Centenary Meeting

2019

Rosie makes jam

Woodhouse Eaves WI was in a jam!  Rosie Jameson had come to share her expertise and lead a hands-on jam-making evening and the electric hotplates were not working!  Could it be a fault with the [black]currants? Was this the time to blow a raspberry?  Rosie, her assistants and WI members kept their bottle, however, and the problem was solved.  The four work stations burst into life as members weighed, heated, stirred and tested.  Jam wrinkled when it had reached its setting point and faces wrinkled in relief.  Energy was funnelled into the final stage as the jam was funnelled into jars.  Each work station bore fruit and 48 jars of delicious jam were produced. The credibility of the WI was preserved!

Members of the Woodhouse Eaves WI were treated to a special meeting in February, when past Presidents Rose Foley, Jane Futcher and Sarah May and current Vice-President Susan Towe shared the results of their research into the history of the WI.

From its first meeting in May 1918, Woodhouse WI has played an important role in the life of the village, helping women to learn new skills, encouraging debate on national issues and arranging various entertainments such as whist drives, dances and garden parties.  In September 1918 members enjoyed a lecture on bread-making, as we did in October 2017!  And our WI has always enjoyed a party, with celebrations for all major anniversaries from 1958 through to this year.  It is inspiring to reflect on the importance of the WI before most women went out to work, with the small village of Woodhouse Eaves having 190 WI members in 1927.

A wealth of historical records, including minute books, photographs, newspaper articles, programmes and certificates, was on display for the meeting, which attracted several visitors.  Tea, coffee and cake rounded off a fascinating evening.