Celebrating a century of so much more than jam and Jerusalem
Now that’s some achievement – a Sunderland branch of the Women’s Institute is 100 years old today and still going strong.
Hylton WI is celebrating its big day with a look back on its history of surviving through everything from a world war to a pandemic.
The coronavirus means they can’t hold a celebration yet, but officials say it will be ‘glorious’ once it does go ahead formembersoftheSouthTyne and Wear Federation.
Joanne Inglis, from the Tyne and Wear South Federation of WI’s, shared the fantastic milestone with the Sunderland Echo.
She said: “The members had been planning the celebrations for an age before Covid-19 interfered and even though it will be late, it will be a party to remember, all Federation members will be invited and I’m sure it will be a glorious occasion when we all get together.”
Hylton Women’s Institute was founded on January 25, 1921, in a society which was pulling itself back together after the Great War.
The Sunderland branch was born ‘against a maelstrom ofworldeventsthatwecannow look back on and see their impact on the world today.
“Women were finding their voice and not being prepared to give back the progress they’d made during the war”, said Joanne. “The world was changing rapidly and the women of Hylton were part of that change.”
Thebranchbeganwhenthe ladies of the village met to sew for the forces serving during the First World War.
"Supporting the war effort was also something they did in the next war too,” said Joanne.
“The oldest member, a Mrs M Markham, knitted 100 garments, no mean feat when materials were scarce.”
The WI soon developed into a force to be reckoned with. The branch had a very active drama group and choir.
It campaigned in the 1960s for better street cleaning and more recently, it has supported worthy causes such as local food banks and the Donnison SchoolHeritageandEducation Centre.
The WI has 25 branches in the region with more than 1,000 members. Anyone interested in joining a branch of the WI should email twsfwi@ btconnect.com
ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING IN 1921
• Winston Churchill became the British Minister for the Colonies. • Einsteingavealecturein New York where he outlined his new Theory of Relativity.
• Dr Marie Stopes opened Britain’s first birth control clinic in London.
• The British Legion was formed to care for exservicemen.
• Johnny Weissmuller, who would later become the star of Tarzan films, set the world swimming records for 100 metres and 150 yards.
Rudolph Valentino’s first silent film The Shiek was premiered.
• The Education Act raised the school leaving age to 14.
Home-made children’s toys were all the rage such as the whip-andtop and skipping. • Comics such as “Chicks Own”, “Tiny Tots” and “School Friend” were available for children.