Along with five other members of BFWI I attended an event at the Royal Albert Hall last weekend. It was chaired by Lynne Stubbings, the National WI Chair and featured talks about the history and the future of the WI movement. Ann Stamper, the WI Archivist, went through the early years before the WI was big enough to need the Albert Hall for its Annual General Meeting but had already organised itself into many of the good practice still used today. Then Charlotte from the Shoreditch Sisters WI talked of the physical problems of setting up WIs in London and ran through her WI’s successful campaigning activities. Charlotte would definitely have made a good suffragette if she had been born many years earlier than she was. Lynne concluded by giving the figures for membership at present and gave us some details of future events.
Then two of us scampered across Hyde Park to take a very crowded underground train to the Barbican where the Museum of London was hosting an afternoon of speakers whose subject was the Suffragettes. There is an exhibition in the Museum at the moment. First up was Diane Atkinson whom we had heard speaking at Denman College but this didn’t matter as she altered the angle of her talk slightly and she is easy to listen to. Next Julie Purves talked about the personalities of the women drawn into the suffrage movement. Elizabeth Crawford followed to give an interesting exhibition of the artistic talent among the women shown in their posters, cartoons and general publicity material. She pointed out that they were ahead of their time in their use of advertising leaflets and merchandise. Caitlin Davies concluded the session by giving us an illustrated talk about the history of Holloway Prison and its part in the treatment of the imprisoned suffragettes. Caitlin has written a book called “Bad Girls” which I should imagine would be useful reading in support of the WI campaign for Care not Custody.
The novel which the local WI Reading Group has been reading this month was “Behind the scenes at the Museum” by Kate Atkinson which has nothing to do with real museums as she is likening our lives on display to others as museum pieces but we keep the background history which led up to our present day character shut away in the drawers and cupboards of our personal memory. We all enjoyed reading Kate’s novel as she is a favourite author with our group. It was good to have something which made us laugh although it was a sad story telling of early deaths in childhood, disfunctional marriages and poor childcare. Doesn’t sound funny, does it? A case of if you don’t laugh you might cry.
 
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​Well, it could stand for that in an age when everything is reduced to abbreviations. At the last local WI’s monthly meeting we were asked to remember the experiences of the Suffragettes in the fight to get the women the vote a hundred years ago. There have been many articles in the press and on the media to commemorate the occasion. We now take this right for granted and indeed many do not even bother to exercise their freedom to vote. We don’t have to fight as those women did to achieve recognition in society: after two female prime ministers, it’s proven. At present it is still a struggle to get equal pay and in other cultures the battle is far from won.
The WI persisted in working towards providing educational opportunities for its members and established Denman College after World War II and now we hear that some members think this is a drain on WI finances and should be closed. Another snub to worthy achievement and based on misconceptions as none of our subscriptions is used to support the college. Our current membership certainly lacks the drive of the early stalwarts: imagine, large WIs closing because they cannot get officers. What’s the point of being on a committee if you will not take a turn at being an officer?
So if we don’t appreciate having the vote and we don’t want to undertake responsibility as an officer at any level, what do we want? It still comes through that women join to be a member of a group within the community, to enjoy the company of other women and to learn about the world we live in; to learn crafts and to help others worse off than themselves wherever they live and to have the recognition of being able to speak up about matters of social importance. Isn’t that what the WI is about? Isn’t that what we need, a framework with the power to achieve what the individual cannot achieve on her own?
The resolution selection process is entering its final stage and two of the topics featured in the media recently. The first case of a father being sued for his part in allowing his daughter to undergo FGM and the continuing fight by the young Royals for improved care for those suffering from mental illnesses.
At least 4 members of the local WI have been to Denman College during February to listen to Diane Atkinson talk about The Remarkable Lives of the Suffragettes. They all appreciated the presentation, enjoyed being in that lovely house and looking out over the gardens and meeting members from all over the country over a super meal. Many visitors new to Denman were vowing to come back and went home armed with the latest brochure of courses. It is the jewel in our crown: for Heaven’s sake let’s hang on to it!
The local WI’s interest groups have met during February to read, to sew, to eat and to walk. Soon they will be making poppies in various media for Remembrance Day and attending the events planned both by BFWI and by our Group Convener. A full schedule of things at home and with friends in the wider community.

6th February
The re-vitalised WI craft group met in its new leader’s house with a healthy attendance of ten amongst whom there were four first-timers. We are calling ourselves the Happy Stitchers because we plan to spend time doing any craft work involving needles: to happily swap ideas and expertise and to sort out craft problems together. The crochet group has been assimilated into the craft section so that there will be a meeting every fortnight alternating between two venues. There was a happy atmosphere today so I have great hopes for the success of this re-shuffle.
1st February
The members arriving by car this evening were  thrown by the electronics of the new security gate but once that was mastered they enjoyed the monthly meeting when two ladies from the local fashion shop came and talked about rejuvenating our wardrobes ready for Spring. We were shown different ways of tying scarves which had people in the audience immediately experimenting with theirs and was very welcome to me because I always seem to look as if I am treating a sore throat rather than embellishing my outfit. The result of the resolution vote was for the one on Women’s Refuges but our secretary had received only 21 votes which was rather low, even considering our reduced membership this year. A member volunteered to take over the revised craft group following the unilateral declaration of independence from any WI of the former one. More people were needed to go to Alexandra Palace for the NFWI Fair but we have a quiz team and delegates for the Annual Council Meeting and the Resolution meeting ready and waiting. We enjoyed hearing about the course at Denman College which a member had taken on the WI bursary. Dee had studied portrait drawing and we were impressed by her achievements when they were circulated. Dee herself had been so taken with her experiences at Denman that she has booked herself in for another course: she encouraged everyone to go on a course if possible.
31st January
Having missed a meeting of the Book Group in December, the members had to report on two titles this afternoon. We had read the classic novel by Charles Dickens “A Tale of Two Cities” written in 1859 and “Revolutionary Road” by Richard Yates written in the 1960s which was billed as another classic of its time. Both novels wanted to get a message across to the reader about upheavals in society and about its ills and injustices. Nowadays the style of Dickens seems unbelievably florid but what a story in spite of the melodrama! The dashing Charles Darnay , the martyr Sydney Carton and the brave little Victorian wife and mother are lively characters set against the blood and gore of the Defarges of the Revolution and the badly used powers of the English Establishment. Then it was off to America in the 1960s for some dark comedy at the expense of a couple living in suburbia but thinking they are capable of greatness and rising above the social level of those around them. Here again the author was rebelling against society, against the treadmill of earning a living and the politics of the World. It was funny but very, very sad too. It is a tragedy because all hope is extinguished for all the characters even if the reader can feel no affection for any of them. The reader too is left in despair.
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25th November
The winter reception at the Judges’ Lodgings in Aylesbury tonight proved to be a very pleasant evening. The event was organised by the Bucks Federation Chairman, Jenny Street in aid of the Denman College Appeal. The guests were Barbara Russell the Mayor of Aylesbury, Val Letheren the Chairman of Bucks County Council and Judge Frances Sheridan. The refreshments had been prepared by Posh Nosh but were served by members of the BFWI Board of Trustees resplendent in frilly aprons made specially by Tracey, one of our ACWW representatives. Cantlos provided the musical entertainment, singing and playing on a selection of stringed instruments. Each of the guests gave a short speech and Judge Sheridan promised to take parties from those attending on tours of the chambers and the cells and throw in a bit of the history of the premises at the same time. The evening also provided the members with a chance to catch up with all the news of friends in other WIs across the county.
22nd November
We wondered whether we had made a mistake about the venue when we arrived at the AVDC Gatehouse this afternoon for the WI Resolutions Selection meeting. What were all these men in suits doing milling around “The Street”? We were soon directed to the Diamond Room where we were able to sit in comfort and listen to the team of WI Advisers who had volunteered to present the six resolutions to make the short list for June 2017.
The first subject was the one of loneliness not just for old people but at every age and of both genders. We rather thought that this was something the WI was aware of and could do something about locally without perhaps using up a mandate on it. The next resolution asked the Government to make everyone more aware of and to take action against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) which although illegal in the UK is still happening here and girls are being taken abroad for the operation. There have been no prosecutions. Why? Is the WI able to act on this issue under its “Violence against Women” mandate without another mandate?
Equal access for all who need specialised maternal mental health services was a worthy cause because it is a huge problem which suffers in the postcode lottery when different authorities have different standards of provision. Would it be enough for WI members to find out what is available locally and then challenge the status quo near them? Another worthy cause is the support of women’s refuges but again many WIs are already active on this front preparing boxes of items for homeless women and children. How can the WIs and NFWI increase the awareness of the plight of refugees in camps where women and children are at greater risk from abuse and have no safe place to sleep and eat? It is difficult enough to actually set up camps where they are so desperately needed let alone provide safe areas within them. We are all too aware of these international problems from the media coverage and are keen to contribute towards the organised charities that deal with them. Is that enough or am I being practical but heartless?
The final resolution on plastic soup is rumoured to have come from Bucks following the attempt last year to include the banning of plastic beads in cosmetics on the list for the 2016 AGM. Plastic beads are being removed from products now but here the Government is being asked to fund research and develop solutions to the pollution of the oceans by tiny microplastic fibres being shed from washed synthetics. Similar damage to what can be done by the beads can follow fibres entering the food chain. It will be expensive to combat this contamination but it is a growing time bomb for future generations.
These meetings are always interesting and helpful before WI members make their selection.
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​12th July
What fun! It seems that WI members have been engaged in running an illegal business organisation for years and the Law has just exposed us for the criminals we all are. As the Chairman of Cambridgeshire Federation said it has taken a very long time for us to be brought to book for using hedgerow fruits to make products for sale. I notice she mentioned sales at fetes---clever to keep quiet about putting our goods on the shelves of large supermarkets. Surely that must be a more punishable offence.
6th July
The work of the Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity was the subject of tonight’s monthly WI meeting. We were all surprised at the varied scope of the department and the huge part that the volunteers play in the running of such a large organisation. Our delegate to the National WI’s Annual General Meeting at Brighton reported on her visit which she had found interesting. Both resolutions had been passed by large majorities and no amendments had been allowed. The local WI’s Pimms stall at the Queen’s celebrations in the town had been very popular and sold out. The cake stall next day had had to be moved inside the church because of rain but had been a success. Several members had visited the Life Skills flat at Furze Down School to inspect what the WI had helped to furnish and they were most impressed.
4th July
The craft Group are making progress in finding out how to become Wrap Pyjama Fairies. This involves making clothing for children undergoing surgery in hospital or in hospices so there are an awful lot of rules to follow for Health & Safety reasons about fabrics and fastenings which can or cannot be used. It will be September before we really get started but there is a lot of enthusiasm already being shown.
3rd July
The bric-a-brac stall at the Farmers’ Market attracted a lot of interest and the WI made a profit of around £100 which will be added to the money which we are raising for the Save Denman College Appeal. My definition of bric-a-brac is stuff no one wants, so it amazes me that anyone thinks that the stuff can be sold to make money but what do I know…