member of the Executive Committee attended meetings in Buckinghamshire on the “Shaping Health Services” document.
Buckinghamshire WIs showed their concern for social and environmental justice in their support of resolutions over many years. This year ChearsleyWI showed their commitment by presenting their resulution calling for a ban on bottom trawling of the ocean at the National Federation’s AGM in June. Although the resolution was not mandated it provoked a great deal of debate.
Members who went on the Federation holiday to the Gower Peninsula in September went into a gold mine and visited a whisky distillery. They were also surprised to be invited to sit on the chairs at Dinefwr Castle, a National Trust property, and to play the piano.