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WI Centenary
Organised by Lauri Hancock and Pattie Baldwin. All pictures courtesy Carol Payne September 2015 Please double-click on the pictures to download the full image. When women marched from Land's End, Cornwall, to London in 1913 in support of women's suffrage, it had consequences which could not have been expected. |
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There were several marches in the UK and USA but the march through Box had added enthusiasm fuelled by the Blathwayt family who lived at Eagle House, Batheaston: Mary, her father Colonel Linley Blathwayt and mother Emily.
The women's suffrage movement was one cause of the decline of the Liberal Party in Britain because of their opposition to a wider franchise and the movement culminated in 1915 with the foundation of the Women's Institute. The march through Box in 2015 celebrated this momentous event, together with the 85th anniversary of Box WI and the 43rd of Boxlea WI.
Gathering Together 2015
A group of nearly 100 women met up at Bargates in very jovial mood with lots of flag waving, balloon-raising and hoots from the horns of passing cars. It was a really festive gathering.
The women's suffrage movement was one cause of the decline of the Liberal Party in Britain because of their opposition to a wider franchise and the movement culminated in 1915 with the foundation of the Women's Institute. The march through Box in 2015 celebrated this momentous event, together with the 85th anniversary of Box WI and the 43rd of Boxlea WI.
Gathering Together 2015
A group of nearly 100 women met up at Bargates in very jovial mood with lots of flag waving, balloon-raising and hoots from the horns of passing cars. It was a really festive gathering.
Setting Off
The procession set off with most participants walking and some in carriages. Paul Langley kindly used his Rolls Royce to chauffeur Stella Clarke, Jill Banks and Margaret Roussell and Steve Knight used his vintage car to assist others. Guided by tractor driver, Bob Hancock (suitably attired), it weaved its way down from Bargates through the centre of the village and then down to the Selwyn Hall.
The procession set off with most participants walking and some in carriages. Paul Langley kindly used his Rolls Royce to chauffeur Stella Clarke, Jill Banks and Margaret Roussell and Steve Knight used his vintage car to assist others. Guided by tractor driver, Bob Hancock (suitably attired), it weaved its way down from Bargates through the centre of the village and then down to the Selwyn Hall.
The procession was only part of the fun because the entertainment continued inside the Selwyn Hall. The members were greeted with a glass of lemonade and strawberries and cream followed by a full cream tea, scones and jam. The group were in a very relaxed mood to enjoy the exhibition of WI memorabilia.
Chaired by Lauri Hancock, the meeting proper was, of course, opened with a rendition of Jerusalem, followed by a choir taking the audience through a musical journey through the decades from Daisy, Daisy to Que Sera, Sera. And it ended suitably with Land of Hope and Glory.
Chaired by Lauri Hancock, the meeting proper was, of course, opened with a rendition of Jerusalem, followed by a choir taking the audience through a musical journey through the decades from Daisy, Daisy to Que Sera, Sera. And it ended suitably with Land of Hope and Glory.
And in case you haven't realised what the Women's Institute is all about, just look at the friendship and fun shown in these pictures of some of the members of Box WI and Boxlea WI.
