WRI February Meeting

Editor: Jean Marshall. Added: Monday, February 08, 2010.

ISLE OF WHITHORN W.R.I.
MINUTES of a Meeting
held on Monday 1st February, 2010
@ 7.30 p.m. in St. Ninian's Hall.

WELCOME: The President, Dorothy McIlwraith, welcomed a good attendance of members who had come to hear about the history of the Rural and interesting events in its history.

APOLOGIES: These were received from Margaret Russell, Margaret Stephenson, Katie Forsyth, Marjorie Niblock.

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING HELD ON 4TH JANUARY, 2010:
These were read out by the Secretary, Elma Carle, unanimously approved, and signed by Dorothy McIlwraith.
It was noted that the June meeting would be held on the 7th, not 4th as per syllabus.

DETAILS OF EVENTS:
The Federation Outing would take place on Wednesday 26th May, 2010 with the destination being Carlisle. The bus leaves Newton Stewart at 0900 and should return by 2030. Details of the menu were given. A charge of £20 includes the bus and meal on the way home. It was requested that names be in by the end of April.

There is a Federation 3 Day Tour to Harrogate on Friday 17th September returning on 20th September, 2010. Details of costs were given and names were requested by the end of February.

Lunch & Cookery Demonstration in Auchenmalg Hall on Saturday 13th March, 2010 at 1200 noon Soup and sandwiches would be provided but members to take their own cups. There would be a Raffle and recipe sheets.

Snowdrop Walk: 20th February at Galloway House at 1100. Members were asked to take their own sandwiches and flask if they wished. There would be a charge of £2.

Dumfries & Galloway Environmental Fair on Friday 19th March, 2010 in DG One
Complex, Dumfries. Anyone interested to let Dorothy McIlwraith know.

OTHER BUSINESS:
The President referred to a Belleek Pottery vase which had been gifted to the Rural some 30 years ago and after open discussion it was decided to try and get this valued before deciding what to do with it in the future. A silver plate awarded to the Rural from a previous Flower Show was also displayed and it was decided to use this as a 2nd Place Award in the Points Competition.

SPEAKER:
Dorothy McIlwraith had put a great deal of work into compiling a fascinating illustrated talk on the history of the Rural and interesting events which she had researched from old Minute books along with photographs and correspondence provided by members.. This provided many memories for those present who appreciated the use of the Hall's large cinema screen which provided much more detail of the manuscripts and photographs.

The first Womens Institute started in 1897 in Ontario, Canada, with Scotland commencing in 1917. The Isle of Whithorn's first meeting was on the 31st of October 1923 in the school when 39 people attended and 33 people joined thereafter.. Membership was 2/1d with visitors 6d. The first Isle President was Mrs.Brown of Cutreoch. In December the Competition was for the Best Xmas Present for 1/-. By 1924 the membership was 81. Demonstrators were given hospitality for the night or stayed in the Queens Arms for a cost of 8/- for supper, B&B. Bus fares were 6/6d to Stranraer and car hires 12/- from the Isle to Monreith. Surplus eggs were brought to meetings then forwarded to Dumfries and Glasgow hospitals..

In 1930 meetings were held in the public hall for an annual rent of £2.50/- and by 1939 there were 108 members.
Along with local outings it was noted that 45 members went by train from Whithorn to Edinburgh with a train fare of 4/- per head. Several very interesting pictures of groups on outings were shown with members being identified by those present. Other events such as Whist Drives, Basket Teas, and Scots Nights along with Burns Suppers were held.

The Rural was particularly active during the War. In 1940 the SWRI van was sited in Isle Farm garden with advice being given by a dietician and a gardener. Members could apply for sugar for jam making and wool and material to make items for the Forces and for "American Seeds". A canning machine moved around the country and the Isle Rural borrowed this. There was a request for helpers to assist in the event of an air raid. In 1939 the Rural arranged a Christmas party for evacuees.
Topics at meetings varied from Fruit Bottling, to Re-Footing Lisle Stockings and Making String Bags. A Dance was held monthly with the entry fee 1/6d and up to 200 attending. There were weekly Whist Drives in the winter and from time to time bigger Military Whists and Free Gift Sales.

Thereafter meetings followed a similar format over the years but there were more elaborate suppers. Members were always addressed by their full names and speakers topics more series - "How to Improve Institute Singing"! Demonstrations included Making Bedroom Slippers Out of Hats!

In earlier years there were many young members, some of whom served on committee. The Rural for many years organised Halloween parties for the local children and in the eighties, sports fun days - when the highlight - when the highlight was the marathon to the top of the Cairn.

Flower Shows were held from early days, finishing in the 1970's. There were large entries in varied classes and the Isle also participated in the Whithorn Bulb Show.

Celebrations - Isle members always enjoyed getting together to celebrate anniversaries and at Christmas time. Photographs shown included the 60th Anniversary in Castlewigg Hotel, along with 70th and 80th Anniversaries in the Isle hall.

With the Isle of Whithorn Rural still flourishing 86 years on and having these very special memories to hand down to future generations Marion Dow thanked Dorothy McIlwraith for giving such an interesting presentation on this social history of the village Rural and for the large amount of time-consuming work which she had put into researching such important information from artefacts. Members were given the chance to look at the Minute Books on display and fascinating competition items..

COMPETITION RESULTS:
"Stem from your Garden"
1. Vivien Campbell
2. Elma Carle
3. Jean Staniforth
Other entry: Margaret Cronie

"An Interesting Item From Your Kitchen"
1. Marion Dow
2. Jean Staniforth
3. Sylvia Nicoll
Other entries:Elma Carle, Margaret Cronie, Lillias Brown, Vivien Campbell, Bunty McGhie, Dorothy Clarke, Isobel Harkness, Sylvia Nicoll, Sylvia Nicoll

NEXT MEETING: Monday 1st March, 2010: Jennifer Brodie & friends will visit with Crafts etc.

Send us your comments...

The content of this website is maintained by members of the Isle of Whithorn Village community. If you have a comment about this article please contact us. You can also add your comments to our guestbook page.

The Isle of Whithorn now has its own page on Facebook. Simply login to your Facebook account and search for 'The Isle of Whithorn' to find us. Become a fan, say hello, post your pictures or stories and share your comments on our message board!

Follow the Isle of Whithorn on Twitter. http://twitter.com/IsleofWhithorn