Tree with all members names celebrating 100 years for Ditchingham WI

Centenary Tree made by several of our members for 2018.

Membership Subscription for 2019

Subscription 2019

The NFWI Board of Trustees has set the membership subscription for 2019 at £42.00. The WI share will increase by 50p, the federation share by 50p and there will be no increase to the NFWI share.   

The distribution of the 2019 subscription will be:

Total subscription 2019	WI share	Federation share	NFWI share
£42.00	£20.50	£9.80	£11.70

Payments are due from members in January 2019.


Pro-rata subscription for new members in their first year

New members joining the WI in 2019 for the first time, or who have not previously been a member of any WI in the past 10 years, will pay a pro-rata subscription depending on the quarter in which they join. The rate per quarter and the distribution are shown in the following table.

Date of joining 2019	Total subscription	WI share	Federation share	NFWI share
1 Jan-31 March	£42.00	£20.50	£9.80	£11.70
1 April-30 June	£31.50	£15.38	£7.35	£8.77
1 July-30 Sept	£21.00	£10.25	£4.90	£5.85
1 Oct-31 Dec	£10.50	£5.13	£2.45	£2.92

Centenary Dinner

       5 Women's Institute's celebrated 100years  at Park Farm Hethersett on Wednesday July 25th

                       Barnham Broom, Ditchingham, Hardingham, Hethersett and Hingham.


                                                      Members of Ditchingham  WI

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. 

Jo Reynolds. Britains first Fire Woman.

 

The April meeting started with the President Sue Huggins welcoming members and the guest speaker Jo Reynolds.  Birthday posies were given to Maureen, Lynda and Barbara.  The minutes were read and signed.  Reports were given about the County Annual meeting where the Institute received a certificate for its centenary and the Upper Waveney Border Exhibition held at Hempnall Village Hall.  Many members took part and many received top marks for their exhibits and Jenny was congratulated on winning a trophy for her limerick. Jo Reynolds was then introduced - she gave an interesting talk on becoming Britains first Fire Woman.  She was trained at Wymondham and was stationed at Thetford - the men accepted her and treated her no differently even inviting her to stag do’s.   She was thanked for an insight into her brief career as a Fire Woman and then kindly signed her book and gave for the raffle.  Members were asked to be at Broome Village Hall for 12 noon for 12.30 start to celebrate our Centenary with a lunch.

 Our meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Ditchingham Village Hall at 2.30pm.  We are a fun group of ladies, who like a laugh & are very friendly.  Why don't you come & give us a try if you are feeling lonely.  Its better than a tonic!

Our next meeting in the Village Hall is July. 

Sue H

The Red Barn Murder.

On 14 March at our monthly W.I. Meeting in Ditchingham Village Hall we had a fascinating talk & photos on screen of 'The Red Barn Murder' in Suffolk in 1827.  The year when George IV was King & George Canning was Prime Minister who only lasted in office for 119 days.  

The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Polstead, Suffolk in 1827.  A young woman, Maria Marten was shot dead by her lover William Corder.  He was found guilty of murder & hanged at Bury St. Edmunds.

We learned of the family tree & how our speaker, Susan Parry, was the great, great, great niece of Ann Stow, Maria's sister.

We have interesting speakers & are a fun & friendly group of ladies.  Do come & try us if feeling lonely & enjoy a natter over tea & biscuits.

Our meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Ditchingham Village Hall at 2.30pm.  We are a fun group of ladies, who like a laugh & are very friendly.  Why don't you come & give us a try if you are feeling lonely.  Its better than a tonic!

Our next meeting is on April 11th, our speaker  is Josephine Reynolds - Norfolk First Fire Woman. 

Pam Lack
Blog Editer

Nick Conrad.

At our W.I. Ditchingham monthly open meeting on Wednesday 14th February, inviting other institutes, held at the Village Hall, we had a very entertaining guest speaker, Nick Conrad, from Radio Norfolk.

We had a Valentine's theme by decorating the table & had delicious biscuits &  superb raffle prizes.  

Our meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Ditchingham Village Hall at 2.30pm.  We are a fun group of ladies, who like a laugh & are very friendly.  Why don't you come & give us a try if you are feeling lonely.  Its better than a tonic!

Our next meeting is on March 14th  the speaker is Susan Perry - The Red Barn Murder.

Pam Lack

Norfolk. Blood Bikers.

Our 2018 programme began with a humorous & serious talk with snatches of video from two volunteers  from the Norfolk Blood Bikers. This is a charity run by all volunteers giving their time freely, with no government funding, & rely on donations, who transport blood, plasma, platelets, samples & donor breast milk to hospitals. They have a monthly rota & run a 365 day/night  service. They are the unsung heroes giving the highest service imaginable to the hospitals.

Its Ditchingham's W.I. centenary year.  We have a superb monthly programme on offer on the second Wednesday at 2.30 pm in the Village Hall.

If you feel  like joining us, for a happy afternoon, fun & friendship through out the year our meetings are held on the 2nd  Wednesday of every month at 2.30 pm in Ditchingham Village Hall.  Why not give us a try if you are feeling lonely.

Our next meeting on February 14th is Nick Conrad - please note this meeting will start at 2pm.

Pam

WI December Meeting.

W.I. Ditchingham ladies got together on Wednesday & had a very nice Christmas lunch & toasted each other with a drink wishing us a warm Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year and were presented with a present from Father Christmas.

Do come along if you are feeling lonely.  We are a very friendly bunch of ladies who like a laugh, enjoy a speaker &  have a natter over tea & biscuits.

       Our next meeting is on 10th January at Ditchingham Village             Hall from 2:30 pm. Our speaker will be Keith Grisedale -                 Norfolk Blood Bikes. 

     
Pam Lack

Ditchingham AGM 2017

The November meeting was the last time we meet at the Village Hall this year.  It has been a very busy year for the WI in its 99th year.  

At the November meeting we held our AGM as all committee members were standing again everything stays the same. The rest of the afternoon was taken up with  3 Christmas  Quizzes.

 On a personal note Sue our President said she would like to thank all the members for helping her through the year. Sue added we are now looking forward to our 100th year celebrations.

For our final meeting of the year we will all be going out for a Christmas meal.

If you feel  like joining us, for a happy afternoon, fun & friendship through out the year our meetings are held on the 2nd  Wednesday of every month at 2.30 pm in Ditchingham Village Hall.  Why not give us a try if you are feeling lonely.

Our next meeting on January 10th is Blood Bikes. 

Pam Cooper on behalf of Pam Lack

Blog Editor. 

Brian Hedge - East Anglia Coast Floods.

Our speaker at W.I.Ditchingham this afternoon was Brian Hedge, who stood in for us at the last minute.  He showed us slides with electonic voice coverage of the dreadful floods that hit East Anglia coast in 1953.  He is a photographer & probably has the biggest collection of photographs @ 14,000 of North Norfolk.  Many sadly died in these floods & homes destroyed. Boats were washed up on the quay side.  It showed how the sea is unpredictable having a mind of its own.

Our meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at Ditchingham Village Hall at 2.30pm.  We are a fun group of ladies, who like a laugh & are very friendly.  Why don't you come & give us a try if you are feeling lonely.  Its better than a tonic!

Our next meeting is on November 8th this is our Annual Meeting and a Social. 

Pam Lack

Blog editor. 

WI Subcription 2018

 The subscription for 2018 is £41.00

•   The WI subscription year runs from January to December
  
•   New members joining the WI for the first time, i.e. who have not previously been a member of any WI in the past 10 years, will pay a pro-rata subscription
  

depending on the quarter in which they join. The rate per quarter is shown in the following table

Date of joining	Total subscription due
1 Jan-31 Mar	£41.00
1 Apr-30 Jun	£30.75
1 Jul-30 Sep	£20.50
1 Oct-31 Dec	£10.25

•   WI members can belong to more than one WI, by paying the full membership fee to the first WI, and a further £20 to any additional WIs at any time of the year. There is no pro-rata rate for dual membership
  
•   WI subscription and dual fees are paid directly to the WI/s you wish to join. 
  

Marko - Drawing workshop.

Our W.I. meeting on 13 Sept was full of fun & laughter.  We had a second visit from the amazing cartoonist 'Marko' who makes cartoons come to life with very simple lines. We were all provided with paper & pencil & Marko took us step by step to make our very own cartoon character.  We have a refreshing cup of tea with biscuit & general chatter.  Do come along if you are feeling lonely & give us a 'taster' - free for two sessions.  We are a small friendly group who have our meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 2.30 pm in Ditchingham Village Hall.

         
          Our next meeting will be on October 11th - our speaker will       be Tracey Hargreaves - Timeless Florals.    


         
         Pam Lack

          

Wednesday 9th August Ditchingham W.I. had their 99th Birthday party. We had 78 guests from other institutes, including from over the border Suffolk.  Our guest speaker was Linda Scoles.  Did we have a laugh.  Her talk was about 'where have all the characters gone' -  so humorous.

This followed a superb, excellent tea with delicate sandwiches, cakes galour, & then an amazing raffle.  All supplied by a team of 20 friendly ladies, organised by our outstanding leader, president Sue.  If you feel  like joining us, for a happy afternoon, fun & friendship through out the year our meetings are held on the 2nd  Wednesday of every month at 2.30 pm in Ditchingham Village Hall.  Why not give us a try if you are feeling lonely.

Our next meeting on September 13th is Marko - Drawing Workshop.

Pam Lack
Blog Editor.

Codes Ciphers & Engima.

At our W.I. monthly meeting we were pleased to welcome a very interesting speaker, Joyce Kimber, talking about Codes Ciphers & Engima.  She had our brains working trying to decipher a secret message or word in code.  She then went on telling us about the best kept top secret site, Bletchley Park where code breakers worked to decipher enemy messages during World War 

Two.  The Enigma Cipher. Perhaps the most famous cipher of recent years is that used with the Enigma Machine. It was developed by Arthur Scherbius in 1918, but gained widespread notoriety when it was used by German Intelligence during World War II, and subsequently cracked by the team at Bletchley Park.

We  always welcome new members being a friendly group of ladies, for a chat, cup of tea & always a varied programme of topics from speakers.  Why not give us a try, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 2.30 pm in the Village Hall, Ditchingham.

The month of August is our Annual Garden Party.  

Our next meeting on September 13th is Marko - Drawing Workshop.

Pam Lack
Blog Editor.