Centenary Thanksgiving at Norwich Cathedral Friday 12th April.

 

Ditchingham Women's Institute Formation 1st August 1918. OUR CENTENARY YEAR.

Below is a extract taken from 1915, today the WI is still going strongly and enjoyed by many.  

Fast forward to 2018 and notice the  cost of a yearly membership in 2018, it is £41:00.  Sounds a lot but you have 11 meetings a year and usual in August a garden party not  so bad when you work it out monthly. 

Each month you receive a WI magazine and most groups give you a monthy book called 'Norfolk WI News'

Report from 1915

The Women’s Institute in England and Wales was born in 1915 at a time of great upheaval. The First World War saw tens of thousands of women drawn into the workforce, both on the land and in the towns. Things were changing for women. The WI’s first biographer wrote that while the Suffragettes had made the pot boil, the WI knew what to get out of the pot. Now, 100 years on, the world has altered dramatically, but the WI remains successful and relevant. 

In the early 20th century, life was hard for country dwellers. An exodus of people to the cities in search of work had left farming bereft. Many farmers had gone bankrupt and unemployment among agricultural labourers was high. This brought great hardship to their dependents. Many communities were underpopulated and impoverished, financially and educationally. 

Although academics had suggested for some time that it would be wise to educate farmers’ wives in order to improve life in the rural villages, it met with little interest until two events coincided. One was the very real prospect of serious food shortages during the First World War; the other was the arrival from Canada of Madge Watt. The world’s first Women’s Institute had been formed in Canada in 1897; and in 1911 Mrs Watt had been a founder member the British Columbia branch. Once in the UK, she campaigned to get the organisation started here, too. 

So a century ago, with support from Bangor University, the UK’s first Women’s Institute opened on Anglesey, in a village with the longest name in Britain but usually known as Llanfairpwll. Once the movement began, there was no stopping it. 

Visit to Waveney Bees

On 21st May 2014 several members had a very enjoyable afternoon when they had a visit to see the bees at Waveney.
As you can see from the photos they enjoyed dressing up. 

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August Meeting - Mr Charlie Haylock

DITCHINGHAM WI

Invites your members  to their August meeting

On Wednesday 6th August 2014

At 2.30 p.m.

Ditchingham Village Hall

The Speaker

MR CHARLIE HAYLOCK

on

THE HISTORY OF SPOKEN ENGLISH

Charlie Haylock is one of Suffolk's leading entertainers. 

Charlie can reduce audiences to tears of laughter with his story telling as anyone who has seen his show will tell you. But he has a serious side and also gives highly informative talks about the history of the English language and has a unique understanding of why Australians talk the way they do!

Entrance Fee - £3.00 to include Sandwiches, Cakes and Tea

Everyone Welcome

RSVP with numbers to Sue Huggins by 25th July

01508 518787 or e-mail suehuggins222@yahoo.co.uk

Spring Fashion Show 13th March 2014

Ditchingham Women’s Institute

         

President: Mrs S Huggins

18 November 2014

Dear WI members

Spring Fashion Show by Artichoke Collection.

New Collection for sizes 8 to 24 in Clothing and Accessories for Country Living.

Ditchingham WI would like to invite you, family and friends to come to our Fashion Show on Thursday 13^th March 2014 at Poringland Community Centre, Overtons Way, Poringland. Commencing at 7.15 for 7.30pm.

The cost will be £3.00 per head payable on arrival, tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Please could you let me know by Mid February 2014 how many people you think will be attending from your WI? 

You may email me at p.labrum@gmail.com or telephone me on 01508 491674.

We look forward to seeing you at the show.

Kind regards

Pam Cooper

Ditchingham WI  

95th Birthday Celebrations.

Ditchingham WI are 95 years old and how we celebrated.  The Village Hall was packed with well over a hundred members, friends and guests.  The President, Sue Huggins, welcomed Sally Paramour,  the County Chairman, plus guests from various WI’s around the area.  The meeting began with the singing of Jerusalem which was sung with great enthusiasm with the accompaniment of Annette and Suzie our entertainment for the afternoon.  Birthday posies were handed to Viv and Helen and cards and plants handed to Jackie, Pam and Pam on their Ruby and Golden Wedding Anniversaries.   Suzie and Annette began the afternoons entertainment of singing a variety of songs from the musicals with members and guests joining in.  The entertainment finished with the singing of old tyme songs and received great applause from the floor and it was thoroughly deserved.  Sue Huggins then invited Sally Paramour to cut the 95th Birthday cake.  Before doing so she thank the committees past and president for their hard work in keeping the WI going for 95 years even older than the Federation.   Home made refreshments of sandwiches, cakes and tea and coffee were served by the members of Ditchingham WI.  The extravagant raffle finished the afternoon.  Sue then thanked her members for all their hard work and said it couldn’t have happened without them.  She also thanked all the guest who had helped them celebrate their birthday meeting and wished them a safe journey home.  Sue and the members of Ditchingham were thanked for a delightful afternoon by Eileen Leathers on behalf of the guests.

95th Birthday Dinner at Browston Hall in June.

Photos from the 95th Birthday Dinner at Browston Hall in June.