The Church Lawford and Kings Newnham Women’s Institute was formed in 1932, and is still going strong almost a century later.
On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the group in 1982 a celebration tea was arranged, and a report was prepared by John Forsyth for the Parish Magazine the following month.
John’s report is appended below as it was written – noting the references to people and places applied in 1982.
A NOTABLE FIFTY YEARS
The interesting feature about those who started the Women’s Institute fifty years ago is that so many of the names concerned are the same names as those in the village today, but they reach back a generation in time. In 1932 the young Marion Wotherspoon came home so enthused from a meeting of the recently formed Institute in Wolston that her Mother’s, Mrs Janet Wotherspoon’s, imagination was caught up sufficiently for her to call a meeting of the ladies of Church Lawford to discuss forming a village Branch. The gathering took place in the Guide’s Room in the barn behind The Rectory, now Mr & Mrs Bullock’s sitting room.. As was almost obligatory for any village enterprise in those days, Miss Julia Townsend of Highfield, King’s Newnham gave the proposed inauguration her blessing and allowed the Reading Room to be used for the purpose. The Reading Room had been the gift of the Misses Townsend in 1912 and permission was by no means automatic. lt was about this time that Miss Julia deemed an application for a 2ist birthday party to take place in Lent was most improper and she withheld her consent for the use of the Room.
The influence of both Miss Townsend and the Rector were seen in the appointments of the first Officers, For Miss Voight, companion to Miss Townsend, was elected President and Miss Glynn, companion to Mrs Ward, wife of the Rector, Canon Ward, one of the Vice-Presidents. The other Vice-President was Miss Craven who lived in the nearby School House, Headmistress of the Old School, It is among some of the founder members, or near founder members, that the familiar names abound: Mrs Wotherspoon, Mother of Marion and Alex; Mrs Robinson, Mother of Len; Mrs Reay, Mother of Chris; Mrs Cooke, Mother-in-law of Mrs Bett Cooke; Mrs Hence, sister of Win Day, Mrs Round of Smithy Lane was a valued Secretary for 21 years, But another important name is that of Mrs Mary Dennett, a short head in front of Mrs Cooke, as the longest serving member, Mary of Scottish descent, was born in Newbold but, in the mid-thirties, the family moved to farm Limestone Hall where Mary still lives, letting her lively mind range back over the years as she succeeds, with great courage, to overcome her accident. A Past-President who proudly recollects being a guest at Buckingham Palace when The Queen honoured the WI by graciously giving a Royal Garden Party.
There has been a remarkable constancy of activities and of numbers right through to the present day. The pattern of meetings, a speaker, refreshment, time for chat and relaxation and the continuing generous support for the same charities; The Institute for the Blind, the Weston Hospital, Friends of St, Cross Hospital, and, not least, the marvellous teas at the Pete every year. The Second World War broke the tenor, however, the blitz and the black-out meant a change to afternoon meetings and each session was taken up by the allocation of needlework and knitting to be done at home. Khaki shirts, pyjamas and sea boot stockings„ Rolling bandages and making dressings for the Red Cross. Against the background of war time the coming together of the WI each month was a highlight for most members„ It was at this stage that Mrs Dorothy Broadwell joined, now in her fifteenth year as Secretary and she, and many other current members take a share in the County and National affairs.
But, locally, a tangible accomplishment in recent years has been compiling of the village Domesday Book and the Survey of the Church and Churchyard, Both, well researched and delightfully and delicately illustrated, the former being copied by the Record Office for inclusion in the Warwickshire Archives.
Mrs Pat Jeyes, now in her second year of office, is the fourteenth President in fifty years and so on equal terms with Mrs Thatcher who is the fourteenth Prime Minister since 1932, It was Mrs Jeyes and her Committee who arranged and provided the excellent feast to mark the Golden Jubilee. A thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening for the members and their honoured guests, Mrs Celia Beaumont, Vice-County Chairman, and Mrs S, Lomas, Past County Chairman, who each expressed congratulations and good wishes for the future, A sentiment sincerely endorsed by the people of the village to this admirable Women’s Institute.
(The above written by John Forsyth and appearing in the May 1982 edition of the Parish Newsletter).
Looking back at the early days of the local gathering, there are a number of items of memorabilia preserved by the family of Bett Cooke – referenced above – from when she joined the local branch shortly after marrying Fred Cooke.
A later example of an annual programme is from 1954
The levels of commitment made to the local group by its loyal members has always been noteworthy. An example was the commitment of Dorothy Broadwell during her 15-year spell as WI Secretary between 1967 and 1982, and this was recognised with a presentation made to her early in 1983. The commemorative plate was made by Rachel and Joanna Howells in their pottery workshop. During her period of tenure the group completed notable projects such the review of St Peters Flora and the review of the tributes and monuments at St Peters and what was known as the Village Domesday Book.