The Women's Institute - Then and Now

THEN:
The Women’s Institute - An Account by F Smethurst. Vice-President W.I. 1947 copied with kind permission from the records of Storrington Museum

The Washington Women’s Institute was inaugurated in April 1929, under the presidency of the Hon. Lady Becher, of Rowdell, who has been the President ever since, except for the year 1942.  The first meeting-place of the Institute was the Recreation Hut, but in April 1931 Mrs Lloyd, one of the foundation members, gave a hut for the use of the W.I. and Girl Guides, at the nominal rent of 1/- per annum.  This hut was taken over by the military in 1940, and on Mrs. Lloyd’s death early in 1941 passed to the National Trust.  When the military finally gave up possession the hut was so very badly dilapidated that the National Trust offered to erect a new hut and let the Institute have it on the same terms as before.  However, in the meantime, a scheme for a new Village memorial Hall, to be shared by all the activities of Washington, was in full swing, and it was decided, with reluctance, to decline the offer of the National Trust, and carry on with the meetings at the Recreation Hut until the new Hall is ready.

Very many activities are run in connection with the W.I. besides the obvious ones of providing a happy monthly meeting for the members, with talks, instructive and entertaining demonstrations on all sorts of handicrafts, games and gossip.  For 2½ years during the War the W.I. undertook the sale of country pies, at first twice, later once a week.  For a short time in 1940 the members ran a canteen for troops stationed in the neighbourhood, and it was under the auspices of the W.I. that a branch of the Sussex County Library, and a Tontine Savings Club, have been started, the former run most successfully since 1932 by Mrs. Hurst, and the latter since 1931 by Mrs. Peryer.  Then there is a very successful Whist Drive Club, first started by the W.I., which uses its profits to help all sorts of deserving objects.   

In 1940 the Institute ran its first fruit-canning day and since then has had 5 others, until this autumn of 1947, when it has become the proud possessor of its own canning machine and has already had 3 successful days.
There was one dark spot in the history of the Institute, in 1943, when owing to war conditions it was feared it would have to close down.  However, Mrs. Brundrett came down from headquarters to advise the members, and it was decided to carry on.  Since then the membership has increased and the Institute is once more a vital, going concern, giving interest and pleasure to its members and help to all who need it in the neighbourhood.         F. Smethhurst.  Vice President W.I. 1947

NOW:
Today the W.I. is still going strong in Washington and holds true to its ideals; it is still ‘a going concern, giving interest and pleasure to its members and help to all who need it in the neighbourhood’.  Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall and cover a wide range of topics and talks from “Fingerprints & DNA” to “Gardening for the Young at Heart” and “Saddle-sore in Montana”.  There is nothing boring or old fashioned about today’s W.I., not that it ever was, despite some people’s perception of the Institute in the past.  New members are always welcome, new ideas and a fresh approach is the life blood of the Institute.  Every year there is a summer outing, among the interesting places we have visited have been Hever Castle, the year before that a canal trip along the Wey, Osborn House on the Isle of Wight and this year Sissinghurst.  On the fourth Wednesday of every month the W.I. go for a gentle 2 -3 mile walk ending up in a convenient pub for lunch, husbands are invited to join this activity.

Washington W.I. is part of the wider picture within the County of West Sussex and takes full advantage of all the events County have to offer, such as learning new skills:  painting, photography, Mah Jong, and tournaments including Skittles, Table Tennis and Short Mat Bowls; talks by speakers such as Simon Weston and Tim Wonnacott.

In 2009 Washington W.I. celebrated their 80^th Birthday and is still going from strength to strength.