It was started in 1897 by Mrs Adelaide Hoodless a Canadian farmer's wife living in Stoney Creek. Her first baby had died (largely she thought by her own ignorance of hygiene and infant feeding) so she gave a talk at the 'Saltfleet Farmer's Institute', urging that lectures and demonstrations should be made available to all women in domestic science and home making. She suggested that the formation of a group to educate women to learn household/home-craft subjects would be a great boon to everyone.
The Women's Institute Movement in Britain started in 1915. During the First World War it was formed to encourage countrywomen to get involved in growing and preserving food to help to increase the supply of food to the war-torn nation
The WI in the UK celebrated its centenary in 2015 and currently has 220,000 members in around 6,300 WIs
BRICKET WOOD HISTORY. Bricket Wood Women's Institute was formed in 1953, 63 members turned up for the first meeting.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Initially the membership fee was 3/6d!!! ( 17.5p) a year We would love to have kept it at that price but it is now £44.00 per year, which we think is still well worth it.
Current Committee President: Ginny Edwards Vice President: Catherine Abrahams Treasurer: Clare Jones Secretary: Suzanne Gilbert
Other Committee Members:
Cathy Stamp, Linda Loader, Jacki Elliott Kay Wood, Jenny Griffiths, Val Wickenden