|
The first
meeting of a British WI took place in Llanfairpwll (aka
Llanfair PG), Anglesey, Wales, on Wednesday June
16, 1915. They were inspired by the Federated Women’s
Institutes of Canada formed by Margaret Rose Watt an
activist for the interests of rural women. The Women’s
Institute rapidly became an essential part of rural
life. One of their features was an independence from
political parties or institutions, or church or chapel
which encouraged activism by non-establishment women,
which helps to explain why the Institutes has been
extremely reluctant to support anything that can be
construed as war work, despite their wartime formation,
and in World War II they limited their contribution to
such activities as jam-making. The first NFWI Chairman
was Lady Denman and the
Women’s Institute has its own Residential Adult
Education College near Oxford called Denman College
which was named after.
The
subscription is deliberately modest in order to ensure
that all women who wish to join may do so. If you are
new to the area, perhaps would like a new interest, or
maybe have always wondered what belonging to WI means,
why not give it a try? You have nothing to lose and it
may be one of the best things you've ever done. |
