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A peep into the archives of the Woman's Institute
We thought you might be interested in jottings from South Mimms and Ridge Woman's Institute book. The branch was formed in 1920.
This diary begins in January 1928. There were 63 members and at this time the President was Mr. Rowley of Old Fold Manor, Hadley. The monthly meeting was held in the Mission Hall, South Mimms, which was behind 60 Blanche Lane, now a private dwelling. A talk 'Life in other lands' was given by Mr W H Richardson and illustrated by Lantern slides. Those of us who went to his Sunday School were often treated to a lantern slide show.
In February: A competition 'A holiday meal for 2 adults and 2 children to cost not more than 2/6d' (12½p!!), proved that a most satisfying meal could be obtained for this sum.
For May: The competition was 'A home-made labour saving article
- a mop made from stocking tops won first prize.
In September: The meeting was held at the Lake at Dyrham Park by permission of Mrs and Miss Trotter (Vice President). There was a picnic, chat, boating and games.
In 1930 there were 70 members. October 1930; bulbs were sold at 1d each to grow ready for a competition in March 1931.
For tea in the garden, meetings were held at Ingham Lodge, Deeves Hall House and Windmore Hall.
Mrs Gower, wife of a former headmaster at St Giles, must have provided her husband with good food - nearly always she gained first prize in any cooking competition.
In February 1933: 'A most interesting Lantern lecture on 'Australia the Wonderland' was given by Mr Nugent Harris from the Empire Marketing Board', do you remember this Board?
August 1933: Saw the meeting being held at The Red House,
Blanche Lane - this stood where the Georgian Houses are now, with the garden stretching along to the Bridleway. The discussion this day was 'How to make a husband happy' and it is written that 'several warnings and hints on how to do this caused great amusement'. At this time of the depression it was decided to make parcels of second-hand clothes and lmit woollen squares for blankets for families of unemployed men such a miners.
Other items covered were in 1934: Coach Travel versus rail, Cooking with gas, and in 1935 The British Celanese Company.
And so we come to the end of this Minute book. Reading through it shows how much things revolved around the house - cooking, sewing, making do, and gardening. How people travelled to New Zealand, Australia, Morocco etc. and the Rev. Allen Hay talking about the Canary Islands.
Unfortunately our local WI's closed a few years ago but several local ladies travel to Potters Bar branches.
This Minute book will be available for perusal in St Margaret's, Ridge
on Sunday aftemoons.
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