Week 25 - Broadclyst

Introduce yourself
I'm Shelley Tobin, I am President of Broadclyst WI. I'm a working Mum and specialise in fashion and dress history, currently working as Costume Curator for the National Trust and a local authority museum in Devon.
Why did you become a member of the WI?
I wanted to be more active in our local village, especially as my son became a teenager. I was interested in finding out about workshops and courses run by the WI, including Denman courses. I was aware of the history and already interested in that aspect, but also keen to get involved with current campaigns.
How would you sum up your WI?
We are a small friendly group, reborn nearly five years ago after the original group had folded. I decided to make enquiries about starting the group again when I discovered from a neighbour that the old WI had closed. We revived with about 20 people, but now have 12 on the books. It means that we share a lot together and are quite close knit as a group. Everyone is lovely, we all have different interests and backgrounds and get on so well, we look forward to our monthly meetings and socials.

We are represented at WI events and meetings, and our ambition is to get more involved in county and national events and campaigns. We encourage new members to join but find that there is a lot of competition in the village and it is difficult to recruit people who will commit to becoming members.


Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
On one level, it is a wonderful way to make new friends and to share support for each other.
It's a great way to learn new skills or find out about something new, or pursue an interest. The WI has the potential to offer so much to women. On a more serious note, the WI has proved that it can deliver in terms of campaigns based on very important issues and has made a really positive contribution to the lives of people in this country.

I am also interested in the work of the ACWW and the work done overseas to help improve women's lives.
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
We elected to send members to events this year so I have not participated in the he main meetings myself but I have enjoyed observing and reading about them. I look forward to reports from members who have attended the NFWI AGM and the garden party at Buckingham Palace, and our own garden party later on in June.

I am admin for our social media accounts, having set them up a little while ago, and enjoy posting and tweeting on a variety of subjects, including centenary news.

Week 24 - The Heatons

Introduce yourself
My name is Tiff Jordan and I'm Vice President of The Heatons WI in Stockport, Cheshire. I'm an ex- teacher and now I work with school children in local museums. I love it!
Why did you become a member of the WI?
I joined the WI when I saw a brand new one advertised locally. Before then I had never even considered it but loved it from the start!
How would you sum up your WI?
Our WI has 53 members and meets in a local private club. We have very popular book groups, a craft club, restaurant club and a newly started walking group. We are a light hearted bunch - we sing Jerusalem once a year and love bake offs where we all judge by tasting every entry!
Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
I have made so many new friends at the WI and it is definitely something i would encourage other women to do. This is my third year on the committee (my first two years were as President) which has been a great learning curve with lots to keep me busy and lots of fun!
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
The highlight of the WI's centenary year was my visit to the garden party at Buckingham palace two weeks ago. Plus myself and 5 other members of our WI were in the live link up from the Imperial War Museum, Manchester.  Watch my tweets to find out all about that amazing week!

Week 23 - Little Bowden

Introduce yourself
Grainne Purkiss. President of Little Bowden WI. Teacher
Why did you become a member of the WI?
To have more than just “lunch with the girls”. To be part of something bigger and to try and make a difference in our various communities
How would you sum up your WI?
Gin-swilling game girls.

Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
Because it allows you to celebrate all the roles you have in life but really strengthens the real you. Together we are strong. And happy!
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
Inter-acting with other WI. Getting our face on the telly (again!!)

Week 22 - Tilly Widgets

Introduce yourself
My name is Louise Pitman and I am president and founding member of the Tilly WIdgets in Farnborough, Hampshire. We formed in April 2014 so still very new but have had a great first year so far and what a fabulous time to join the WI, in time for the centenary. I wanted to join the WI to feel more connected to my community, so set about finding a WI with like minded women. In the course of my job as a Senior Probation Officer I give talks about the Criminal Justice System to various community groups, mostly WIs so thought that would give me a good chance of finding the one for me. There appears to have been an insurgence in recent years of women wanting to join the WI and therefore, I was met with long waiting lists. I could wait to join the right one or, start a WI myself. Within 6 weeks I had found a hall, cajoled 6 friends and acquaintances to give talks and recruited two friends as the requisite 3 people to start a WI! The Tilly WIdgets were born.
Why did you become a member of the WI?
Our name comes from a famous and inspiring Farnborough aviator, Beatrice Shilling, known as Tilly. During the second world war she developed a "widget" to prevent aircraft stalling in a dive bomb manouver. Dawn one of our original three came up with the name and had the abriged story of it published in WI Life in 2014, the full version of the story can be found on our website www.tillywidgetswi.co.uk
How would you sum up your WI?
Our WI is perhaps what you would call a modern WI, we have had some really thought provoking speakers so far. We have a wide age range of members our youngest is 26 and what is really magical is the way young and old engage and inspire each other. We try to appeal to all ages and interests but predominantly we have talks about current affairs and as we move forward want to make an impact on each other and our community. We have an exciting new craft group starting for 2015.


Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
Never, it would seem, has there been a better time to join the WI and i'd encourage all women of any age to get involved. Certainly for the Tilly WIdgets fun is the order of the day and whilst we are still a very new WI some very strong bonds have been formed.


What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
We have been working with our group members to plan for the centenary with a screening of the AGM at a local cinema. We have not had the opportunity to be too involved in the baton locally as Hampshire is a big area and it is quickly passing through. We are planning a special centenary celebration of our own by organising a barn dance in September with husbands and children invited along for a good old knees up!

Week 21 - Packington & Maxstoke

Introduce yourself
Hi, my name is Margaret Roper and I am member of the Packington and Maxstoke WI in Warwickshire. I am a recent addition to the Committee and serve as the Press and Publicity Officer. After working as a scientist in the Pharmaceutical industry in Australia for over 20 years I had a complete change of lifestyle and spent four years gaining my PhD is Shakespeare Studies at the University of Birmingham where I met my husband. I currently work as a Library Assistant in the Special Collections library at the University of Birmingham surrounded by old and rare books and archives which is a delight.

Why did you become a member of the WI?
When I moved permanently from Australia to the UK last year I knew no one in the local area, except my husband and his family and I really wanted to settle in and feel that I was part of my local community. So I joined the WI and what a wonderful, warm and welcoming experience it has been.
How would you sum up your WI?
The Packington and Maxstoke WI is a dynamic and diverse group of women with boundless energy and enthusiasm and a great community spirit. There is also the advantage of meeting in a stately home, Packington Hall, surrounded by a beautiful garden and a deer park!

Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
Through the WI I met some amazing people, I have gained a fantastic group of friends, had much fun, and learnt a lot too from speakers and craft days and just speaking with the members. Now I not only feel part of the community but also feel I am contributing to it too. I would encourage anyone who eager to learn, make new friends and participate in their community to join the WI.
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?

I am looking forward to the continuing celebrations of the Centenary year, I attended the baton handover luncheon in Warwickshire last year and am looking forward to a trip to Anglesey, home of the first WI meeting. I am particularly looking forward to the Centennial Fair in Harrogate in September which will be a great celebration of our wonderful and important organisation.

Week 20 - Charlbury

Introduce yourself
My name is Louise Cashman, I'm 51 and I’m the Secretary for Charlbury WI in West Oxfordshire and I also manage the marketing side of things.  Charlbury is part of a group of five local WIs (the Evenlode Group) and together we come under the Oxfordshire Federation.  I live with my husband & our Labradors & have one daughter who’s away at uni.  I work full-time for a publishing company in Oxford as a print-buyer (I‘m responsible for printing the Marketing team’s publicity).   

Why did you become a member of the WI?
I lived in a fairly remote rural spot at the time and wanted to feel more a part of the local community.  I also wanted something more varied that an evening sport or hobby class.
How would you sum up your WI?
Ours is a market town WI and as such, we have a real diversity of ages, backgrounds and characters. We're a good mix of both the traditional and modern face of the WI - we have fund-raising cake sales & recently started up a Yack & Yarn group,  but then also make full use of social media to attract new members and last summer took craft workshops (with a yarn bomb theme) at a trendy local music festival.
Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
You’ll have an instant group of friends, hear talks on subjects you’d never have looked into yourself & enjoy the opportunity to learn & use new skills (committee, Denman, community events).
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
Sharing the sense of pride and community that members have in the organisation.

Week 19 - Teddington

Introduce yourself
I'm Sarah Hallett and I'm the social media representative of the Teddington WI. I was asked to join our branch's committee in October 2014 and I am enjoying the role a lot. I'm a full time Mum to 2 children, Amy who is 11 and James who is 9. Before having my children I was a regional training manager for Monsoon.
Why did you become a member of the WI?
I was introduced to the WI by friends who were already members. I like the fact that you get to meet a wide range of people with different backgrounds.
How would you sum up your WI?
Teddington WI is a great group of characters, all keen to learn something new, make new friends and having a great time doing it.... we're a very social bunch!
Why would you encourage other women to get involved in the WI?
Getting involved in the WI brings you into contact with a lot of great likeminded people who live in the same area as you. The monthly meetings cover a wide range of different topics, so you're always learning new skills or nuggets of information, or just having a great night out once a month. It's great fun... you'll never regret joining!
What are you most looking forward to as part of the WI centenary in 2015?
I'm excited to be part of the WI in this centenary year. It's a great milestone and something I think we are all proud of in our local group. We are all looking forward to some great times ahead and having another successful year.


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