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Women's Institute |
The local branch of the WI was founded
on 16th March 1945. It belongs to the
Stamford Group and is affiliated to the
National Federation and the Cornwall
Federation of Women's Institutes.
In 1993 two
embroiderer members of the branch,
designed and made a banner which was
carried at a Garden Party held at the
home of Lord and Lady Falmouth to
celebrate the 75th anniversary of the
formation of the Cornwall Federation of
WI's. This banner showed the WI logo of
a tree with the letters WI on it and a
representation of Thomasine Bonaventure,
Week St. Mary's most famous daughter,
pictured as a shepherdess with her sheep
and lambs. |
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| Meetings
are generally held on the 3rd Wednesday
of each month in the Methodist Sunday
School Room at 7.30 p.m. (except August
& December) |
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A HISTORY
OF WEEK ST. MARY WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
Compiled by and written by Sylvia
Johnstone |
February 2005: I have
concentrated on the first few years of
the life of our institute. Records or
minutes as we call them today varied
enormously, some were really detailed
and very interesting others contained
brief facts. I know today that we all
prefer brief minutes, as we like to get
the business out of the way, but perhaps
we should spare a thought for someone in
the future perusing our records.
February 16th 1945
Saw the the foundation meeting take
place at 7-30pm in the school. This was
of course before the war ended . The
chair was taken by V.C.O. Mrs Julyan
also in attendance V.C.O. Mrs Quance. 33
women were present. The resolution was
taken that a W.I. be formed in Week St
Mary this was proposed by Miss Retallack
and seconded by Mrs Stevens who use to
live in Great Hills. The committee was
formed and consisted of 12 members, it
was decided to encourage young members
to join at the age of 14 years.
March 1945
A month later the first meeting took
place this time with 37 members. A
letter of welcome was read from Lady
Denman chairman of the National
Federation. 35 ladies enrolled and paid
their subs of 2/6.
A ballot took place as there were two
nominations for president – Mrs Daisy
Martin was elected, she was the wife of
the school headmaster and lived in the
school house (The Beeches) now known as
the Green Inn! It was decided that
"Jerusalem" be sung at the start of
every meeting with the National Anthem
at the close. |
Daisy
Matilda Martin |
Her granddaughter Linda Cobbledick still
lives in the village, and is now a
member of the W.I. at Week St. Mary as
well as being a co-owner of this web
site!
April 1945
This month a member of the Cornwall
Beekeepers Assn. Attended his talk was
on bees and flowers, it was illustrated
with lantern slides. It was agreed that
6d should be charged for non members who
wished to attend the meetings.
May 1945 Mr Bloomer of
St Gennys was the speaker on weaving and
dying. Miss Ward a member of St Gennys
youth club also attended and exhibited
her work and demonstrated on a loom
which was most interesting to a good
audience of members and visitors. The
Social ½ hour which was held at the end
of every meeting was a spelling bee and
a guessing game.
June 1945 Miss Cock a member of
the County Staff at Truro gave a fruit
bottling and pulping demonstration. New
members were again welcomed.
July 1945 Mrs Alford
was to attend to give a chair repairing
demonstration but was too ill to attend.
At very short notice a Mrs Huxley of
Bude talked on "Jobs about the House"
Sept 1945 Miss Cock
from County Staff turns up again, this
time with a demonstration on pickling.
October 1945 A round
table conference was held to get ideas
for next years programme.
November 1945 37
members attended. V.C.O. Mrs Julyan
attended and congratulated the institute
on its progress.
December 1945 About 40
members and visitors attended, the
evening was given over to songs, games,
competitions and a short play. This was
organised by Mrs and Miss Masters and
Mrs D Sandercock. Carols were sung.
January 1946 This
meeting was postponed to the end of the
month due to illness and bad weather
conditions. Mrs Alford of Jacobstow gave
the chair repairing demonstration.
February 1946 First
mention of the Group Meetings – a list
of cups to be competed for in the
Handicraft competitions at the St
Austell show was announced and a wish
that members would enter. It was decided
that the next meeting on March 15th
should be the first birthday party.
March 1946 Mrs Martin
presided and presented the Institute
with a cake that was later cut by Mrs
Ridgeman, the oldest member. Several
names were mentioned as a possible
delegate to the Annual meeting in London
- Mrs Alfred Sandercock was persuaded to
considering attending.
June 1946 Miss cock
from County Staff gave a talk on fruit
juices and pectin preparations, she also
judged the competition – 2lbs bottled
rhubarb.
July 1946 Mrs Alfred
Sandercock (Doris) gave her report on
the Annual meeting in London, her arm
was indeed twisted.
November 1946 The
competition was for the best autumn
leaves in a jam jar.
December 1946 The name
of Miss Winnie Rogers appears as a prize
winner.
1947 In January the
Hon. Mrs Waller gave a talk on
Palestine. In March a drama group was
formed, also this month Miss Smale gave
a very interesting statement of accounts
of the group meeting showing a profit of
£7-14-6. The birthday cake was this time
cut by the youngest member Miss Sheila
Jones.
Competitions featured as a popular item.
In June 1947 a Miss Martyn proposed a
sponge but Mrs Ayres favoured a trifle
so both were included. At every meeting
in 1947 new members were welcomed
(unfortunately names were not
mentioned). Miss Smale was the delegate
to the Annual meeting and gave an
interesting report. In October 1947 we
read that a telegram from the proposed
speaker was read stating that owing to
her car being out of order she was
unable to come. At very short notice the
Rector gave a talk on Palestine. Mrs
Gubbin gave a vote of thanks.
1948 In the minutes
there are many examples of our
Institutes concern with Village matters
and indeed national concerns. For the
years immediately following the war
there was a Bring & Buy stall at the
monthly meeting this was in aid of the
"Soldiers, Sailors and Airman's
Families". In January the competition
was for the best potato peeled in the
dark this was won by Miss Winnie Rogers
and Mrs W Ridgeman. February: members
decided letters should be sent to
McFisheries to get a regular fish
service in the village. A letter also
went to the Telephone manager about the
restoration of the light in the Kiosk.
In June we learn that the W.I. went to
Ilfracombe for their Annual Outing. A
list of pianists for the year – Mrs
Sandercock, Mrs Treleaven, Miss Orchard
and Miss M Cobbledick (does this suggest
that more people could play the piano
then). April 1948: Mrs Vedrenne judged
the competition (she used to live in
Burdenwell Manor). December: a letter
was written to the Church Council asking
that they renovate the path to the
Rectory Room.
1949 February: a
resolution from St Dennis was read and
our amendment was passed that soap and
towels should be placed in trains, a
letter was sent. May: it was proposed
that the Australian food parcel be kept
for until Christmas the contents then
used for the party (rationing still on).
September: it was proposed that the
secretary write to the bus company for
details of their monthly bus service to
Plymouth, another letter was written at
the October meeting stressing that the
nearest bus point to Plymouth could only
be caught some considerable distance
from the village which would mean hiring
a taxi.
1950 January: a letter
sent to Tavistock laundry requesting
them to call at the village. Back to the
National bus company, the request for
the Plymouth bus was refused, it was
proposed to defer appealing until after
the General Election. The Drama group
performed a sketch called "Between the
soup and the savoury" in February, this
was much enjoyed. In March it was
decided to write to Truro asking them to
intercede for us to get a bus service to
Plymouth
June saw that Mrs G Masters was
president and there were 35 members
present and 4 new members were welcomed.
A letter was also sent to the Parish
Council stating that the bridge by the
footpath at Castle Ditch was badly in
need of repair. In July members went by
bus to Widemouth and then to Bude
Picture House. In December, at the
Christmas party, H Sillifant provided
the music on the piano and G Masters on
the drums.
1951 February
Mrs K Gubbin presided as vice
president. In May arrangements were made
to visit the Festival of Britain. The
president by now was Mrs R Orchard. In
July there was an unusual competition
"The largest number of white
butterflies" this was won by Mrs
Paynter. Two new members joined in
September Miss B Pooley and Miss I
Colwill. By December Mrs D Treleaven was
president.
1952 January:
Bournemouth was chosen as a venue for
the Annual outing. Mrs Annett gave a
talk on Bermuda. March saw the 7th party
– 4 members were invited from each of
these institutes, Poundstock,
Marhamchurch and Jacobstow. It was
proposed that Miss Fishleigh light the
birthday cake candles, Miss I Colwill to
blow them out. Mrs Treleaven assisted by
Mrs Horrell and Miss Smale to cut the
cake and we should have a sit down meal
at 7-30pm.1953 March: Food for the
Coronation tea be purchased in equal
quantities from Brewers and Sandercocks.
Two new members have joined Nurse Piper
and Nurse Weiss. (They lived in 1
Broadclose, Week Green). On November
12th a Cherry tree planted on a site
owned by Brewers. The Institute gave a
party for the village children in the
Rectory Room during the Christmas
holidays. |
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Time
has not allowed a full research
of the records plus the fact
that some of the books are
missing and thus the continuity
is lost.
1985
Sylvia has ended her report by
returning to 1985 when she
became a member for the second
time. Mrs Watkinson was
secretary then (she sadly died a
few months ago [2005]); what a
joy her minutes were.
She
writes.... "Our 40th Birthday
Party was held on March 20th
1985 with 55 people present. The
first president, Mrs Daisy
Martin who is 90 years old was
unable to attend owing to poor
health, it was agreed that a
piece of birthday cake and some
flowers be sent to her."
It is so
good that we are still going
after 60 years and may we hope
that it will still be going in
another 60 years
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Daisy Martin died on
15th May 1995 aged 95. |
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