Bicton & District WI (Women's Institute) was founded on 10th December, 1924. It included Bicton, Montford Bridge and Oxon. In 1947, Oxon formed its own WI and so we became Bicton WI. In 1995, Oxon WI rejoined Bicton WI and so became Bicton and Oxon WI.
Notes:
SFWI – Shropshire County Federation of Women's Institutes - (t/a Shropshire Federation) –
https://www.wi-shropshire.co.uk/
NFWI – The National Federation of Women's Institutes of England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man –
https://www.thewi.org.uk/
Our information has been obtained from various sources, including: the Committee and Monthly Meeting minute books (unfortunately we don’t have them all); the Shrewsbury Chronicle reports held at the Archives Library in Shrewsbury; NFWI and memorabilia collected from members past and present.
Bicton WI was very busy during this decade – many outings, holidays abroad, garden parties, annual shows amongst many other activities.
Monthly Meetings
As usual, there was a wide variety of speakers and demonstrations during the 1980s.
Cookery was popular as ever – demonstrations of a Magimix; how to make full use of a microwave oven; butchery; English cheeses with sampling; sweet making ‘interspersed with many amusing little anecdotes’; growing and uses of herbs and the Potato Marketing board on ‘cooking with potatoes’. Home-grown talent was used as ‘member Mrs T Jones gave a most impressive demonstration of yeast cookery with items raffled among members’ and ‘a splendid cookery demonstration by Mrs Trish Jones on ‘summer sweets’, she produced some marvellous mouthwatering desserts’.
There were several serious and informative talks – the work of the Office of Fair Trading; Miss Ray, chairman of the local Magistrates gave a fascinating insight into the work of a magistrate; a speaker from Barclays bank gave information about banks and how to look after our money; a talk on the workings and financing of the CAB; a prison officer spoke on life in a prison; Social services talked about placing children for fostering and adoption; a Police Inspector spoke on coping with drugs and drug addiction and there was an enlightening talk by the Samaritans.
On a lighter theme there was a talk by Mrs Dakin on her time spent with the Black and White Minstrels; Mrs Sherry drew cartoons, accompanied by Molly Brown at the piano; the room filled with the aroma of coffee during a talk on the history of coffee with samples; there was a ‘very comprehensive’ demonstration of Boots No 7 products and they were entertained by stories of an ‘accident prone traveller’ and later by Eric Smith of Shropshire Radio.
In 1986, with the consent of the keep fit group, the January meeting was held on the 8th, thanks were sent to Mrs Sheehan. Despite very bad weather, 27 members attended.
It is recorded in the minutes that in 1983 members discussed a lengthy questionnaire on artificial insemination by donor.
Social time and ‘extras’
The type of monthly competitions changed during this decade. In 1980 the competitions were still for the ‘flower of the month’ but in November, for the first time there were no entries. In 1981 the competitions related to the subject of the speaker, a tradition which continues today.
There was certainly a lot going on outside the monthly meetings! Bicton WI’s Produce and Handicrafts show took place annually. It was well supported and a very high standard was achieved. In 1981, the show included classes for men for first time, and here are Mary Fowles and Jessica Pannett with the judges. In 1984, it is recorded that the show was very successful with 220 items entered – not surprising given the number of classes, as can be seen in the 1982 show schedule.
However, in 1987, the show was regretfully cancelled due to insufficient entries. It was suggested that the WI join together with the Horticultural Society and in 1989 the WI and Horticultural Society Show was very successful.
Bicton WI went to Radbrook College for meals, often at Christmas. The secretary noted – ‘I noticed a number of our slimming ladies were there, perhaps returning a few pounds they lost recently’.
They had series of classes over the decade – wine making; flower arranging and craft; introductory needlework; cake icing and macramé. A sports evening with Loton, playing skittles and rounders, was held in 1982. In 1981, members put on a play ‘The Funeral Tea’. It was a big success with a full house. Here they are with former President Carol Buxton on the left.
New for the 1980s was the annual garden party at Merton Nurseries. There were stalls of many kinds with refreshments, sports and games together with entertainment such as Scottish dancing, a display of drill by the ATC and entertainment by the children of Grafton School. It raised good sums, part of which were given to charity. One year £300 was donated to the Hospice Appeal Fund, another £200 was donated to Cystic Fybrosis Research and another year £400 was donated to the Scanner Appeal. Here is a cutting from the Shrewsbury Chronicle about the 1982 Garden Party:
Beetle drives were also held to raise funds. In 1981 a beetle drive made a profit of £6.70 and it was given to the ‘Children in Need’ appeal.
To follow on from a trip to Paris (see below) a French evening held with cheese and wine. A slideshow of the trip was given by David Pannett and other travellers brought along mementoes of the occasion. Similarly, a Dutch evening was held with Mr Christopher supplying cheeses and paté for 60 people and other such evenings.
Bicton WI celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in 1985 and planted a mountain ash tree, which is thriving today:
The Committee and Formalities
Subscriptions increased rapidly, reflecting high inflation. In 1981, they were £2.75 and had increased to £5 in 1986. By 1989 when notified that subs for 1990 would be £7.50, the committee strongly disapproved and sent a letter to NFWI. A standard reply was received – members were disturbed by the impersonal letter and considered it most discourteous.
In 1981, Bicton had 50 members. That September there were six new members including junior member Tracy Williams. By 1985 there were 66 members and at the 1986 AGM members voted for a byelaw restricting the membership to 70. This was approved with 23 for and 12 against. In 1984 members were able to buy a name badge for 80p.
In 1982, the hire of the village hall was £2.50 per hour. In order to make monthly meetings more financially sound, the price of refreshments increased from 5p to 10p, and visitors’ charge from 35p to 50p. The average cost of speakers in 1985 was £10 and hire of the village hall had increased to £5. The WI were approached in 1983 as to whether they would be willing to start meetings at 8pm to allow the Guides to use the large hall. ‘It was obvious from a show of hands that most members were not in agreement’.
The kitchen water boiler was unusable by 1987 and a new one was purchased at a cost of £69. In 1987, Bicton WI now had their own cupboard. Setting out and clearing away tables and chairs was a problem in 1989 and an approach was made to the village hall committee with a view to the WI purchasing another chair trolley. They also purchased two teapots and two trays for WI use.
In 1982, Bicton changed bank to the Midland Bank, Riverside, from the TSB. At the 1989 AGM it is recorded ‘As there is quite a lot of money in the account, suggestions were made for disposing of some of it’. They agreed an increased donation to improve the Play Area of £100 and agreed to provide up to two bursaries each year for members to go to Denman College or a course at County Office with the amount to be decided later. Other suggestions were to give a party for the pensioners or provide something for the newly refurbished ladies cloakroom at the village hall.
Outings
Members of Bicton WI certainly had the opportunity to travel in the 1980s! Rather than one annual outing, there were several trips over the year, together with a weekend to Europe. In 1984, the year’s schedule was as follows – an evening at Safeways; Warwick Castle & Cheltenham; train to Edinburgh; train to WI exhibition at Olympia; Trelydan Hall; Liverpool garden festival; Haye House and a weekend in Paris for 46 members and friends.
Other outings over the decade took them to the factories of Boots the Chemists in Nottingham with the afternoon spent shopping; a Yorkshire woollen mill then a meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; Cardiff; Coventry; Stuart Crystal; Bodnant Gardens & Conway; Harvey's Wine Museum in Bristol; Woburn Abbey and Milton Keynes.
As well as the Paris weekend, they went to Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley, Bruges and Cochem and the Black Forest.
New Year party
The tradition of the New Year party continued. In 1981, tickets were £1 to include raffle ticket and a glass of wine, and members provided savouries and sweets. The Diamond Jubilee party was in 1985. Founder member Olive Paddock was present and a celebration cake was made and iced by Mrs Barkley. Entertainment was by ‘One over the Eight’. Each committee member made two salads and two sweets and beef and ham for 100 was ordered. Here are the President and past Presidents cutting the cake.
People
Some familiar names start to feature in the 1980s. Future President Mrs Connie Davies was welcomed as a member in 1981 and in June of that year congratulations were sent to Mrs Tricia Jones on the birth of her son. Both Tricia Jones and Ann Malpass joined the committee in 1981. they were both assistant treasurer at different times, and Tricia was Show Secretary for many years. In 1987 both Mrs Margaret Keighley and Mrs Ursula Parry are mentioned.
In 1985 there was a minute’s silence for former President Phyllis Lewis who had recently died. Mrs Fowles stood down from the committee in 1988 after many years. At the 1989 AGM Mrs Pannett wished to stand down as President. In her annual report she thanked members for their support during her years as President, which had brought her fun, friendship and laughter. Mrs Tricia Jones agreed to stand and was elected.
Shrewsbury West Group, SFWI and NFWI
The Group Meeting was an important part of the WI calendar. Bicton won the Challenge Cup at the 1985 group meeting. Catering for that meeting was a serious undertaking. Tricia Jones prepared 200 bridge rolls, other members provided 200 sausage rolls and 100 cakes.
They continued to take part in the West Mid Show. In 1982 they ‘did extremely well including our Glamorous Gran who took 3rd prize’. However, in 1989 they decided not to enter the Show this year.
Members got involved in SFWI sports events and quizzes. A Bicton rounders team did very well in one tournament and five members took part in a swimming gala. A Bicton team regularly took part in the SFWI County Quiz and were runners up in 1986. In 1985, SFWI members were reported as dispensing with their ‘Jam and Jerusalem image’ by holding a computer course. Demand was so high that four one-day courses were put on.
Each year, as now, Bicton WI considered a short list of resolutions in readiness for the NFWI Annual Meeting. There were controversial topics that are still important today. In 1988, the resolutions that Bicton discussed were – control of the use of aerosols and packaging that affect the ozone layer; to urge increased prison sentences for rapists and sex offenders; to increase the use of random breath tests with a view to preventing accidents; to improve the quality of water and reduce industrial pollution. In 1989 they discussed resolutions about the disposal of toxic waste and improvement of treatment of waste; compulsory DNA testing; awareness and treatment of osteoporosis and the damage and destruction of deforestation.
Involvement in local & national affairs
Bicton WI frequently had stalls at the Bicton village fete and members provided tea and cakes. On several occasions through the 1980s Bicton WI was asked to provide tea for the MS Society annual church service and tea. Members provided and served sandwiches and cakes for 120. In 1989, five ladies were thanked by the President for serving and organising teas on a very busy afternoon but ‘a little help from other WI members would have been very welcome’.
The party for Shelton patients continued, together with carol singing at the hospital. Members were still collecting gifts at Christmas for Dolywen Cheshire Home throughout the 1980s.
A Tupperware party was held in 1984, with proceeds going to the Ethiopian Famine appeal. It was also in 1984 that several kneelers were embroidered by members with the WI logo and donated to Bicton Church. They are still being used.
The wider WI
Resolutions during the 1980s were important and far-reaching. The NFWI was one of the first organisations to talk about HIV and AIDS following its 1986 resolution ‘to inform the general public of the true facts concerning the disease AIDS’ and used its network of local organisations to educate and get people talking about the issue.
In 1988 the WI campaigned against the increasing incidences of rape, urging the Lord Chief Justice to ensure that ‘the sentences passed adequately reflect the extremely serious nature of the offence.’ The following year county federations successfully lobbied many of their MPs to sign an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on rape sentencing and the NFWI had several meetings at the Home Office. In 1991 the NFWI contributed to the Law Commission’s report on rape within marriage, which finally resulted in marital rape being legally regarded as a violent crime.
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