Inspiring Berkshire Women

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Inspiring Berkshire Women

Women's Institutes Centenary Exhibition

Poster for 2015 exhibition entitled Inspiring Berkshire Women

In 2015, the National Federation of Women's Institutes celebrated its centenary. The Royal Berkshire Archives decided to commemorate this event by taking a closer look at the WI in Berkshire and how they inspired women throughout the county.

Part of poster for centenary exhibition for Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes entitled 'Always Here for you'

In 2019, the Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes celebrated its own centenary and another exhibition was made to commemorate this. 

There was a fair bit of overlap of documents displayed between the two exhibitions and you can experience both through this online gallery. Simply click through the links to discover more about the WI in Berkshire.

Beginning to Inspire

Women's Institute badge reads For Home and Country ref. D/EX1925/9/5/3

The origins of the Women’s Institute (WI) began in Ontario, Canada in 1897 as a branch of the Farmer’s Institute. The WI brought together women from isolated areas, offering training and advice in home economics, child care and farming activities.

The first WI meeting in Britain was held in Llanfairpwll in Anglesey, Wales in 1915. It was set up under the Agricultural Organisation Society (AOS) in order to provide support for the country during the First World War by growing and preserving food.

The first County Federation was set up in 1917 in Sussex and the movement grew rapidly. So much so that the AOS decided to hand over responsibility for opening WIs to the Women’s Section of the Food Department of the Board of Agriculture. The National Federation of WIs was formed and gained total responsibility in 1919.

The first WI in Berkshire was Hurst in 1916 and by January 1920 there were a sufficient number of local branches for the Berkshire Federation to hold its first meeting.

From the outset the Federation and its WIs aimed to educate rural women, to help the war effort and to share and learn new skills.

Inspired to Support

The First World War

During the First World War, the WIs worked hard to grow food and support the troops. They collected vegetables to be sent to wounded soldiers; they made bandages, swabs, slings and operation towels too - in fact, between August 1916 and December 1918, the Red Cross Working Party of Women’s Institutes reported that they had contributed to 12, 494 items!

Image of Sailors with HMS Hawthorn ring ref. D/EX172_4

The Second World War

The WIs continued to function during the Second World War with exhibitions, craft work and of course continuing to hold meetings. However, they focussed on supporting their country through various activities such as providing hospitality for the troops and trying to salvage and save as much as possible.

The Bradfield WI endeavoured to make evacuees feel welcome by inviting evacuee mothers to join their meetings. They also served tea for others at a War Savings Fete and even looked at how to use potato instead of flour for pastry, puddings and sauces.

The issues of jam making was discussed at great length by the WIs. From Jam conferences to the setting up of Fruit Preserving Centres, the WIs really got to grips with making jam. Bradfield WI managed to pick 80lbs of berries and turn it into jam in 1941’s harvest alone!

Barkham WI minutes also refer to the ‘Knitters for the Navy’ appeal in 1944 and we know that WIs also adopted warships as a means of showing their support. Indeed Brightwell-cum-Sotwell WI adopted H.M.S. Hawthorn.

Women of Action

This hymn is ‘Jerusalem’, the words of which are by William Blake; the music by Hubert Parry and is contained in the Pinkney's Green Scrapbook of 1974 ref. D/EX1925/47/4/1

The WI worked hard to improve life in the community whether that was at a national or local level. From the historical records we gain an insight into what aspects of life inspired women in Berkshire to take action.

There are references to many issues such as providing milk in schools, keep-fit classes, asking for a bus shelter and a maternity ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, urging the Educational Authorities to improve training in Domestic Service and allowing women to make school uniform to a standard pattern rather than having to buy them from an expensive shop.

More local issues such as cleaning up vandalism, providing street lighting, even spending time with the elderly for a day are all mentioned.

There is also reference to the purchase of Anti-Litter car posters, presumably as part of the national Keep Britain Tidy campaign that the WI began in the 1950s.

Getting together and holding meetings was, in a way, a form of supporting the community. It enabled women to gather together, to help each other, the community in which they lived as well as the greater community of their country.

Learning Something New

Embroidered tablecloth by Calcot Evening WI (Reading) ref. D/EX1925/14/5/4

The WIs were committed to enabling their members to learn new skills and would set up demonstrations and classes on various subjects. Some examples were basket making, rug making, glove making, horticulture, agriculture, toy making, quilt making, sewing and embroidery.

Members were encouraged to present their efforts at competitions and represent their WI. The Berkshire Federation minutes of the 1950s highlight the fact that WIs within the county would compete against  each other. Some entries were then selected to represent Berkshire in inter-county competitions.

Although they took this aspect of WI life seriously, they were also keen to make meetings a social affair. Music and drama groups were set up to enable those interested in these areas to take part and entertain members at the meetings. Outings to theatres and other places of interest were also encouraged.

Later we see activities in areas such as card games, badminton, dry skiing, canoeing, painting and even line dancing.

All of these activities, classes and competitions really helped to inspire women to learn something new.

The Golden Jubliee

Front cover of a scrapbook by Letcombe Women's Institute to celebrate 50 years of the Women's Institute ref. D/EX322/13

In 1965, the National Federation of WIs celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The WIs of Berkshire commemorated the occasion by creating scrapbooks which depicted life in their area in 1965. They contain newspaper cuttings highlighting activities that the WI undertook in their local communities. They also contain many photographs of members performing plays and generally being active out and about.

Other entries include photographs and hand drawings of local pets, fabrics used for clothes and even those used on furniture. In fact, some contain magazine clippings showing 1965 fashions and house styles in general.

Such scrapbooks highlight how proud members were of their WI and their achievements. They celebrate what they had done for their communities. One even went so far as to predict the future! On the right of this cabinet is the WI for Stratfield Mortimer’s predictions for life in Stratfield Mortimer in 2015. Were they right?

Into the future

Front cover of the Berkshire News magazine September 2015 - Displayed with kind permission of the Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes

Over the years branches have come and gone mainly due to insufficient numbers. However, the absence of a local WI was often short lived as once enough ladies were available, a new branch opened.

Demands on the time of women have changed over the years, but the ethos of the WI remains the same.

That is: to inspire women to find a voice on aspects affecting their community; to inspire women to learn from others and to share their skills; to inspire women to spend time with other women in a friendly and welcoming environment.

The WI has been an inspirational movement for the last 100 years and continues to inspire women today and into the future.

The Centenary Cushion

Centenary Cushion made by a member of Dean Rise Women's Institute. Displayed with kind permission of the Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes

In 2014 the Berkshire Federation held a competition to design a cushion for the WI Centenary Baton.

The competition, under the name of ‘the Stella Austin Trophy’, was won by Ruth Daniel of Dean Rise WI. On display here is her winning cushion which accompanied the baton.

The baton was passed through Berkshire on its journey around every federation in England and Wales during 2014-2015.

Images and details of the baton’s journey through Berkshire can be seen in the next cabinet in the BFWI magazines on display.

Berkshire Federation of Women's Institutes - A background history

Large wall hanging banner with the Berkshire stag and the words Berkshire Federation WI

The Berkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes (BFWI) was set up on 5th December 1919. It had representatives from Arborfield, Faringdon, Finchampstead, Hermitage, Hurst, Newbury, Reading, Sandhurst and Sonning. The first Executive Committee minutes of the BFWI show Mrs Morrell as Chairman and from the outset, the Federation and its WIs aimed to educate rural women, to help the war effort and to share and learn new skills.

The BFWI met at various places in Reading over the years starting at University College, then the Girls Club on Chain Street, Cross Street Hall, Abbey Hall in King’s Road, Shire Hall, Palmer Hall, Watlington House and finally (since 1989) at WI House in Mortimer. The aim was to establish a mutual helpfulness between WIs in the county and to co-ordinate their work in accordance with the National Federation of WIs. By attending BFWI meetings, delegates from local WIs would be able to gain knowledge to pass on to their fellow members.

Always Here for You

In 2019, the BFWI continued to send out a warm welcome message to its members. Then Chairman, Marlene Voke, reiterated the NFWI’s message that:

  • the WI is here to inspire you
  • the WI is everything you want it to be
  • the WI is what you make of it

She also stated how the Federation is there to support all its members and hopes that they will have many years of fun and friendship.

Centenary Celebrations

Dolls, Adelaide and Emily, were named after Mrs Adelaide Hoodless, founder of the WI in Canada and Mrs Emily Morrell the first Berkshire Federation Chairman. The dolls visited each WI in Berkshire where they entertained the dolls with lunches and teas. You can find out more about their journey on the BFWI website.

Making Do, Making a Difference

Maiden Erlegh WI Programmes, 170s ref. D/EX2487

Every WI within the federation would have held meetings with a speaker and a demonstration on various subjects such as handicraft or growing food. Competitions, exhibitions and local or national issues would also be discussed. Support for local and national issues covered a wide range of subjects such as health, education, agriculture and the environment. Trying to salvage and save as much as possible was hugely important. The BFWI were there to support the WIs in doing their bit and making do. Perhaps the most evocative was supporting the war effort.

Records of local branches together with those of the Federation enable us to discover more about the aspects that affected the whole county and gain a real insight into WI life in Berkshire.

Many issues were covered such as providing milk in schools, bus shelters, cleaning up vandalism, providing street lighting or even spending time with the elderly.

Resolutions on health have been put forward on more than one occasion including such aspects as the need for a new maternity ward at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, in order to reduce the mortality rate amongst new mothers in 1925 and the improvement of screening for cervical cancer. The BFWI did not wish to criticise those who worked in such areas or suggest that services were inadequate. It was more that they wanted to improve life.

Through the WIs, resolutions and campaigns empowered women to try and make a difference for the betterment of those in their communities.

Supporting the vulnerable

A twiddlemuff knitted with ribbons and buttons used for those with restless hands

Over the years, the BFWI has supported the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading in looking after its more vulnerable patients. They provide emergency admission packs containing essential toiletries and, using the crochet and knitting skills of its members. They have created traffic light hats for premature babies to wear as they get better; dementia bands to highlight to others that the patient may need assistance; as well as a dignity shawl and knee blanket for the elderly.

Another project the BFWI has supported is the creation of Twiddlemuffs - an example of which is shown above. These hand muffs are comforting and therapeutic for those suffering from Alzheimers, arthritis and dementia. They contain buttons, ribbons and textures to provide stimulating activity for restless hands.

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