Policewomen (1930s)

The 1930s and the Fight for Mobile Trained Policewomen

1930
The Federation office was at 8 High Street, High Wycombe.

WIs were formed at Buckland Drayton, Turville, Turweston and Wendover.

1931
Federation Chairman – Mrs. Ada Bennet (Ada Woodgate had been Federation Secretary since 1920, she became Mrs. Ada Bennet and was elected Federation Chairman, but sadly died in November 1931).
Federation President – The Lady Susan Trueman

A WI was formed at Ibstone.

1932
Federation Chairman – Mrs. Slade
Federation President – The Lady Susan Trueman

A resolution was passed pressing for the appointment of trained mobile policewomen for Buckinghamshire and was followed up in every way possible. In May a deputation attended a meeting that was held in the House of Commons and a further resolution was passed at a Federation Council Meeting in November.

A handicraft exhibition was held in Buckingham in October. Over 1,800 entries were received from 62 WIs, and nearly 3,000 people visited the exhibition.

163 members joined the Guild of Learners, set up by the National Federation in 1920 to regain the practice of home handicrafts with a view to restore the best traditions of English workmanship and to assist in bringing the best instruction in handicrafts within the reach of villages.

In the year from April 1931 to April 1932 the Federation office in High Wycombe sent out 4,850 letters and postcards and 8,000 circulars and agendas.

WIs were formed at Castlethorpe, Dunsmore, Oving and Twyford.

Mrs. Cassie Janes of Speen WI gained her Guild of Learners Certificate in embroidery

1933

A County Cookery Book was produced with 500 recipes being chosen from nearly 900 sent in from the WIs. Over 2,000 copies were sold in 6 months, and copies sent to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the United States.
The resolution passed in 1932, pressing for the appointment of a trained mobile policewoman for Buckinghamshire continued to be worked on. In January the Standing Joint Committee of the Buckinghamshire County Council received a joint deputation of women’s organisations in the County. Although they were not given a very sympathetic hearing, so much support was received in other quarters that there was every hope of ultimate success.

Someone who supported the Federation's attempts to obtain women police in Buckinghamshire was Viscountess Astor, the first Woman MP to take up her seat. A rally was held at Cliveden in June and in her speech of welcome to over 2,000 WI members Lady Astor spoke at length about the need for women police and of the stand The Lady Susan Trueman had made in the matter. The Federation banner led a parade of 60 WI banners past the platform where Lady Astor, The Lady Susan Trueman, Mrs Slade and Mrs Roosevelt, the mother of the American President, were sitting.

1933
The first Federation monthly newsletter was sent out to members. It was printed on green paper and became known as "The Green Letter".

WIs were formed at Eton Wick & Boveney, Chalfont St. Giles, Walton and Weston Underwood.

1934
A joint Drama Festival was held with the Buckinghamshire Rural Community Council; area festivals were held in Bletchley, Monks Risborough, Beaconsfield and Prestwood with the final being held at Prestwood.

WI formed at Barton & Chetwood.

1935
The Federation mourned the death of The Lady Susan Trueman - a fund was set up in her memory from WI contributions to provide free lectures for WIs thought to be "in special need of them".
Lady Cottesloe opened the County Handicrafts Exhibition held in the Town Hall, High Wycombe, on June 14th. Two thousand items were entered and 80 exhibits were chosen from which to select the entries to be sent to the National Federation’s Exhibition in London. A second Drama Festival was held with 22 WIs taking part. The first Federation calendar was produced and made £25 (worth around £1,790 in 2021).

WIs were formed at Cholesbury cum Bellington & St. Leonards, Newton Longville, Skirmett and Weedon.

1936
Federation Chairman – Mrs. Skimming
Federation President – Mrs. Slade
Drama Festivals were held in March with the addition of a class for Towns Women’s Guilds.

WI formed at Whaddon with Nash.

1937
The Federation office moved to Easton House, 14 Easton Street, High Wycombe.

A non-competitive Music Festival was held in Aylesbury on November 25th, followed by an evening concert. More area Drama Festivals were held with the final in Aylesbury.

Arrangements were made to produce a new County banner.

WIs were formed at Emberton, Lillingstone Dayrell & Lovell, Mursley, Olney, and Thornborough .

1938
A Resolution dealing with the registration of Births and Deaths in country districts, passed at the National Federation annual meeting, was followed up in Buckinghamshire with posters giving the names and addresses of Registrars being circulated to all WIs by the County Council.
Following the steady sales of the County Cookery Book, it was decided to proceed with a second edition.
Forty-eight members enrolled in the Home & Garden Guild, and a party went by charabanc to the Herts Farm Institute where they spent a highly instructive afternoon in the gardens, greenhouses, pig and poultry runs.
A County Handicraft Exhibition was held in May in High Wycombe, when nearly 2,000 entries were made.
A County Rally was held at Hall Barn, Beaconsfield on July 16th. It was opened by Lady Desborough and there was a procession of banners.

WIs were formed at Iver Village, Old Wolverton and Wooburn.

1939
In June a County Rally was held at Cliveden by kind invitation of Viscountess Astor. 300 overseas delegates, who had come for the Triennial Conference of the Associated Country Women of the World, were guests of the Buckinghamshire Federation, and about 2,000 WI members also attended.

In September an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee was held to consider the position caused by the outbreak of war. All County meetings and events were cancelled due to the difficulties of transport and the fact that many halls had already been commandeered. The National Federation was asked by the Ministry of Agriculture to help with the important wartime work of food production and preservation. By distributing 7 tons of sugar, 370 seed collections and 12 tons of seed potatoes the WI in Buckinghamshire had started to play its part.

WIs were formed at Ashendon, Beacons Bottom and Holtspur.

At the end of the decade there were 121 WIs in Buckinghamshire.

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