At least one member from every branch of the WI had the opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the organisation last week, at a very special garden party held at Buckingham Palace.
Amongst those dressed in their finest was Malton WI’s President, Sharon Cawte. Sharon (pictured above with Yvonne Myers) said “it was a truly amazing day that I’ll cherish forever.” Sharon joined 8,000 other members for tea and cakes on the palace lawn. She said the fruit cake was the nicest she’d ever had, but that Malton WI’s Victoria Sponge was better!
The party was hosted by the Duchess of Cornwall, and Sharon also had the opportunity to chat to the Countess of Wessex.
Members of the Rylstone and District WI in North Yorkshire – the original calendar girls – who posed semi-naked in 1999 to raise money after one of their husbands was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma also attended.
Later in the week Malton WI’s Secretary, Louise Bulmer travelled to London to attend the centenary annual meeting of the Women’s Institute at the Royal Albert Hall.
The meeting was opened by the Queen who praised the WI, saying that over the past 100 years, the it has continued to stay “relevant and forward-thinking”. She went on to add that “In 2015 it continues to demonstrate that it can make a real difference to the lives of women of all ages and cultural backgrounds, in a spirit of friendship, cooperation and support.” The Queen became a member of Sandringham WI in 1943.
Sharon and Louise are working on more detailed reports from the events, watch this space!
