Bicton & Oxon WI Centenary: 1924-2024

WI Life continued as usual through the wartime 1940s. The number of members varied from 50 to 59 over the decade with an average attendance of around 30. In 1949 the time of the monthly meetings was changed from 3pm to 2.30pm.

Monthly Meetings

There were interesting demonstrations and talks at the monthly meetings, many reflecting wartime austerity. Subjects included an interesting demonstration on how to make “fritters”, a most interesting and instructive talk on ‘Haybox Cookery’, a demonstration of ‘wartime cooking’ – a two-course meal in a steamer over one flame, a demonstration of string seating, an interesting and helpful demonstration on re-footing stockings, a demonstration of sheepskin rug making, an illustrated talk on amateur photography, a demonstration of sardine recipes and a talk on making lampshades from plastic material described as a “most attractive handicraft”!  In addition, Lady Giles gave several interesting talks on Norway while in 1948 a speaker came from Birmingham to explain in detail the new National Insurance Scheme.

It’s interesting to see the variety in the programme of 1949 (below), and to see the interest in NFWI and SFWI affairs.

  

In September 1942 the cookery demonstration was cancelled at very short notice, but Miss Oliver filled the breech with her travel talk on South Africa, illustrated with calendar pictures. Often when speakers were late or cancelled, members gave a three-minute talk on subjects drawn out of a hat. 

There were extra activities – in 1942 there was a course of six free dressmaking classes and two members attended a carpet-repairing school.

In February 1941 schoolchildren of nine years and older were invited from Bicton and Oxon schools to the Ministry of Information film shown at the monthly meeting, and to have tea.

Later in the year members were invited to a garden meeting at Woodlands Farm, Bicton. A bus was chartered from Vaggs to pick-up long-distance members from Hafren Road and the Grapes. 

The June 1945 meeting was postponed to 21st June on account of a clash with the Red Cross fair, and a picnic was held in the Quarry instead of an ordinary meeting. However, ‘Only 3 members attended, they went to a fair and thoroughly enjoyed themselves’. 

At a meeting in 1948 most members were in favour of the opening of a WI produce stall in Shrewsbury Market. This became one of the WI Markets, then Country Markets and remained at Shrewsbury Market until 2022.

In December 1948 Miss Lee told the members of ‘the unpleasant position in which we found ourselves regarding the room. We were asked to pay 3/6d per hour if we wished to have a fire (at the Four Crosses), because we had no other choice we decided we had to do so.’

In February 1949 the Child Adoption Scheme was discussed, and six members volunteered to take a child.

It’s interesting to see the weather of the time – in January 1940 owing to bad weather, slippery roads and illness only 10 members attended. In February and March of 1947 the weather conditions were appalling.  Only 12 members braved the snowdrifts to the Four Crosses to be present in March.

Over the years, regular food parcels were received from Australia. These parcels were sent to Bicton throughout the war and beyond and were usually distributed by lucky draw. In 1945 a food parcel was received from Newstead County Women’s Association in Victoria, Australia and lots were drawn for a tin of malted milk, a tin of condensed milk and a tin of beef. 

Social half hour

In April 1948 the social half hour took the form of a competition – ‘Eating jelly with matchsticks’!

There was a darts competition in 1944 and on another occasion, members took “Twenty Questions”.

The monthly competitions were interesting: a bowl of bulbs; the ‘best potato dish for four people using only 1oz fat and 1lb potatoes’; the best dried egg dish; the best Christmas gift costing no more than a shilling and the best paper hat made in five minutes.

The raffle prize on one occasion was for a packet of dried peas and on another occasion a tin of condensed milk. 

Whist Drives and rummage sales were held frequently as a quick way to raise money whether for parcels for the troops, SFWI appeals or to bolster Institute funds.  They were used to raise funds for Christmas gifts and postal orders for local men in the Forces. 

Many things are very familiar – in 1945 10 members agreed to make or renovate something for the Thrift Exhibition.  

War time

From the February 1940 Shrewsbury Chronicle: 

“Women’s Institutes are playing their part. The blackout restrictions which were imposed on the outbreak of war created difficulties for the WIs but Shropshire women regard difficulties as things to overcome and with ingenuity for which they are so justly renowned they have managed to get the organisation into full working order again. The Institutes are now concentrating upon food production. Every member is encouraged to take advantages of the lectures and demonstrations which have been and are being arranged on this connection. The County Council is giving assistance and the country women of Shropshire through their Institutes are learning what to do with their waste products, how to prepare food and how to produce it.

Members can join The Produce Guild without a test and thus increase their efficiency and some after passing a test join The Guild of Housewives, the only Guild of its kind in the country where cookery is one of the subjects taught.

The Institutes are carrying on with their monthly meetings. In addition, they are knitting comforts for the troops but are trying to keep this work separate from ordinary WI activities. Because of the difficulty of transport more and more WIs are looking to their own districts for speakers and lecturers and the results are excellent.

Many WIs have formed Working Parties some of which are affiliated to WVS. Those who are not affiliated send garments for the troops such as Balaclava helmets, socks, mittens and scarves and gloves direct to the county Office, Shrewsbury when the parcels are delivered to the WVS.

Some of the Working Parties have taken on members of other bodies such as the Girls Friendly Society and the Mothers Union. Other WI members have joined working parties already formed so it is not possible to estimate the exact volume of war work being done by the WIs. “Give help where you can” is the motto adopted.

There are now 125 Institutes in the county with Lady Berwick as the President of the County Federation.”

In 1942 attention was drawn to a letter about the urgent need for salvaging scrap metal from farms and in 1944 members ran a stall at the Red Cross fair for Prisoners of War and made over £100, the whole fair raising £5,000. Miss Lee did not feel it was justified to go to the AGM in London under present conditions. 

In the autumn of 1944 members were thinking ahead and knitting for post-war Europe and extra cans of fruit were to be set aside as prizes for the Whist Drive for the Forces Christmas Fund. In 1946 there was an appeal for lodging single men working on local farms under the Government scheme

Canning

Canning was an important part of WI life during and after the war.

In May 1940 it was decided to buy a canning machine for the use of the members and in July Miss Heron gave a demonstration on the use of the machine.

Under the Government scheme Bicton WI became a canning and jam making depot where all surplus fruit from the village could be taken on Tuesday and Friday afternoons and either canned or made into jam, a committee was formed to manage this.

In October 1940 it was noted that “under the Ministry scheme for canning and jam making 2,191 lbs of surplus fruit have during the last three months been either canned or preserved. 1,415 tins of various kinds of fruit have been canned and 1,135 lbs of jam have been made. By this effort over 89 different householders have been supplied with jam and tinned fruit by the centre. The work was done by Miss G Lee (supervisor) Lady Giles (assistant supervisor) Mrs Lancett (treasurer) Mrs Cartwright (secretary) and members of the Bicton WI.” 

In December 1940, the canning machine was sent for an overhaul – as it was each year following until it was no longer used.  

In 1946, Bicton WI was asked by Meole Brace WI to give a canning demonstration and in October 1947, 289 cans were filled at a canning school. In total, 752 cans of fruit were preserved during 1948 and the canning schools continued during 1949.

Bicton and Oxon

On September 1st, 1947, a special meeting at Oxon Parish Hall was set up. It was chaired by Lady Swinnerton Dyer and the 43 members present considered a separate WI at Oxon. The ballot resulted in 25 in favour, 18 against. 

The Annual Report records “a resolution was sent to the President and Committee from Oxon members requesting a division of the Institute in order that Oxon could form a separate WI in its own parish. The Executive Committee granted permission. Thus ends what has been a long and, on the whole, happy association between two villages, and in future, each will go its separate way with, we are sure, the best of all good wishes from either one to the other.” 

From then on the Institute was known as Bicton WI rather than Bicton and District WI.

The Committee   

Typically, six committee meetings took place over the year, with an average attendance of 12. 

In August 1940, The Grapes Hotel was no longer available so WI property was removed to the Vicarage and then moved to the Welsh Harp Hotel in October. In 1946 the Bicton Heath meetings moved to Oxon Parish Hall.

Annual outings   

Over the decade there were outings to Llandudno, New Brighton, Worcestershire and Southport amongst others. In 1946, it was agreed that in future all fares should be paid when places are booked, as two members dropped out at the last moment and their seats had to be paid for. 

New Year Party    

As now, the annual party took place in January. In 1940, there were games and competitions and a whist drive after tea. The 1945 party took place at the monthly meeting and took the form of a Victorian evening with carols and dancing. In 1948 “a new year party was held at our January meeting, each member to bring a friend and enough food for two. They enjoyed a sumptuous meal of pre-war standard and amusing games were played”.

Again in 1949, the monthly meeting was an evening party at the Wingfield Arms Club Room. Members each brought a friend or their husband and a grand tea was served by the committee. ‘Miss Trevor sang and was greatly appreciated also Mrs Paddock’.

However, in 1947, a trip to the pantomime in Liverpool took place instead of the Christmas party.

People   

Miss Gertrude Lee was President of Bicton WI all through the 1940s. 

Mrs Joyce Lake retired after 10 years as Secretary in 1947 and Miss Bursey took her place until the following year when Mrs Enid Evans became the new Secretary.

In March 1948 Mrs Bursey started her minutes – ‘the monthly meeting was not carried out with the usual efficiency because of the absence of our President. However, two very nervous Vice Presidents and an inexperienced secretary did the best they could’.

 There was clearly a wide range of ages, as in 1948 Miss Mary Paddock thanked everyone for the telegram on reaching her majority.

Shrewsbury West Group, NFWI and SFWI      

Bicton WI continued to be involved in the West Shrewsbury Group. In 1948 a bus was hired to take 15 members to the group meeting in Yockleton and again to Hanwood in 1949. 

They were clearly very involved in SFWI matters and active in sending resolutions to the Council meetings. 

In 1941 it was agreed to send a resolution to the SFWI Spring Council meeting ‘that the County Office should be open at the stated hours, or that Institutes should be notified when it will be closed to callers.’ 

In 1942 Bicton and District put forward a resolution to SFWI Spring Council meeting “That free milk for school children be continued during holidays”. It was carried unanimously at the Council meeting.

And in 1945 it was agreed to send a resolution to SFWI Winter Council Meeting “that the AGM in London should be a 2-day meeting with morning and evening sessions, leaving the afternoon free for rest and relaxation, many members finding the strain of a one day meeting too great for real concentration”.

Each of these resolutions tells a story!

In February 1948 a VCO (Voluntary County Organiser) visited to explain that subscriptions had to increase from 2/6d to 5s. In April members voted on an increase to 3/6d which was agreed by SFWI.

Nationally, in 1946 Institutes were asked to raise £10 over three years to help towards founding a WI college and later it was recorded that a whist drive was to be held in aid of the Lady Denman College and Bicton Nursing Association. 

Involvement in local & national affairs      

It was noted in November 1945 that the Penicillin Exhibition train would be visiting Shrewsbury.  

In 1948 members from The Isle asked for a letter to be written to the authorities about the refuse collection. Also, in 1948, food stuffs were collected for the Orthopaedic Hospital which had been damaged by fire: 20 jars of bottled fruit, 21 cans of fruit, 48 jars of jam, as well as beans, cornflour, soups, barley flakes, cake flour, Camp coffee, custard powder, tinned rabbit, lemon cheese and marmalade. 

The wider WI

During World War II, the WI played a vital role in growing and preserving food and looking after evacuees. You can read more of this fascinating history at https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/11111/countrywomen-in-war-time-womens-institutes-1938-1945-.pdf

It was also during the 1940s that a WI resolution demanded equal pay for men and women.

In 1948, Denman College, the WI's centre for learning, first opened its doors to students. Lady Denman was a driving force behind the WI – in 1917, she became the first President of the NFWI, a post she held until 1946. Denman College was a residential college in Oxfordshire. It offered day schools and residential courses in cookery, craft and many other subjects.

In July 2020 the NFWI trustees announced the proposed permanent closure of the college and Denman online provided courses for WI members during the covid pandemic and beyond.

More interesting facts can be found at the Food Museum – including the wonderful photo of a canning machine we have used above

https://foodmuseum.org.uk/yes-we-can/

The Imperial War Museum also has interesting information and photos about the WI during the war

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-did-the-womens-institute-do-during-the-second-world-war