Inspiring Women
Gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment, I’m going to concentrate on the fantastic Ladies out there who are influencing me this week. I was honoured to be invited to talk to Tydd St Giles WI on Monday. They are a group of women, mostly in later life, who wanted to know more about my work and what I had learned researching Fenland Crafts. I took along some wool from local sheep to show them how to work with it, from spinning to felting to weaving. I was lucky enough to also have time to speak to a few of the ladies there. They were all kind, generous, friendly and smiled a lot. I felt welcomed, encouraged and feeling better about getting older if they are any example of what’s to come. I suspect this is how all WIs are. They were set up to help women, many over 100 years ago. Their objectives are: “to advance the education of rural women and girls for the public benefit in all areas, including issues of political and social importance”, “to promote sustainable development […] including prudent use of natural resources” and “to advance health […] and citizenship by the promotion of civic responsibility” (details at www.thewi.org.uk/faqs)
I think we need these ladies more now than ever. Perhaps, even if you think you’re too young, you should find your local WI and join, putting the world to rights, literally.
So Gentlemen, when your partners go to their WI meetings, know that they are at the forefront of politics, environmental policy and educating the next generation, as well as enjoying friendship, a cup of tea and learning a new craft.
Interestingly, researching the WI, I found the detail that it’s called “Institute” because of its educational purpose – following on from the Mechanics’ Institute, aimed at teaching technical subjects to working men. I hadn’t realised the word was so specifically about education. Wisbech of course had its very own Working Men’s Institute, set up even earlier, for the local working man.
We now have many different groups for everyone, whatever your interest, or indeed gender, so pick one: to make a stand, to help others, or for interest.
Send me details and I’ll write about them here – like FenArch did – their next talk is on 26th February, 7.30pm, Mendi’s, about the Easter Islands, with one of the UK’s leading archaeologists, Dr Colin Richards.