Oakridge WI

AT THE meeting held on September 10, Sue thanked everyone who had helped on the WI Stall at the Village Fete, and also had been busy making the jams, marmalades, chutneys etc.

We had been able to help the Fete's Charity and also boost our own funds a little.

Some members will be going to The Centenary Exhibition in Gloucester later in September.

The Needle Felting Course had been a successful and enjoyable event, and The Crack Cancer Coffee Morning had raised £440, so although we do not have a meeting in August, you can see that we have still been very busy.

Our October Meeting is to be a visit to Waitrose, and we are reminded that

nominations are due for the committee Sue having completed her three years as

president will be stepping down in November, so nominations are sought for

this position also.

Faye and Peter Scott are organising a display of nativity scenes at St Bartholomew's and we thought it might be a good idea to produce something, perhaps a 3D scene or a montage, ideas from members will be welcomed.

Thinking caps on please ladies!

Our speaker Paddy Harrington, gave us an enthusiastic historical account of Suffragettes and Votes for Women.

His talk began by referring to the 19th century details of a women's organisation known as NUWSS which endeavoured peacefully and unsuccessfully to bring the situation of women's rights to parliament.

By 1903 a group was formed, the Suffragettes, who tried to continue this work, again with little success.

However the advent of the First World War changed many things, not least of all that women were employed and made a great contribution to the war effort.

Politicians did little to bring any changes to women's lives though, so their campaigns continued.

These were often unrelenting, and possibly antisocial resulting in many of them being imprisoned and force fed, it also involved the death of one member, Emily Davison, during the Derby Horse Race in 1913.

Women over the age of 30 were given the vote in 1918.

It was not until much later on in, 1928 that women over the age of 21 were granted the right to vote.

Dates for your diaries.

The next meeting on October 8 is the visit to Waitrose at 7pm.

November 12 is the Annual Meeting when Sue Trevaskis will be talking about colours.

December 10, will be the Christmas Party at The Butchers Arms (further details in the next edition of What's On).