Earl Soham Womens Institute (Then & Now)

The W.I. first opened in Earl Soham in 1919.

After an open meeting on the 10th April with thirty-nine women attending, the first meeting was held on Wednesday 7th May at 2:30pm. This was after crockery, spoons and a washing up bowl were bought! The subscription was 2/- (two shillings = 10p) a year. Sixty-one intending members were present to see a lantern lecture on ‘What Suffolk did in the war’.

The numbers grew and in 1920 eighty-four members got through very, very full meetings. In 1921 a Nissen Hut was purchased for the W.I. and was placed in the Park, approached from the Falcon yard.

In 1922 the W.I. financed the appointment of a District Nurse. This made Earl Soham able to have the benefits of a nurse much earlier than other areas.

The meetings were still very full, with demonstrations, competitions, speakers and social events. In 1927 a discussion was held on the use of the telephone.

1935 saw a move to the new Village Hall and the history of the Second World War years is a book in itself. In 1945 a link was made with Australia and for fourteen years letters were exchanged and food parcels received from a town called Biddeston.

Through the fifties and until 1963 an enthusiastic group played a large part in village life. Unfortunately for want of a President the Institute had to close.

Reopening in 1968 with evening meetings it has continued since. Keeping up with progress, we no longer can our home grown food, and very few women nowadays need to learn how to use the telephone!

In 2002 we still meet in the Village Hall and have about sixty members from 16 villages. Current activities include:

• Regular walks in the lovely Suffolk countryside with a Pub lunch.
• A Bridge Club featuring Rubber and Duplicate.
• A Scrabble Group for the wordsmiths amongst us.
• An active Craft Group that gives experience of flower arranging, painting on glass, cake decorating, ornamental jewellery, dough craft etc.
• A Book Club which discusses both fiction and non-fiction works.

Our monthly meetings have an interesting speaker, followed by delicious refreshments.

There is always a warm welcome. Why not come along as a guest and see what we get up to?

The secretary is Iris Barrell and her phone number is 01728 685342 or send an e-mail.