Recollections of the first hundred years of Badby and Fawsley Women’s

Institute 1918 – 2018

Preface

The original purpose of the Women's Institute was to bring together women of the countryside who might otherwise be isolated. Badby and Fawsley W.I. was formed in February, 1918 by Lady Julia Knightley of Fawsley Hall. It enabled local women to meet with others who lived in a rural setting. Activities and meetings leant toward domestic matters. Lady Knightley wished that the ladies of Badby be joined together by the 'common ideals of truth, tolerance, justice and friendship'. Protocol had to be, and was, adhered to rigidly, with some members getting irate if it was not. Rules were kept.

Institutes at the beginning were considerably helped and financed by the Board of Agriculture but by 1922 the Institutes had to stand on their own feet.

Lady Knightley was, inevitably, chosen as the first President. She remained President for 15 years until she moved from Fawsley. It had been her drive and energy which had caused the group’s inception because she strongly believed that belonging to the Institute would “brighten the lives and widen the outlook of the women who lived in the country districts.” Sadly all Archive material from early years has been mislaid. It was thought that it had been lodged at the County Archives but searches there have drawn a blank.

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Meetings

The first meetings were held in the ‘club room’ of the Maltsters, and then in a small room which was formerly the infant’s school room. In 1921 Lady Knightley had built onto this a larger room with stage, footlights and electric lighting for the use of the Women’s Institute, our modern day Village Hall. Lady Knightley only charged a nominal rent for this room.

Initially, meetings were held in the afternoons, possibly to allow time for members to walk to the venue in daylight hours. One report records Lady Knightley as having walked through the woods from Fawsley Hall to her WI meeting at Badby, eating a picnic lunch en route and arriving at the Badby meeting place in time to preside over the afternoon meeting. Dress code for meetings was more formal than today. It was not considered seemly for women to be seen out without wearing a hat. Forenames were not used. Members were addressed by their titles. So everyone was 'Mrs or 'Miss' and in the founder's case 'Lady'. It was not until 2000 that members’ names in the annual program became Christian name and surname. Jerusalem was sung at the beginning of each meeting accompanied by a pianist on the Village Hall piano. Once the piano went in the 1980s it was no longer sung on a regular basis.

The early pre-war meetings had a social half hour after the business and speaker. This was taken up by singing, dancing, monologues, sketches and plays put on by the drama group. At the October meeting in 1935 it even included table tennis.

Possibly, apart from those differences, meetings would be much the same as they are now. A committee made up of President, Secretary and Treasurer, as well as other committee members who covered the tasks essential to running the group. Format was also the same. Business meeting and notices, followed by a speaker and then refreshments and social half hour. There was also a competition held each month. This could be for a flower arrangement, making an item or for the most interesting object brought from home, some WIs still have competitions.

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In the past Badby and Fawsley didn't have an August meeting, these started in 1996. It wasn’t until 2004 that a President’s badge was purchased which is passed to each President when they take office.

Badby & Fawsley in 2018 has a healthy membership of 60 but in 1989 the WI nearly folded when the committee all resigned and no-one came forward to stand. An advisor came from County and pointed out that at least 12 of them were interested enough to come to a meeting and persuaded some of them to be officers and so the WI marched on.

Group Meetings

The group movement was set up in 1922 by the County Federation as a layer between individual WIs and the County federation. Surrounding villages would get together twice a year for a joint meeting and shared being the host WI. The members of the group varied over the years as new WIs were formed, the original one set up by the County Federation for this area included Badby, Litchborough, Staverton, Everdon and Flore. Groups were able to engage better speakers and charged an entrance fee for the meeting. The secretary of each WI had to give a six month review of their activities. This could be very tedious. It was noted that the Badby and Fawsley Secretary had an excellent sense of humour and when it was her turn to give the six month report she gave funny accounts of events in our WI, which livened up proceedings and made them more fun and more enjoyable. Nothing changes!

Group meetings were a good way of meeting other members of the WI and swapping ideas. The logistics of these meetings, as well as the organisation of providing refreshments for 60 - 70 people at a time proved hard work for the chosen WI although the costs came from Group funds. County changed the layers of hierarchy in the 1990s and formal groups between County and individual WIs were abolished. They were replaced by areas which had a co-ordinator to arrange meetings. In 1994 one of our Badby members, Chris Richards, took on this role once she had stepped down from the role of President. Area meetings were meant

3 to break-even but not make a profit. Something of a juggling act and they came to an end in the late 1990s, although some groups of WI still meet on an informal basis.

County and National Federation

Badby and Fawsley WI has many interactions with the County Federation Headquarters (WI House) which was situated in Albion Place until September 1995 when it moved to Moulton. Individual WIs support the County Federation in a variety of ways. Badby & Fawsley Wi in July 1993 made and donated 'biscuits and cookies' for the 75th Anniversary and in May 2000, donated £15.36 to purchase a chair for the new house. There were displays of art and crafts and floral displays at the house to which, from time to time, Badby and Fawsley WI, contributed. Cushion covers, an oil painting of Badby Woods, engraved wine glasses and a silk bouquet were among the items that were displayed by Badby members in the showcase in 1986. The same year Badby & Fawsley, as the second eldest group in the county, were asked to write a short account of the group for the County newsletter.

The county initiative of ‘Fill a freezer’ for Cynthia Spencer Hospice, baking 10 cakes for the patients and their guests, started in 2003 and has been enthusiastically supported by the members. 2 members, had planted a ‘Millenium’ tree in 1998 in Brixworth Country Park when it was first established 'which should still be alive', they reported!

Directives and requests came, and come, from Federation. Walking figured often. In May 2000 a walk around Newbold Grounds was organised by the group at part of the County initiative to walk the Northamptonshire County boundary. In 1995 National asked members to 'Walk a Million Miles for the WI'. No report was found about how successful this initiative had been. In 2005 for the 90th birthday anniversary members were asked to walk 90 miles to celebrate the event. Northamptonshire County Federation decided in 2012 to commemorate the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond jubilee with the passing of a

4 baton between all the WIs in the County. The baton was received from Woodford Halse WI and the following day, in glorious sunshine 6 Badby and Fawsley WI members, dressed in union jack outfits, plus 3 dogs and many balloons, met at the Village Hall to walk along the Nene Way to pass the baton onto Newnham WI. The Badby ladies left minus their Union Jack outfits and hats as they lent them to Newnham WI for their journey over to Weedon WI.

Members take advantage of the County organised outings, events and courses, and several have been on the short holidays they have organised.

As early as 1937, Northamptonshire was allocated 13 seats for the Procession at the Coronation of King George V1 and these had to be balloted for amongst the 147 WI’s. Badby was fortunate enough to be amongst those in the procession! Ballots often had to be used for events such as county lunches and Badby members were not always as successful in these ballots.

The Annual Council meeting of County federation is held in October and usually a delegate goes from Badby & Fawsley – speakers at this over the years have been varied but one year the Badby representative reported that the 'whole event had been very enjoyable' and another time ‘entertaining and moving experience’ was minuted.

Occasionally there is widespread disquiet over what County or National propose, such as when they announced in 2006 the change from optionally receiving the WI magazine, Home and Country, to everyone getting the newly formatted WI Life magazine.

Meetings and conferences were attended by Badby and Fawsley representatives. 'Women of Importance' being the title of one such whose aim was to raise the WI's profile and encourage more women to join the WI. A variety of resolutions, petitions and 'Statements of Purpose' were also issued to be debated or acted upon by groups. Among those covered were, in 1993, the slogan 'Today's women working for 5

Tomorrow's World'. The following year, following the Dunblane atrocity, a petition for tighter gun control was circulated. 1995 a questionnaire was distributed and any comments resulting from that were to be discussed at a Special Meeting in Northampton's Guildhall in June.

Various means have been tried for the annual resolutions voted on at the AGM. For many years members voted on the long list of resolutions in January, and then discussed all the shortlisted resolutions at their May meeting with the vote going forward to County and one resolution would be voted on at the AGM. This has now been streamlined in that details of the resolutions are printed in the WI Life magazine every member gets, along with a voting slip, to choose the resolutions to go forward. The May meeting is then a vote on the chosen resolution (or resolutions) to be taken forward by the delegate to the AGM

The privilege of going to the national AGM, held in the Albert Hall, is rotated around WIs in the area from year to year. In 1991 it was decided to hold it every third year at the Albert Hall, and hold it at other venues around the country as the Triennial General Meeting.

Heather can remember attending at the Albert Hall and being up in the gods and will never forget looking down on everybody. When Sally went in the 1970s she made a new linen dress and jacket in light purple and white especially for the occasion. Ann remembers the weather was sunny and all the delegates took their sandwiches outside and sat on the steps of the Albert Memorial, quite a sight to see 400+ plus women gathered there. There was a report from one of our members who had attended the National AGM in 2000 when, the then PM, Tony Blair, was slow handclapped by his audience for firstly, being patronising, but worse still using part of his speech to give a Party Political message. In 2001 there was an emergency resolution passed for an Investigation into the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

A jewel in the Crown of the WI is Denman College and Badby and Fawsley WI are fortunate in that the college is within easy driving distance of

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Northamptonshire. The courses are diverse from academic to practical and everything in between and over the years a number of our members have taken advantage of the high standard of both the courses and accommodation.

Money!

No organisation or club can run without funds. Subscriptions are paid at the beginning of each year. Subscriptions are divided between the individual WI, National and County WI. In 1985 the subs were £4.00; £1.65 for the WI, £1.13 for the County Federation and £1.22 going to the National Federation. They have, unsurprisingly, risen by fairly gentle increments to £41 for 2018 when the breakdown will be £20 for the individual WI, £9.30 for the federation and £11.70 going to the NFWI. Given that in order to get good speakers and have occasional 'treats' at meetings money has to be raised in addition.

A number of tried and tested methods for doing just this have been used over the years. Whist drives and dances, particularly popular pre-war, Jumble sales, Brick a Brac stalls, coffee mornings in member's homes, croquet and cream teas, bring and buy stalls at monthly meetings and the monthly raffle. As by Charity Commission rules that organisations are not allowed to use funds for small gifts or cards for members who, for example, may be ill or in hospital, it is from the raffle money that such things are bought. The charity Commission carried out a review on the WI's Charitable Status in 2005. The results were mainly positive but it asked if the WI felt it fulfilled the purpose and objectives for members. After a discussion our members concluded it would be a shame to lose the 'rural' bias of the WI as there were few organisations that spoke on behalf of country dwellers.

Badby and Fawsley Coffers have, as with most organisations, fluctuated from time to time. It is obviously easier to keep a healthy balance in the bank when membership is high and it also affords a greater range of speakers to be engaged.

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Speakers

Speakers, as can be imagined, come in all shapes and sizes! Some come 'untested' so it’s something of a gamble as to whether they are engaging or not. Others come through contacts and by recommendation by other local WIs or from the County booklet on speakers. If the Minute Books of old are read every speaker is 'very interesting'. This by the law of averages is unlikely to be true. The excellent ones hold the attention and inspire their audience. The less than good speakers can stay in the memory for all the wrong reasons! If one proves to be less than good other local WI’s get to hear about it quickly and if a speaker particularly fails then WI House is informed that they should not be in the book.

A programme organiser's nightmare is the non-appearance of the evening's speaker which happens from time to time. They can completely forget the arrangement or forget to let you know they can't make the date after all. On one sad occasion it was recorded that the speaker had died a couple of days before he was due to come and speak to the group. The last minute absence of a speaker has happened but being resourceful women it's never really caused too much angst. There is always a game of 'Beetle' to play or, as on one occasion, a film was brought from home to show. Other times members have enjoyed a longer than usual social evening. It was minuted at one meeting in 1987 that members had had a 'most relaxing time and made their own entertainment'.

The subjects of speakers who have turned up, has been very varied. Some have brought animals and birds with them to illustrate their talk. One such example was a talk about Raptors, when a number of owls and hawks were 'visual aids'. Others have pictures to show via their lap tops - something that our predecessors weren't able to enjoy. Those that are demonstrating their art bring work to show or give practical lessons on how to make items. Quilts being one such, sugar work being another. When Miss Goff gave a demonstration on soft toys in 1947 there were many requests for patterns. At one Flower Arranging evening 15 visitors, joined us from local WIs, to enjoy the demonstration. If the speaker's fee 8 is high, the costs are sometimes defrayed by inviting other WIs to come and join us for the evening, the visitors pay a small sum to join a meeting. This was also the case when a well-known chef, Sophie Grigson, who lived locally at the time, gave a practical demonstration and Beryl Maile, an artist who appeared regularly on TV, came in 1998. There's been an evening of being told about ostrich farming, no live visual aids for that talk. A troop of dancers who demonstrated Egyptian belly dancing and who then got members to join in. More controversially a speaker on the history and facts of fox hunting. A recent talk on the Hope Centre in Northampton inspired members and made them aware of homelessness. Pupils from a Daventry Secondary school entertained us with a musical evening and also on a musical theme there was a demonstration of making a saxophone from plastic drainage pipe on which the speaker then played a tune. Over the years there have been talks on shire horses, villages of the future, differing yarns, mariner's tales, fashion and grooming and Waitrose, being just a sample. After a talk on Bats a group of members went on a ‘Bat Watch’ at Fawsley and other talks have inspired members to go on and study a particular craft, activity or get involved in a charity.

Just after the war Mrs Baines gave a talk on drama and entertained members with clever impersonations. She said she was ‘impressed by the vitality of the Badby Institute’ – hope she thought the same when she came back the following year to give a talk.

Some meetings are 'home grown'. In earlier days and particularly during World War 2, speakers often were or from one of the nearby villages, due to petrol rationing. 'Embroidery and making soft slippers' and 'wool rugs' being two talks by members of Badby and Fawsley WI. The, then, President Miss Illingworth gave a talk on her holiday in South Africa, Miss Trethewey had visited New Zealand twice and told members about village life in New Zealand and another member spoke on her visit to Canada. Home entertainment replaced speakers with perhaps communal singing or dancing taking place, a play performed by the Drama Group or

9 a game played. It was the getting together that mattered most and having a speaker was an added bonus at such times.

A 'Race Night' was very successful and enjoyed by members. Sally Bush remembers being asked to do a talk on the narrow boat holiday she and her family took after her husband, Paul's, accident.

A report in the Gusher in 1951 was headlined “‘Appetising Village’ – In Badby all menfolk look well fed. Husbands are kept with contented minds and you scarcely hear a nasty word spoken here”. Some indications of the secret of Badby’s well-being were given at the WI meeting when it was announced that 5 members had won many prizes at the Northamptonshire Produce exhibition. And the women who know so well how to furnish their larders heard a talk on how to have colour in the garden all year round.

In recent years some of the more ‘business type’ meetings have been helped by the addition of food and drink. The May resolutions meeting is enlivened by an event such as a 'Shopping opportunity', a 'swishing' or a performance put on by the Drama Group – a pantomime, comedy sketch or monologue have all featured, with wine and nibbles provided to help the proceedings along. The AGM in October has become much more popular since fish and chips have been introduced, washed down of course with a drink. July has been used as an opportunity for the committee to put on an event of some sort, always with food and drink and sometimes themed where everybody dresses accordingly.

Competitions

As mentioned earlier, competitions were at each monthly meeting and only stopped in 1992 when interest waned. They were based on member's interests or crafts or related to the speaker’s theme. A former member's Mother in Law won a prize for her flower arrangement which was arranged in a box not a vase as she had to transport it on the back of her bicycle from Fawsley. Some members thought arranging it in so unconventional a receptacle should have debarred her from getting the 10 prize. There were one or two strange competitions. One being for 'Cooked potatoes' and a slightly riskier one for 'Blowing out a Candle – Blindfolded'!

When monthly competitions ceased in 1992 an Attendance prize was introduced. For many years this was a NFWI Calendar, but latterly it has been a very smart WI apron, much coveted by the recipients and proudly worn at Bluebell Teas.

Produce made for competitions had to be presented correctly. For example jam jar labels had to be the correct distance from the top of the pot. Anyone given a prize for a jar jam which was not presented in the accepted manner was frowned upon.

Group competitions were held at the biannual meetings and in the produce competition of 1950 Badby headed the list of marks, in fact Badby often won prizes in the produce competitions. They won a certificate for the most points gained in the Group Flower Show organised by Eydon in July 1937. Six members were involved, having won prizes in seven garden produce categories including one for brown eggs and another for bottled fruit. They were also successful the following year when it was held in Byfield, having 11 firsts and 9 seconds.

At the group meeting in 1922 the competition was for articles made from Waste and Lady Knightley was very pleased to see that all the prizes were won by Fawsley members.

There were National and Federation competitions too which several members have entered with varying success over the years. In 1992 one member, Pat Fisk, entered a garden design for the Royal Chelsea Show. The following year, Vi Baldwin, a talented photographer, had one of her photos chosen for the National WI calendar. The Institute choir competed in the Northamptonshire Music Festival in the 1920s and 30s with some success.

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A patchwork cushion was made for a County competition, it didn’t win as County judges found the design too abstract. It was not the only entry that was too ‘avant garde’ as around the same time in the 1970s the WI entered a competition with the theme of Winter Sports. 5 cushions covers appliqued with 5 different sports and 3 different sized penguins on wooden skis with poles were staged on a white sheet with a backdrop of a big winter sports poster. The winner was a child’s padded winter coat and third prize 3 Christmas stockings!! However a wall hanging quilt featuring the Knightley Crest and the Gate House was entered for another competition and that was hung in WI House. The entry for a Village Map competition was also displayed at WI House. At the Spring show in 1987, when the theme was Alice in Wonderland and had to depict 5 different crafts Badby came second with a ‘Mad Hatters’ Tea Party’, all arranged on artificial grass loaned by a Daventry Sports Shop.

A member was reported to have nearly finished a jumper for such a one in 1990!. The resulting entry for the Creating a Garden competition in 2001, sewn by a number of members, and supervised by Joan Grieves, hung in the Village Hall for many years although it didn't win a prize at Federation level. Sadly this appears to be the last craft competition entered. There have been Drama competitions, again not gaining any prizes. Tapping into the talents of Badby and Fawsley WI they were written and acted by members and were greatly enjoyed. One member, Margaret Lewis, submitted a photo for inclusion in the following year's calendar as well as a picture she had painted which was displayed at WI House. There have been poetry competitions and County Quizzes and although Badby and Fawsley rarely seem to win any medals they enjoy the preparations and taking part.

Activities

Our members hardly need an excuse to party! The Christmas meeting used to involve members taking a plate of food to share and for many of the early years this was combined with the AGM. Before and immediately after the war the entertainment was usually provided ‘in house’, 12 members producing amusing sketches, monologues and songs. In 1993 it changed to going to the local hostelry, the Windmill. The Red Lion at Hellidon and the Maltsters were also tried but since 2010 it has been an in-house home-made 2 course meal cooked by the Committee, with Santa attending,

In the late 1920s and early 30s the members organised a Christmas/ New Year party for their children. In 1930 crackers, given by Lady Knightley, were much appreciated by the children, who also received oranges and sweets from the committee.

The group are good at planning, arranging, partaking and enjoying a party! Each milestone has been marked by a gathering of some sort. The WI’s Golden Jubilee in 1968 was celebrated with members wearing the costumes and singing the songs which had been popular half a century earlier. In 1998 the 80th birthday celebration supper was held in June as the group's beginning in February is not the best of times for good 'party' weather. The 90th birthday was a gathering of as many past Presidents as could make the journey to Badby. There was a celebratory cake and a buffet supper. It was a lovely excuse to reminisce about past times and occasions.

Sometimes fancy dress has been donned for these occasions. In 1927 a pageant depicting an Elizabethan Fair was held at Fawsley organised by local WIs, Badby was responsible for the sweets, ice cream and tea stalls.

In February 1951 long flowing dresses in all pastel shades represented a rainbow of colour as the choir and drama sections gave a concert in the village hall.

A Celebration Tea party in September 1990 had members dressed as Lyons Corner House waitresses and Anglia TV came to report on the gathering celebrating 75 years of the WI movement. £34 was raised for charity, despite that there was a lot of food left over as it was not well supported. Perhaps members were camera shy or didn't want the publicity! Although not everyone feels comfortable dressing up in 13 costume most will 'give a nod' to a theme and, perhaps, wear an appropriate hat or some item of clothing. In 2015 another tea party was held in the Village Hall to celebrate the National Centenary. This time the dress was Victorian. The committee were all dressed as maids and members dressed up in a variety of Victorian outfits, including a Bathing Belle outfit, a top hatted gentleman and there was a variety of extravagant hats. There was a cake, made and iced by a committee member, Debbie Walker, which depicted our WI and all the groups that are part of it.

Heather Armstrong, a one-time Domestic Science teacher, ran craft groups for members in the 1970s which met in each other’s homes once a week, whilst their children were at school. They made such things as lampshades. Once they'd run out of crafts to learn and the meetings came to an end, they were persuaded by Heather, with a little difficulty, to learn to play Bridge. A teacher, free of charge came from Flore to teach them the game. Heather plays bridge to this day.

Badby and Fawsley WI currently has a number of interest groups. The Drama group has already been mentioned as a long standing, albeit several times in abeyance group, but there are also a Skittle Team, a Craft Group under the name KnitWits, a Book Club, BAFTAS - a Walking Group (Badby And Fawsley Trekkers, Amblers and Strollers) and at one time a Choir back in the early days.

The darts group ceased in the 1980s when they found it was taking too long to get that elusive double to end the match and the matches were going on into the night. Skittles group started at a similar time but that continues to flourish, always a convivial occasion meeting other WIs for the matches and over the years they have played WIs based in a wide radius around Badby. The group enjoy each other’s company so much they have monthly lunches at hostelries around the area, open to all members, and now monthly practices which also includes a lunch. In 2016 the team decided to kit themselves out with logo emblazoned rugby shirts – the ‘Badby Bluebelles’ 14

1951 – Drama and Choral Concert in Village Hall

1954 – Presenting seat on Village Green 15

1965 Miss Leeson planting tree for the NFWI Jubilee.

1978 - WI Presidents past and present at the 50th Birthday celebrations. Pam Warden, Ruth Moser, Hilda Hartshorn, Mrs Battison, Mrs Walklin? 16

1993 75th Birthday. Chris Richards, President and members

2008 WI Presidents past and present at 90th Birthday Ruth Moser, Sally Bush, Ann Skinner, Sarah Hartland-Swann and Margaret Lewis. Toast Master and Speaker Marion Canning 17

1997 Group Walk on Arbury Hill. Liz Hudson ,Ann Skinner, Sylvia Fleet, Cristine Orr, Beryl Burden, Ruth Moser, Penny Tindle, Christine Turner

1996 outing to Stamford. Catherine Wakeford, Ann Skinner, Audrey Haynes, Cristine Orr, Pam Warden, Joy Mitchell, Pam McCabe, Heather Armstrong

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2015 President and committee celebrating NFWI Centenary Steph Newth,Kathryn Dickinson, Kate Earley, Ann Syred, Maggie Marshman, Debbie Walker, Jaci Wojteki, Ann Skinner, Claire Hughes

2011 “Not the Xmas” panto. Margaret Cassidy, Heather Piner, Lesley Snape, Sue Peterson, Frances Moorhouse

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Monthly walks were started in the 1980s and have waxed and waned over the years. A walk to see the badger set at the top of Newnham Hill resulted in WI members being ‘told off’ as they were whispering and apparently disturbing the badgers. Arbury Hill was a much coveted, forbidden walk. As the members walked up the hill they were followed by a land rover, the driver had a gun and told them to leave as it was private land. He was told they had permission and begrudgingly he drove off. A cake was taken to the land owner after the walk as a thank you, a coup for our ladies – one which has not been repeated. Other times there have been problems with stiles in disrepair and lack of signposts and on one occasion darkness had fallen before the walkers arrived back, the street lights were a very welcome sight.

The WI has also traditionally arranged outings. The area is blessed by having some excellent theatres not too distant from Badby. 1934 saw a visit to New Theatre, Northampton to see White Horse Inn instead of the usual summer outing and in 1954 the annual outing was to the pantomime “Humpty Dumpty on Ice” at Wembley. Many visits were made to the Gilbert & Sulllivan Amateur Operatic Society at Derngate in the 1990s, and more recently to see plays at both the Royal and Derngate theatres in Northampton and to the Milton Keynes theatre to which a party went to have an interesting back stage tour followed by a show. A group went en masse to Calendar Girls at the cinema when it first came out in 2003. Some of the annual outings have been further afield. Some have been by coach (or charabanc as it would have been in the prewar years), others using members cars and more recently the DACT bus. Places visited have included Oxford in 1933, Birmingham in 1937, and in 1939, 25 of the group enjoyed their annual outing to Evesham and Malvern, having lunch in the former and tea at the latter, after which there was 'a coach tour of the famous hills'. In May 1988 it was reported that '12 members and a baby' went on an outing to Burford. It was not reported whether the baby enjoyed the outing although it would have had many willing 'nursemaids' to coo over it. 1996 saw a visit to Stamford and the following year to Blenheim and Woodstock and then in 1998 punting on the Cam in Cambridge. 1999 saw two outings, one to Burford for a guided tour of 20 the town and another a guided tour of the London Square Mile as a follow up to one of the speakers. In 2000 members went to Worcester and the Greyfriars Museum.

Visits to Stately Homes and Cathedrals, particularly Peterborough have been on the agenda too. Recently it has been when there was an event on at the venue, such as the Christmas Fair at Chatsworth in 2015 and Blenheim in 2016. Outings to local gardens of note have attracted members as several of them are keen gardeners. Waterperry Gardens in 1992 was well worth a visit according to the 11 members who went. At one garden visit in August 2004 to Brook House Garden near Banbury it was minuted that the local pub, where lunch was taken, 'ran out of' chips, mushrooms and haddock' although what was eaten 'was very good'. Members were mollified by each being given a free dessert!

1n 1998 16 members enjoyed a tour of Fawsley Hall hotel prior to its opening, a chance to look round the refurbished bedrooms and marvel at the roll top bath in the middle of the room.

WI and the War.

The early members, although few in numbers, knitted socks and comforters for the troops during the closing months of the First World War.

In the Second World War period war time restrictions and rationing impacted on WI members and activities. A spirit of doing the best they could with what was available prevailed.

In September 1939 the WI received advice from National Headquarters with regard to their war time activities. 'Institutes were to carry on at all costs, and to go back to primary principals – food production and food preservation – for which purpose they were formed in 1918. This way the Institutes believe they can make an important contribution to the nation'. The Lord Privy Seal's Office approached the National Federation to tell them the ban on public meetings did not extend to them, but they

21 were advised to hold meetings in the afternoon. If doubts were raised the officials should consult the local police or County Federation. It was envisaged that there would be a transformation in groups as 'a very limited number of speakers only will be available, so members will be thrown back on their own resources, no doubt a good measure of unexpected talent will be revealed.'

Surplus fruit in 1940 was canned 'under the supervision of Mrs Downing from Old Stratford'. A heavy crop of damsons and plums was enough to make 216 cans of fruit, all of which were sold. Fruit left over was sent to Daventry Rural Food Office for distribution. A Badby WI Fruit preservation Centre was set up under the direction of Mrs Jones and in 1942 plum jam and apple and blackberry jam was made from the surplus fruit, and the vicarage kitchen and range was used as the cooking centre. Over the years the talks on bottling produce and on food values and nutrition stood in good stead for these straightened times. Canning and bottling of surplus fruit was carried on until at least 1950. A Miss Haslam gave a talk 3 years running on food values and, as she worked for the National Milk Publicity Council, its little wonder the main plank of her talks was milk being the perfect food!

There was a talk on making 'Thrift Rugs' and a war time cookery class attracted 25 members. Mr. Phillips from Moulton Institute gave a talk on gardening several years running and there were ‘make and mend’ and ‘home made Christmas gifts’ demonstrations, as well as a short talk on scrap metal collection by a Ministry of Works representative

It was resolved in 1940 to collect aluminium in addition to the waste paper and cardboard which members have been salvaging for several months. The proceeds were used to buy wool as the Red Cross no longer supplied wool for knitting comforts. The £4 collected enabled 130 articles to be sent to the Red Cross. National Savings started in the village as well as the scheme running at the school.

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The forces were not forgotten by the WI and in January, 1940 a variety concert was held in the Institute in aid of 'comforts for local members of the Forces'. The sum of £3 4s 6p was raised. Nor were they forgotten at Christmas and £7 raised at a concert enabled Christmas parcels to be sent to those local men serving.

Not only were they instrumental in producing and preserving food but they were expected to house evacuees. Of the 39 billeted in Badby, 12 were of school age and no sooner had they moved into their new 'homes' than they were sent to join the school. It must have been, at the least, a very bewildering experience for young children and adults alike and required a great deal of readjustment to households who took in children.

So village life went on. Not as it had always done but as near as it could be to the norm. In 1940 instead of the cancelled annual outing, a picnic was held in the woods and Whist Drives still raised money for church bells and WI funds. A WI garden party was held at The Beeches in the summers of 1943 and 1944.

After the war, food remained a high priority and in 1946, a grant from the LEA enabled a WI market to be opened in Badby

In 1949 one of the Institute’s member, Mrs. Gow, received the King’s award for her services with the Red Cross in France during the war.

WI and the Village

Within the village many members are involved with all aspects of village life. Pressure from members led to regular refuse collections in the village and a library was started in the early 1930’s by Mrs. Cornish, the vicar’s wife which continued until the County Library service was extended to include Badby. Also in the 1930s the members organised a Badby Sports carnival in a field lent by Mr. Dunkley and held Annual carnival dance to raise funds

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In 1947 several WI members renovated the window and stage curtains and it was hoped the repairs to the roof of the Institute would begin soon. The hall was in great need of repair and Lord Gage of Fawsley Estates, who had inherited the hall from Lady Knightley, offered the property to the WI for the small sum of £300. The officials of the WI replied that although they could not see their way clear to purchasing the hall, they thought the village as a whole would be interested and Lord Gage agreed to let them have it at the same figure of £300. A management committee was set up of representatives of village organisations and after a number of fund raising events and with the aid of grants the hall was made over to the village in February 1950. The WI has over the years helped to maintain it, donating new roller blinds for the kitchen in 1998 and also donated proceeds from a Jumble Sale to the hall in 1993.

There was originally a rose bed outside the village hall which the WI planted up for the silver jubilee in 1977. In 1986 they once again took responsibility for its maintenance when it became a sorry state under other’s care. The rose bed has now been paved over and the WI maintains a flower tub outside in the forecourt. In 1965 Miss Leeson, a founder member, planted a tree outside the Village Hall to commemorate the National WI’s Jubilee year

Going back to 1954 a bench was donated to the parish and erected on the village green outside the Hollies. The Chairman of the Parish Council said it had a dual purpose, to commemorate the Coronation and also the public spirit of the Women’s Institute. Four of the oldest members of the WI took their places on the seat for a photo for the Daventry Weekly Express. There was a request to replace it in the 1990’s after it collapsed from old age but at the time no funds were available in the WI’s coffers to do that.

WI Members Pooh Buxton and Laura Jones started the Tuesday Club, a luncheon club for senior citizens, which ran for a number of years in the Village Hall in the 70s and 80s.

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And, of course, they are great providers of cakes for 'occasions'.

In the late 20s and early 30s there was an annual tea and entertainment laid on in January for the old people of the parish, this was not held in 1933 because many of the old age pensioners were ill. Cakes were made for the Silver Jubilee in 1977 and the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the making, and icing was masterminded by our members.

Events are held in the hall in which members participate, a notable one being Bluebell Teas, an annual event on Bank Holiday weekend in May, when funds are raised for the hall.

Members were involved in raising funds for the 1992 Parish Appraisal Scheme and held an 'Apple Sunday' when apple pies and scones were produced for sale to raise funds for it's completion. At the Badby Fayre in 2004, three members, Heather Armstrong. Margaret Lewis and Margaret Thrower, made a scarecrow of the then vicar, Michael Petitt, for the scarecrow trail.

Requests to the WI were made by people in the locality. One being from the Nuns in the local convent of 'Our Lady of Passion', who asked if anyone had a recipe for Daventry Cheese as they wanted to start producing it. More unusual was a request in 2002 from a bride who wished the WI to cater for her Wedding. Due consideration was given to the request but it was deemed untenable and turned down. Other requests carried out were to provide coffee and refreshments to a group of cyclists who were riding through the village. The number catered for - 21 - was rather greater than they had been told initially, but, as always, they coped admirably.

For a 'Dream Auction' in 1991 they contributed a hamper and they participate in the Village Fete held biennially, making and serving cakes as well as running stalls, including of course the cake stall. Another happy occasion was the Parish Pageant, suggested and written by a WI member, Sue Peterson, and participated in by several of the WI as well as people from other groups in the village and beyond. 25

Other projects with which they have been involved and contributed to were the Healthy Eating survey when WIs were asked to undertake an investigation into the range at the village shop. This was done and the proprietors asked for suggestions as to what healthy option goods should be stocked. Members were also asked by the Local Agenda 21 group to identify people or groups that worked in the locality. In 2005 the Village Hall committee asked if in the event of a major incident or catastrophe there were any members who had specific skills and expertise who were willing to help. There were several positive responses.

Friendships

The Badby and Fawsley WI is known for being very friendly and welcoming. There are no cliques as are sometimes reported in other groups. Everyone 'mucks in' and enjoys themselves. Quite a few members joined the WI having never considered doing such a thing before, to meet others of a like mind. There are activities and interest groups for everyone to enjoy. The group is very involved with the village and make a contribution to it's life, whenever asked to do so, or spontaneously if they notice something needs doing. The most oft repeated remark when visitors and speakers come is 'What a lively and friendly group'. Possibly with a membership a little too independently minded for some tastes but it's a group that enjoys being, and doing things, together and members are hugely supportive of fellow members who are, for whatever reason, in need of help or support.

It is, without being smug or complacent, a WI that upholds Lady Knightley's wish in forming it. That is 'that the ladies should be joined in the common ideals of truth, tolerance and friendship'. Long may it do so.

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Badby & Fawsley WI 1935 Mrs Illingworth, Presidents 1936 Mrs Illingworth, Year President 1937 Mrs Illingworth,

1918 Lady Knightley, 1938 Mrs Illingworth,

1919 Mrs Illingworth, 1939 Mrs Mackaness,

1920 Lady Knightley 1940 Mrs Mackaness,

1921 Lady Knightley 1941 Mrs Mackaness,

1922 Lady Knightley 1942 Mrs Mackaness,

1923 Lady Knightley 1943 Mrs Mackaness,

1924 Lady Knightley 1944 Mrs Mackaness,

1925 Lady Knightley 1945 Lady Sophie Schilizzi

1926 Lady Knightley 1946 Lady Sophie Schilizzi

1927 Lady Knightley 1947 Mrs D Youdan,

1928 Lady Knightley 1948 Mrs D Youdan,

1929 Lady Knightley 1949 Mrs D Youdan,

1930 Lady Knightley 1950 Mrs D Youdan,

1931 Lady Knightley 1951 Mrs H Hartshorn,

1932 Lady Knightley 1952 Mrs H Hartshorn,

1933 Mrs Illingworth, 1953 Mrs H Hartshorn,

1934 Mrs Illingworth, 1954 Mrs H Hartshorn,

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1955 G Walkling 1973 Mrs Laura Jones.

1956 N J Wainwright 1974 Mrs Laura Jones.

1957 N J Wainwright 1975 Mrs Laura Jones.

1958 N J Wainwright 1976 Mrs Ruth Moser,

1959 Mrs Kilsby 1977 Mrs Battison,

1960 Mrs C (Mary?) 1978 Mrs Battison Fenton 1979 Mrs Battison 1961 Mrs C (Mary?) 1980 Mrs Pam Warden, Fenton, 1981 Mrs Pam Warden 1962 Mrs C (Mary?) Fenton, 1982 Mrs Sally Bush,

1963 1983 Mrs Ann Rogers,

1964 Mrs R Tyson 1984 Mrs Ann Rogers,

1965 Mrs R Tyson 1985 Mrs Beryl Burden,

1966 Mrs R Tyson 1986 Mrs Beryl Burden,

1967 Mrs R Tyson 1987 Mrs Beryl Burden,

1968 Mrs R Tyson 1988 Mrs Jean Knowler,

1969 Mrs D Battison, 1989 Mrs Jean Knowler,

1970 Mrs D Battison, 1990 Mrs Chris Richards,

1971 Mrs D Battison 1991 Mrs Chris Richards, 1972 Mrs Laura Jones. 1992 Mrs Chris Richards,

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1993 Mrs Chris Richards, 2011 Kate Earley,

1994 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2012 Kate Earley,

1995 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2013 Kate Earley,

1996 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2014 Kate Earley,

1997 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2015 Kate Earley,

1998 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2016 Kate Earley,

1999 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2017 Kate Earley,

2000 Mrs Ann Skinner, 2018 Jaci Wojtecki,

2001 Margaret Lewis,

2002 Margaret Lewis,

2003 Ann Skinner,

2004 Ann Skinner,

2005 Penny Tindle,

2006 Penny Tindle,

2007 Sarah Hartland- Swann,

2008 Sarah Hartland- Swann,

2009 Sarah Hartland- Swann,

2010 Sarah Hartland- Swann, 29

Sources

Members past and present

Badby & Fawsley WI Committee and Meeting records 1983 – 2017

Northamptonshire County Federation WI

Daventry Weekly Express 1948 - 1984

Northamptonshire Mercury 1918 – 1954

Rugby Advertiser 1919 -1939

Haynes J. Shared Memories: History of Northamptonshire Federation of Womens Institutes 1918-2003. Published 2009

These reminiscences have been compiled by Badby and Fawsley WI Archives team: Ann Skinner, Kathryn Dickinson and Stephanie Newth.

The photo used on the front cover is of a cake made by Debbie Walker for the NFWI Centenary Celebrations held by Badby & Fawsley WI.

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