A Right Royal Week

What A W.I. Week

The first meeting of the Women's Institute in the U.K. took place one hundred years ago in Wales on September 16th 1915. In this Centenary Year a number of celebrations have been taking place and those in the week of 1st of June must be placed high on the list.

The first event of the week took place on Tuesday the 2nd when 8,000 WI members attended a  Garden Party at Buckingham Palace which was hosted by the Duchess of Cornwall. The weather was dry but very blustery and hats, I am told, flew off quite a few heads. Countesthorpe WI were lucky enough to have two members attending the event, Sylvia Eales and Susan Porter and both ladies had a very enjoyable day.

The second event of the week took place on Thursday 4th of June when the annual AGM was held at the Albert Hall. This was attended by around 5,000 WI members plus the Queen, Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex.

   
Besides the Queen, the speakers for the day were Tanni Grey-Thompson, paraplegic Olympian and Peeress of the House of Lords, Lucy Worsley, historian and TV presenter and Helena Morrissey, founder of the 30% club which was set up to encourage corporate bosses to have a more even balance of male and female board members. 

Tanni Grey-Thompson was paralysed at the age of 5 when no provision was made for wheel chair users so her parents encouraged her to be as  independent as possible. This however, didn't stop her saying 'Yes' when David Beckham and Sir Steve Redgrave offered to carry her, wheelchair and all, up some stairs – well you wouldn't would you.

 Lucy Worsley was told she would never make a living out of history. She now has an office in St James Palace and looks after the Crown Jewels and our historical buildings. Helena Morrissey has 9 children apart from being CEO of a large national company. All inspiring women.

The WI has always been for all women, no matter age or status and that was very evident during this very special week.