Description:Pictured before the start of the day’s business are delegates from 149 Institutes, who attended the Spring conference of the Staffordshire County Federation of Women’s Institutes, held at the Borough Hall in Stafford on Tuesday 1 April. The meeting was addressed by Miss Mary Macauley, Founder of the Iona Education Centre, and a psychologist. During the meeting many matters of concern to rural communities in general as well as women in particular were discussed.
As a step towards improving road safety, Streetly W.I. were the proposers, seconded by Little Aston of a motion that as a preventative measure against the number of serious road accidents, the meeting asks the Government to review the regulations governing the lighting of motor-lorries and bicycles, as lorries did a great deal of work by night and cyclists were difficult to see in the dark.
It was the opinion of the meeting that the appropriate Government Department be notified about the poor quality of dye used for darning wool, which in many cases changed colour on washing; and that the manufacturers be persuaded to card the wool and supply it in a thicker ply for darning man’s and boys’ stockings and socks. The resolution was passed by Lichfield W.I. and seconded by Hamstall Ridware.
Chairman Mrs Heber Bullock addressed the delegates saying that our new Queen should be an inspiration to all women to do more for their homes and the country. She added that many Institutes in the county did a great deal of tidying in their villages for the Festival Year; she hoped they would continue to keep an eye on the preservation of the countryside. She said there used to be a great anti-litter campaign and urged members to revive it as litter was getting prevalent again.
There was a drive to encourage new members and increase income by Mrs E S Stoddard, Treasurer. In the 149 Institutes in the county there were 8,194 members. They finished the year with a balance of £252, as well as £400 which was untouched in the Savings Bank.
During the meeting it was mentioned that there was to be a conference on Juvenile Crime and Responsibility to be held in Stafford in November, arranged by the County Federation’s Public Questions Committee. The Chief Constable and a Stipendiary Magistrate had been asked to attend, as well as representatives of bodies concerned with child welfare.
A feature of the meeting was a parade held at the end of the session, of 40 to 50 Victorian and early Edwardian ladies gowns, provided and modelled by W.I. members. The display was arranged by Mrs F J S Whitmore, Mrs P Edwards and Mrs Atrill.
Winners of the county heat of a contest for home-made tea cosies were Mrs M H Burtt of Adbaston, Mrs Hunter of Hopworth, Mrs K G Bullows of Shenstone, Mrs J Byatt of Alton and Mrs MacGowan of Endon. The competition which was national and open to all W.I. members, was sponsored by the Tea Bureau, who offered prizes of three silver teapots to the winners of the final contest, with a special prize for the best all-wool tea cosy.
Officer elected to the County Executive Committee were: Mrs J F Amery, Mrs Boyce, Mrs K G Bullows, Mrs P Edwards, Mrs J Gladstone, Mrs J Halsall, Miss J Harrison, Mrs M Kent, Mrs A F Nicholson, Mrs M C Parkinson, Mrs Ricketts, Mrs M Smyth, Mrs E S Stoddard, Mrs B Thompson and Mrs F J S Whitmore.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 5 April 1952. Reproduced by Kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.