The women’s Institute has had a busy time of late, as this is the Centenary year of the Women’s Institute in this country, the idea for the WI came from Canada in 1915. Littleport’s Women’s Institute started in 1922.
To mark the centenary we have held a Garden Party with members from other Institutes in the Ely federation invited, a lovely day with beautiful weather. We held an exhibition in the Adams Heritage Centre, with artefacts from both past and present, made, or collected by our members, some items from our archives and many photos all these and much more were on display along with panels ‘Celebrating womens lives in the Fens’. These panels were a project supported and financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, many members contributed to this project with a working party from each WI trawling through years of committee meeting minutes as well as minutes from the regular meetings to glean any useful or unusual fact. Members also visited some older members of the community to record their memories, all this along with photos was collated and miraculously turned into 12 very interesting panels. The result of three years work, but well worth it, so we hope you manage to see them. These panels had an official launch an April at Prickwillow, the launch was performed by Dame Stella Rimmington, with guests from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many other county dignitaries. Early June saw us at the Fun Fair held at the Leisure Centre in our usual role of serving tea and cakes, a good day, weather favourable and lots of customers.
Our monthly meetings continued as usual, Ruth Sindall showed us how to ice Easter cakes in March, this contained some very useful tips. In April Paul Cannan from Aspel Nursery made hanging baskets for the garden which was very informative, and enjoyed by all. May brought us the chance to make sun catcher with beads, which was highly entertaining when the beads began to fall off wires with some not so nimble fingers trying to replace them!
Mrs Rispen from Sandringham WI came to talk to us in June taking the role of Mrs Ware of the 1920’s, dressing as such, who met Queen Mary, an avid supporter of the Institute, wanting to start a group in Sandringham, where the Queen became President, a tradition which still stands today. At the Ely federation group meeting, we were presented with the Trophy for coming second in the competition with Cup Cakes made by Diana Tooke and Rosemary Coleman.
We look forward to the coming months knowing that we have a varied programme planned. Details of our meetings can be obtained from President J Bird, on 01353 863823, or the Secretary M Dennis on 01353 861298 or come to our meetings on the second tuesday of the month at the Village Hall at 7:15pm.