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Women's Institute
The first WI was formed in Stoney Creek, Canada in 1897. A farmer’s wife, Mrs Adele Hodless, saw the need to help country women to improve their lives. The founding ideals of friendship, truth, justice and tolerance are as strong now as they were then. Women from all walks of life and faiths are members. The first WI in the UK was formed in 1915 in Llanfair PG Anglesey. WIs began to appear in towns and villages across the country and in 1917 it was decided to form a National Federation comprising a structure of County Associations.
In 1926 Nancy Lady Astor, MP, then President of Cliveden and Dropmore WI (now closed), wrote to her friend Mrs Audrey Skimming of Taplow House suggesting she form a WI in Taplow. This she did in March of that year. A group of ladies living in Hitcham decided to join them, hence the name Taplow and Hitcham WI.
Meetings were held in the Dumb Bell and the Drill Hall (now used by the police). In 1927 there were 90 members and neither venue being able to accommodate the growing numbers, the members decided to build their own hall, and with the help of donations from many Taplow residents, were able to rent land and build the present hall. The land was owned by the GWR and only bought in 1952.
Nancy Lady Astor, accompanied by the then Minister of Agriculture, opened the hall in 1930. It has been used by many different organisations and was an Evacuation Centre in the Second World War. The hall has been used by film-makers for inside shots of the television version of Julian Fellowe's book White Mischief and as the catering centre for the cast of Chariots of Fire. Every weekday it is used by members. It has a caretaker living on the site.
Not all Institutes have the advantage of owning their own hall with a resident caretaker, but the present members fully appreciate their founders’ decision. It was designed by local architect Mr Salter who also designed our banner.
The Institute is very proud of its banner. The members embroidered it and chose the motto ‘Love and Serve’. On the face, one side represents Taplow with a swan and a galleon and the other half Hitcham, which depicts the arms of the Clark family and the Prince of Wales' feathers, referring to a visit made by the Black Prince to Hitcham Manor.
Another proud possession is the President’s chair given by Mrs S Horner. It came from the Indian Pavilion at the Great Exhibition held in London in the late 1920s.
In the hall are some ballet bars used by early members for Greek dancing, a form of ‘Keep Fit’ - not, I hasten to say, by our team of Country Dancers who today are led by Mrs J Eden.
During the 1950s the craft section made and embroidered kneelers for a side chapel in Westminster Abbey. The countryside and its environment have always been a concern of the WI. A member, Mrs B Pollard, was concerned about the state of the corner of Hill Farm Road with Cliveden Road, so with the support of all the Taplow and Hitcham members it was cleared to the way it looks today. For many years the Institute has invited St Jude’s over-50s club in Westminster to tea and entertainment. Supper is given to the local Hospice and this year also to the Air Ambulance.
We cover a wide variety of activities ranging from the traditional crafts and art to sport, including badminton, bowls and table tennis, and we have a drama group. They go out and entertain others as well as our own members. The craft group have recently made blankets for care homes and others in need and they also knit outfits for the Premature Baby Unit at Wexham Park Hospital. During the summer months members visited Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, and also Pinewood Studios, where we met our neighbour Sir Terry Wogan recording his game show. Following the national concern over the demise of bees, we have written to all the local councils and their replies have been favourable.
The WI has its own Educational College in Oxfordshire, which opened in 1948. Today it has on offer over 500 different courses annually attended by over 5,000 members. Taplow and Hitcham, as do many WIs, give a bursary to a member attending.
The WI exists to educate women to enable them to provide an effective role in the community, to expand their horizons, to develop and pass on important skills. It has an unrivalled reputation as a voice of reason, integrity and intelligence on issues that matter to women everywhere. It is the largest women’s organisation the UK and is associated with Country Women of the World.
The WI campaigns on a wide range of social, justice and environmental issues both here and abroad. Keep Britain Tidy was started by the WI and more recently violence and trafficking of women, cost of food production and farming, i.e. money received by farmers for milk.
Meetings are held on the first Tuesday at 2.30p.m. when there is always a speaker or demonstrator who does not leave the hall without deep questioning.
Yes, we do sing Jerusalem and make jam, but we trust we are maintaining the aims and objects of our founder, so why not come and join us? All visitors are very welcome.
Muriel King
Contact details for the Taplow and Hitcham Women's Institute