The History of Bucks WIs Jam Making (1940s)
| The 1940s and Jam Making for the War Effort |
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1940 Many WI members took on the work of fruit preservation, and 67 centres were formed in the County, producing altogether over 33 tons of jam, canned and bottled fruit, chutney etc., In July the centres at Hyde Heath and Penn & Tylers Green (photo) were honoured by a visit from Her Majesty the Queen, who was accompanied by Lady Denman the National Federation Chairman. No new WIs were formed this year. 1941 In the midst of all these activities the ordinary work of the WI continued and monthly meetings were held, often in spite of great difficulties. The most important work was, very rightly, the production, preparation and preservation of food. Sadly the fruit crop was so poor that only 16 tons of jam were produced in the preservation centres in the county. A herb drying centre was set up in Little Kingshill where herbs were collected from the neighbourhood, dried and sold to the trade for medicinal use. Music and drama still found a place in the county’s activities with very successful Festivals being held in the spring and summer. Handicrafts also continued with special emphasis on wartime thrift – “make do and mend”. A WI was formed at Princes Risborough. 1942 In June the Red Cross Society gave the county 1,000 lb. of wool, which was to be knitted into garments for prisoners-of-war within six weeks. This, of course, met with an immediate response. Due to the increasing shortage of petrol, and in an effort to keep in touch with WIs in the northern part of the county, it was arranged that County Office would visit Aylesbury, Buckingham and Newport Pagnell once a quarter. A member of Executive attended with the Federation Secretary. This was a great success as it gave an opportunity for members to discuss any problems or matters of interest. The Preservation Centres were very busy, making 9 tons of jam and jelly, 520 lbs of chutney and pickles, and 644 cans and bottles of fruit. WIs were formed at Ivinghoe Aston and Marlow Bottom. 1943 Post-war planning continued to interest members of the WI in Bucks. They answered an Education questionnaire circulated by the Government, and a Water and Sewerage enquiry for NFWI. Members also gave help in estimating the need for Maternity Homes to be provided by the local authorities. The production, preparation and preservation of food continued to hold first place in WI activities. The Agriculture & Produce Guild held five area meetings where valuable advice was given about diseases and pests in the garden. No new WIs were formed this year. 1944 A resolution was passed at the Council Meeting to ask the Railway Companies to provide a Halt for Stoke Mandeville Hospital. No new WIs were formed this year. 1945 Very successful drama festivals were held in May, with 30 teams performing one-act plays of their own choice. New WIs were formed at Bradwell and Dagnall. 1946 During the year many WIs received gifts of food parcels from the Country Women’s Associations in Australia and New Zealand. The contents of the parcels were either drawn for between members of the WI, or used as refreshments at a birthday or Christmas party. Many an iced cake was made partly from ingredients supplied in this way. Twenty-five Bucks members entered a competition for an essay entitled “This Was My Village” organised by the National Federation. Five of these essays were published as a booklet by BFWI. The nationally organised Fruit Preservation scheme in the county came to an end, but due to increased interest in canning it was decided that the Canning Sub-Committee should continue with its work. WIs were formed in Booker, Dadford, Dropmore, Hughenden, Little Challfont, Marsworth and Oakley. 1947 As the office in Easton Street was quite small, the Federation bought Admiral Napier House in St. Mary Street, High Wycombe, partly from money given by the WIs to the New Office fund. However, the building was currently requisitioned for the headquarters of the Women’s Land Army and was likely to remain so for some time. WIs were formed at Little Horwood, Little Missenden, Stoke Hammond and Widmer End. 1948 Nine specially selected and trained embroiderers were at work on the Buckinghamshire section of the embroidery depicting women’s work during the war to be presented to the nation by the National Federation. New WIs were formed at Amersham Old Town, Bellingdon & Ashridge, Datchett, Fawley Green, Old Bletchley and Stewkley. 1949 At long last the ground floor at Admiral Napier House was vacated by the Women’s Land Army, and the Federation office moved into the two small front rooms. The Land Army continued to occupy the top part of the house until November, when the remainder of the house was used for meetings and conferences, with some of the rooms let to help with finances. Among the resolutions passed at the Annual Council Meeting were:
The Health & Education sub-committee held a “Meet Scandinavia” day at Waddesden Manor on July 13th. Many new friendships were made between WI members and visitors from Scandinavia. New WIs were formed at Adstock, Amersham Common, Bow Brickhill, Coleshill and Dorney. At the end of the decade there were 150 WIs in Buckinghamshire with over 9,000 members. |
Every village in Buckinghamshire received its quota of evacuees and the majority of WI members had one or more in their homes. Many villages had troops in the neighbourhood, and much hard work was done in providing for their comfort. Many village halls had been commandeered and WIs met in kitchens, stables and other unlikely places. 
The care of evacuees continued throughout the county, nearly every WI had a National Savings Group, and there were good responses for appeals to knit comforts and undertake the washing and mending of garments for troops stationed in Buckinghamshire. 
HRH The Duchess of Kent became a member of Iver Village WI. 
The great event of the year was the County Federation Rally held at Hampden House in June, when over 5,000 members and friends gathered from far and near, by bus, train, car and motor coach, for the first big rally since 1930. HRH The Duchess of Kent performed the opening ceremony, and watched a procession of banners followed by an Elizabethan pageant. 
The chief activity of the year was Operation Produce, which aimed at the production of an extra 10 lb of food by every member throughout the country. The great efforts of Buckinghamshire members culminated in a Produce Exhibition held at Aylesbury at the end of September, at which Lord Woolton, the wartime minister of food, performed the opening ceremony. 
Federation Chairman – Miss C. Gamlen