Wednesday 23 October 2019

Our WI is 100 Years Old

 At Big WI the October meeting was our 100th Birthday Party. It was held in the Village Hall where WI meetings have been held for years.
The tables were laid ready for our arrival and several past presidents and invited guests from Federation HQ all sat down to a lovely meal provided by a really good catering company.
(The man on the stage was there to take a few photos)



I forgot to take any photos until the end! This was all that was left after the Trio of  Desserts (Chocolate Brownie, Strawberry Meringue and Lemon Cheesecake)

Everything was delicious and much quicker service than the 99th Birthday Party at the local pub last year.
Our entertainment after the meal was The Kettle Girls, a trio of ladies singing acapella, songs both well know and others written themselves.

As a memento of the occasion  we all had  a shopping bag with a 100 birthday logo.
and those of us who don't live in the 3 villages got a copy of the July Parish Magazine which had several pages about the history of WI.

We also had a rather good piece in the East Anglian Daily Times Newspaper with a photo of some of the original members of Bacton WI...............looking rather formidable

and now, the photo taken earlier this year...........31 of us out of 37 membership



                                    (must do something about the bags under my eyes!)

(Thank you to everyone for comments yesterday about my gorgeous grandchildren - I'm so lucky)

Back Tomorrow
Sue

24 comments:

  1. Sounds a good evening, you have given me ideas for our 100 in 3 years time, nothing like forward planning.

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    1. We decided a bag was more useful than a commemorative pen or a mug!
      It was a good evening - good caterers made it special

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  2. What a great evening. Friendship groups like this are really important.

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    1. Once I find this house and land is too much work, I hope to move back to the village and then it will be easier to go to the other WI organised things like book club and scrabble club and get to know people better

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  3. What a wonderful evening and I just love that photo of the original WI. You all look much more welcoming xx

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    1. People never used to smile in photos back then - makes them look so gloomy!

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  4. Sounds like a lot of fun. Those early ladies certainly do look formidable!

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  5. Would be good if you could pick up a copy of the parish magazine regularly; helpful to see what's going on and the tradespeople advertising in your area. (Did you see my second email about Friday?)

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    1. Just replied to email.
      Everyone in my village gets the local parish mag delivered. The Bacton one is from 2 villages away.... I look at if I'm at BiL's house

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  6. I wouldn't like to have messed with the original band of women in the early photo! The room looked so lovely laid out with all the candles. I really like those trio desserts - stops me having to make the decision of which one to choose.

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    1. The trio dessert was gorgeous and much bigger than we all expected - we were all quite full-up by the time we'd finished

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  7. It sounds an amazing celebration and the bag will be so useful.
    xx

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  8. The photo of the members today certainly looks a lot more cheerful than the original members. Whenever I see those old photos I always wonder what they were thinking, why they looked so grumpy or perhaps smiling wasn't something they did a lot.

    Sounds like a great celebration!

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    1. People just never smiled on old photos did they? No idea why

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  9. Just catching up with you Sue. Your grandchildren are indeed lovely. What a great evening you all look to have had and a trio of desserts is right up my street, Must say you all look much more friendly and approachable than the original ladies lol.

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    1. Those ladies do look so serious, I hope they had fun at their meetings.

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  10. What a beautifully "set-up" dinner, and Celebration!

    And what a milestone!

    Love the old photo.

    But you must tell us, who you are, in the present day one. No fair, not you, you know!!! ,-)

    🍁🍂🎃🍁🍎🍂🍁

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    1. Sorry I forgot not everyone has seen pictures of me on the blog in the past.
      I'm second row from the back and third from the right. My daughter said I should have smiled more, but I thought I was!

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  11. 100 years and still going strong I see.

    It looks like a lovely evening out.

    God bless.

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  12. Sounds like a good celebration of 100 years of this women's group. I like the bag as well, good things to use shopping and memories of club you belong to. Thanks for sharing the photos from newspaper. I was a part of a women's club when I lived in New Mexico, USA years ago. I enjoyed it alot and sometimes miss it. We did alot of things and had fun!! Take care!!

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  13. I've always envied British women and the WI. I think I first came across the reference in a Miss Read book. There really isn't anything comparable here in the US. Years ago The Grange movement was big in rural areas and I think they had a women's group. Mary

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  14. Love the cover of the parish mag! You're right the ladies in the older WI photo do look rather formidable. But back then, it wasn't the 'done thing' to have smiley official photos. Goodness knows why! Your WI group, though, look a friendly bunch :)

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