THE WI RULES OK

Whilst I’ve often been attracted to the idea, I’ve never been a member of the WI, mainly due to a lack of time, but also in part because I’ve never been much of a one for routine and rules and regulations. I do however get asked to address local groups on a regular basis.

On speaking to members of Tatworth WI this week, on the topic of ‘Red Shoes’, I gave consideration to the plans that had long been in place to get me there; booked two years in advance, confirmation in writing, follow up ‘phone call beforehand, parking place reserved, equipment check, timing to the minute, someone to welcome me  ..…. it all felt frighteningly well organised; scary and impressive all at once.

Tatworth WI was formed 86 yars ago, and with the WI as an organisation now about to celebrate its 100^th anniversary, it has long since shed its ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ image, largely due to the Rylstone WI in Yorkshire Calendar I would suggest.

Formed in 1915, during the First World War, to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in food production, it is now the largest voluntary organisation in the UK, with over 210,000 members, belonging to 6,600 WIs.

With its focus on playing a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities with the chance to build new skills, and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities, it continues to play a vital role in our society.

I was impressed to find that in its early days the WI did much to break down social barriers, whilst during WW2 they pretty much waged their own war – on waste, with a culture of preserving food that would have otherwise been inedible. 

The WI also launched the Keep Britain Tidy Group in the 1950s and have over the years worked in close partnership with a range of organisations to develop special programmes, such as promoting regional sporting activities, encouraging active, healthy lives.

None of us will forget their meeting at Wembley in 2000, where on being addressed by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, some of the 6,000 WI members present showed their disapproval with a slow hand-clap as they felt he was using the occasion to make a party political statement. WI members will not tolerate behaviour they consider flouts their own values. On joining, members of the WI sign up to promoting the organisation’s fine aspiration; achieving fellowship, truth, tolerance and justice without consideration for religion or politics, treating all members as equals, whilst encouraging sustainable development, citizenship and volunteering activities, with education as the foundation for all of its functions. The organisation is disciplined, fostering responsibility, and providing the authoritative voice of middle England. Its members are unafraid to challenge and fight for what they believe to be the foundations of a decent society, based on sound values.

Whilst successive governments spout election grabbing headlines like ‘localism’ and ‘community’, the WI go about their business doing just that, with total commitment and loyalty, and without any government interference, a rare thing these days.

I would hope I could never be described as a politically correct middle class ‘do-gooder’, but the WI is a party I’d certainly vote for at election time.

It all sounds like a government in waiting to me.