DEDDINGTON WOMEN'S INSTITUTE 1925 - 2007
1930s
'The foundations of national glory are set in the homes of the people' (King George V). So proclaims one of the homilies preceding the monthly meeting plan of the newly founded Deddington Women's Institute. Founded at the end of 1925, affiliated to the Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes, it was felt to be the first social meeting place for all women in Deddington, Clifton and Hempton. It has kept its object 'For Home and Country' sacrosanct from those early days to the present. Dedicated members of our present day Institute spent hours researching and compiling a most interesting collection of programmes, snippets of minutes and photographs to fill a historic scrap book, the cover of which boldly displays in green and white the logo of the National Federation.
All this work was done in celebration of their 80th anniversary in 2005.
The local Institute's first President from 1926 to 1929 was Mrs Muriel Jones. She was the daughter of Mary Vane Turner, who won joint second place in a
Village History competition set by the Oxfordshire WI Federation. She published her entry The Story of Deddington in 1933 and dedicated it to her daughter (a copy is held in our Library). Turning the pages of the massive Deddington WI scrap book we find a list of 27 serving Presidents from 1926 -2007. Miss Loveday set a record 8 years of keeping the chair warm from 1937 to 1944. Not listed there are the Hon Treasurers and Secretaries, which are in the collection of well-preserved yearly programmes. The latter, professionally printed on thin cardboard decorated with logo, date, year and the name of President, Hon Treasurer and Secretary, whose responsibility it was to set up a programme from month to month. The sturdiness of these early programmes suggest that they could be hung, at the beginning of each year, in the meeting place for all members to peruse. Subjects presented varied then, as now, from serious educational to home-grown entertainment, the crafts, singing and dancing not to forget cookery and gardening. Summer meetings, in those early years, were held in a member's garden - if wet, in the British Legion Club on the first Tuesday of the month at 2.30. Traditionally Jerusalem was, and still is, sung at the opening of each meeting - except for that refreshing incident, carefully minuted in February 1945 when "in the absence of Miss Weaver, resident WI accompanist, Mrs Tucker accompanied a hearty singing of God Save the King as she considered the piano unworthy of Jerusalem!"
Before we move into the late 1940s and 50s in the history gleaned from their great scrapbook, we ought to make room for a few photographs dating back to the 1930s, in the hope that they awake s o m e memories in a few of our senior citizens. The earliest photos, still in the possession of Daphne C a n n i n g, depict her mother-in-law Doris with her baby Beryl. Members and guests attending the WI Fête 1936 have just voted little Beryl ‘First Prize’ baby and what a charming picture she and her mother make. I wonder if Ron, little Beryl’s brother, is one of the few brave boys in the crowd of smart ladies quietly enjoying his sister’s triumph? Sadly, there is no mention in the minutes of the year 1936 of this particular event. We would all love to know in whose garden it was held and, of course, if anybody recognises and can name one or more in the happy crowd please let us know. (by email to the editor)
There are three more well-preserved pictures in the scrapbook, presenting the WI at play in various outdoor productions. One, named The Pied Piper, one probably a pageant, and the other (I have to guess) could be a production of Robin Hood.
The 1950s
There was change in the air, and like most conservative (with a small c) organisations, resentment to change took its time to be conquered. Discussions on whether to move meetings from afternoon to evening occupied members, was tried out one summer season and towards the end of the decade defeated by two votes! Membership stood at a healthy 60 and expected to increase. This formidable force of women must have had quite a strong influence on village matters. They pestered the Parish Council to supply rubbish bins, boldly wrote to Chesham & Brackley Brewery Ltd when the sobriquet “Dirty drunken Deddington” became rather too actual in one of the pubs. The death of King George VI in February 1952 plunged the nation into deep mourning leaving WIs uncertain about the propriety of holding their meeting that month. The Committee decided in favour of carrying on as usual.
In the previous year, 1951, members dressed up to run their stall at the grand Blenheim Pageant. “The glamorous Grannies” were obviously a great hit and gladly gave permission to have their photographs taken by Blinkhorns of Banbury and printed in “Home & County” magazine. Strangely, a gramophone (record player & wireless) bought, with all members’ agreement, in January 1951 was sold again in 1955 and the reason why is not mentioned in the Minutes! I just hope they were able to make a small profit.
Various crafts flourished throughout the decade. Quilting, basketry and patchwork classes were held, Mrs Howse passed her A test for knitting and three members entered work for the Oxfordshire Exhibition in April 1959. It never ceases to amaze me how cleverly a kaleidoscope of crafts, the never missed opportunities to help others at home or abroad and the gift of fun and fellowship was exploited by our Deddington members of yesteryears. I must finish the 1959s with the shortest, and to my mind most startling, entry in the Minute book: “November 1953. The winner of the Potato Growing Competition was Mrs Brent with 7 lbs 14 oz for ONE potato.” Is this really possible? No doubt the readers will let me know!
The 1960s
The photograph of the year must be that of the Misses Weaver and Smith, honoured guests at the local party in celebration of the National Federation WI Golden Jubilee in June 1965. Although it is not mentioned in the minutes, 1965 must also have been the 40th anniversary of the local branch. Dear Miss Lilian Weaver and Miss Smith are both still fondly remembered today by at least two generations of Deddingtonians. They were founder members of Deddington WI way back in 1925 and over many years nurtured the love of music amongst young and not so young. Miss Weaver became the WI’s resident accompanist without scruples about what was demanded of her. Her repertoire ranged from the most solemn to operatic, country folk music and dance music. On the occasion of the Jubilee Party, she and Miss Smith were presented with photographs of themselves by the two youngest members of the Institute.
According to the minutes, the 1960s found our members in topping party mood. This is just one sample of highly complex catering.
"At the November monthly meeting the Institute (probably the Committee) was asked if £12 may be drawn from funds to cover the cost of the party. £3 must be allowed for the entertainment leaving £9 for catering. Members were divided up into catering groups as follows: STARTERS - Hempton side of Deddington. MAIN COURSE - Clifton. DESSERTS - Clifton village and COFFEE & WINE - Hempton village. Each group is to be given a limited amount of cash. 35/- for starters, £3 for main course, 35/- for desserts and £3 for wine & coffee… If there are 4 to 5 members who would prefer to do games instead of refreshments they may volunteer their services. Members on the Hempton side of Deddington should go to the Holly Tree Club to set out the tables as they are doing starters…"
These arrangements may sound complicated to the lay reader but to a member of any WI they are crystal clear, practical, thrifty and very sociable.
In June 1965 members were delighted to receive a challenge to a rounders match from Bodicote WI. There were volunteers a-plenty putting down their names for the game, but when it came to a few team practices beforehand they found it impossible to get everybody together at the same time. The game had to be cancelled. Quite a few exciting outings took place in the 1960s but more about that in the next issue.
The intrepid travellers
We’ve read how difficult it was in the 1940s, shortly after the end of WWII, to hire a coach with sufficient petrol for an outing. All this had changed by the 1950s when our village ladies fitted again educational, but foremost enjoyable outings, into their yearly programme. A souvenir photo taken on 27 June 1962 shows them at Josiah Wedgwood & Sons’ factory in Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent. If you look carefully you’ll recognise Mr Kerridge, second row from the top, who no doubt drove his precious load of more than 25 ladies safely to Staffordshire and back. How convenient to have a much loved local man as guide and participant! The visit merits this short, down to earth comment in the Minutes: ‘Everyone agreed that the outing had been most enjoyable but were glad that the Wedgwood factory offered the use of their canteen to members as the food at Stok-on-Trent was disappointing!’
London beckoned in April 1968 and the Palace of Westminster in particular where Neil Marten MP took time off to take his very smartly dressed constituents on a guided tour, described in the Minutes as the ‘highlight of the outing’.
Throughout the 1970s outings continued to play an important part in WI planning and, in the 1980s, photographs abound of a group of local members invading the Continent. And why not? The WI is keeping a keen eye on matters to do with the Common Market. We see them on a trip to Holland and, later in May 1984, as reported by Mrs Ivings ‘on a most enjoyable trip to the ancient cities of Aachen and Trier followed by a short hop into the Moselle Valley including some generous wine tasting’. Not yet at journey’s end, the group pushed south to Strasbourg where no doubt the European Court of Justice might have attracted their curiosity, although no mention is made of it in the re-telling of their adventures at a meeting after their return. A year later, our experts on travel enjoy the sights of ‘gai Paris’ including the Palace of Versailles.
Never a dull moment in this branch of the WI. There are some more surprises in store in next month’s issue.
In September 1976 the first number of the Deddington News was printed and distributed to every household in Deddington, Hempton and Clifton. Soon it proved itself the most informative news magazine in that locality where amongst many other items of interest we were all able to follow the reportage of the Deddington WI’s monthly meetings. These regular up-dates may have changed some of our views that WI’s sole interests are those of cake- and jam-making, knitting and sewing. Local, countrywide and global politics are just as likely under discussion and WI members’ suggestions are now discussed in our worldly power houses. That said, refreshments or teas during meetings remain a lively subject of debate deserving, particularly during WWII rationing and after, a special mention in our local branch Memorial Book.
Just imagine the shocked silence that must have followed when, at a meeting in April 1941, the question was raised as to whether refreshments should be discontinued during monthly meetings for the duration of rationing and the visible relief when the members voted that tea only should be provided.
In April 1942, with nothing much of interest to discuss, the important question of teas was raised again at a meeting and the resolution taken that each member would be asked to provide a small quantity of the makings, such as one teaspoon full per monthly meeting! Luckily by May 1949 the worst of rationing was over and the serving of refreshments was itemised carefully. 1) Each member should buy a ticket on arrival at the meeting and give it up at tea-time in exchange for a cup of tea and a bun. 2) Members should remain seated while tea and buns were handed round by the Committee members and the appointed tea hostesses would be responsible for preparing the tea. 3) Mrs Wallin should be asked to deliver the buns to the Hall or Mrs Gardner should collect them as she offered to do. 4) The most obvious person to take the money at the door should be the Treasurer.
In March 1971 a price review with regard to the new currency occupies another special place in the minutes. The serving of sandwiches (with tea) would be continued at the new price of 2p per item and members who provided refreshments would each receive 30p (6s in old currency). To close, let me include this most deserved entry in the Minutes of March 1983:
‘During the evening a Wedgwood cup, saucer and plate was presented to Mrs Shrewsbury in appreciation of her serving teas and refreshments at meetings over the past 40 years with only occasional breaks!’