Background
Before putting electronic pen to electronic paper, on any subject, I find that I need to know more than what I am reporting; I need to know the why, the when, the who, and the how - the background to the story. Having found that background, I see no reason to ignore what I have learned and believe that there are others who are as inquisitive as am I. So, here is the background to the "Women′s Institute".
Its birthplace was in the small township of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, in the year 1897. The inspiration came from an Alice Hoodless, the wife of a prosperous business man, in Hamilton, Ontario. The couples′ young son had died after drinking contaminated milk, and Alice, in an effort to make others aware of the dangers in the home, began a campaign, all over Ontario, for domestic science to be taught in schools and colleges. At that time, farmers in the province had joined together to form a Farmers′ Institute, which enabled them to share information and improve their methods in farming.
In December 1897, Alice was asked to address a Farmers′ Institute meeting, held in Saltfleet County, Ontario, by the Secretary of the local branch, a John Erland Lee. After listening, John invited her to speak to a meeting of the farmers′ wives - and the women, having heard her speak, decided that if such meetings and lectures helped the farmers to do their jobs better, then the same idea could help them. Because of the distances between the various rural homesteads, the women, virtually, lived isolated lives and realised that they could greatly help each other by an exchange of all types of domestic knowledge. It was agreed, among those present, to set up a Women′s Institute, where meetings and educational programmes could be organised.
The first meeting, was set up by John Erland Lee and his wife, Janet, both of whom had been teachers before becoming farmers; it was held in their home town of Stoney Creek, Ontario. So, the first Women′s Institute, was set up, in Stoney Creek, on 19th February, 1897
Later, an alliance was formed between the Women′s Institute and the Farmers′ Institute and, shortly after that, financial support came from the Ontario government, who, realising the great benefit the new organisation would be to the rural economy, and, generally, to education, provided lecturers and assistance in setting up new branches.
The movement spread throughout Canada and, in 1913, a Mrs Alfred Watt, who had worked in the Headquarters of the Canadian Women′s Institute headquarters, moved form British Columbia to London. She tried to set up a similar organisation in the South of England, but failed.
When the war started, in 1914, the British Government set up the Agricultural Organisation Society, to ensure the provision of food, which, during wartime, would be vital. As luck would have it, Mrs Watt became involved with the A.O.S., and, in 1915, was invited to give a talk to the North Wales branch, in Anglesey, at Llanfairpwllgwngylgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (for obvious reasons, generally know as Llanfair PG!), by a Colonel Richard Stapleton Cotton. The ladies of the area listened to what she had to say and so liked the idea of a Women′s′ Institute that they all agreed that they would set up the first one in Britain.
In March 1916, the first branch was set up in West Sussex, at Singleton and, almost four years later, on 14th December, 1919. a Women′s Institute Market, the first in Britain, was held in Lewes, in East Sussex. Though it was a collaboration of many W.I.s, it had been organized mainly by a Miss Brand, a member of the East Sussex Agricultural Executive Committee - these committees were set up, in 1915, by county councils throughout Britain, at the request of the government, which, because mainly of the war and concern over the food supply, wanted to promote the efficient use of agricultural land and encourage villagers to produce more food in their gardens and allotments. The W.I.s were seen as a way of encouraging the better use of land and the production of food
It would be another twenty-three years, in 1939 to be exact, before a branch was formed in Hooe.
Before I Start
I have transcribed every newspaper extract that I wanted to include here so that anyone searching for a name could easily do so (the family historian in me never dies!), but, where the image is clear, I have given a link to a copy of the original article.
The Beginning
Ninfield had a Women′s Institute before the ladies of Hooe had got together and organized theirs, as the article (from the Bexhill Observer, dated 29th October 1938), below, tells us – the newspaper article could just be read but was unsuitable to include here.
"NINFIELD"
"WOMEN′S INSTITUTE"
"A whist drive, organised by Mrs Forsyth, treasurer, was held at the Memorial Hall on Wednesday, in aid of the East Sussex Hospital. Nineteen tables were occupied and there were many prize-winners. A cake given by Mrs Sparke was won by Miss Pilbeam, of Hooe, and a box of cigarettes by Mr Vidler, of Hooe. Mrs E. Sargent and several helpers kindly dispensed the refreshments. A sum of £7 16s 8d was raised for the hospital."
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The Bexhill Observer, issued on March 18th, 1939, mentions that the Village Hall
HOOE – PARISH MEETING – The annual parish meeting was held in the Village Hall on Wednesday, when there was an attendance of 27, under the chairmanship of Mr. A. R. Hayward. Those present included Mr J. Berthon Sparke, J.P. (chairman of Ninfield Parish Council), Mr. H. V. Lely, Mrs Constant, Mrs Tapper, Mr Macdonald, and Councillors Hart, Clifton, and Crouch. The financial statement showed receipts of £121 4s 9d and expenditure of £199 18s 2d, this being an excess of £78 14s 5d over the income. Extraordinary payments during the year were £20 on decorations to the hall, £23 7s 3d on heating and re-wiring, and £15 15s 1d on fire extinguishers.
In his review of the year, Mr. J. J. Newport (clerk) observed that the hall had been affiliated to the Village Halls Association, and the committee had decided to try to bring about the formation of a Women′s Institute.
It was reported that the funds and property of the flower show had been placed in the care of the Parish Council treasurer
In connection with the playing field, it was observed that another 25 yards, was wanted in order to make the football pitch the correct size, and it was decided to have a meeting of the cricket and football clubs on April 5th to discuss the matter further, and to form a joint committee.
The next article, in the Bexhill Observer, was on May 20th. 1939 and this states that the first, formal, meeting of the Institute would be on Thursday, June 9th.
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HOOE – WOMEN′S INSTITUTE – A public meeting was held in the Village hall on Thursday of last week, when a branch of the Women′s Institute was formed.
Miss Harland and Muss Blake–Masson were responsible for the arrangements, Miss J. Hayward was elected president of the branch, and Mrs Smythe became treasurer. The first meeting will be held on June 9th.
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On the 8th July, the "Bexhill Observer" reported the election of the committee members.
HOOE - WOMEN′S INSTITUTE – At a special meeting on Friday, the following officers were elected: - President, Miss Hayward; vice-president, Mrs Tapper; treasurer, Mrs. Smith; secretary, Mrs Pilbeam; committee, Mrs Newport, Mrs Vitler, Miss D. Smith, Mrs Baker, Mrs Marshall Wood, Mrs Lennard, and Mrs Tooth. The first regular meeting will be held on July 14th, at 7 p.m.
Mrs Pilbeam, the newly-elected Secretary, was my Aunt Ethel, who had married Robert Frank Pilbeam, at Hooe, in late 1921. Mrs Newport (Emily Harriet) was her mother and my grandmother,
On the Institute′s twenty-first anniversary, a party was held to celebrate the event and the following report appeared in the "Bexhill-on-Sea Observer", on Saturday. July 16, 1960. It also gives a picture
Founder members of the Hooe Village Women′s Institute stand around as 85-year-old Mrs B. Smith, prepares to cut the birthday cake marking the Institute′s coming of age on Friday last week. With her (left to right) are Ms D. Pint, Mrs N. Baker, Mrs. C. Clifton, Mrs E. Pilbeam, and Mrs A. Tooth.
Hooe members celebrated the Institute′s 21st anniversary on Friday last week, when the President welcomed visitors from Little Common, Battle, and Catsfield, as well as a party of old folks from the village and some founder members.
The pupils of the Thalia School of Drama, Bexhill, entertained and were thanked by Mrs Hodgkin. Two birthday cakes were given for the party.
A competition for a vase of flowers representing a tune title was won by: 1. Mrs Boths, 2. Miss Watkins. 3. Mrs D. Pont.
The party ended with games.
Unfortunately, the article still does not make it clear who the founder members were, where the event was held (though, most probably, in the Village Hall) and, I′m sure, that the "Mrs D. Pint" mentioned at the beginning should have been, "Mrs D. Pont", mentioned later!
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1940 February 17th B.O.
HOOE – WOMEN′S INSITUTE – At the meeting in the Village Hall on Friday, Mr. William′s spoke on "Travel". In a spelling bee the team led by Miss Smythe (president) beat one under Miss Hayward (treasurer).
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1940 April 20th B. O.
HOOE – WOMEN′S INSTITUTE – There was an attendance of 18 at the meeting on Friday, when Miss Alexander spoke on "Accidents in the home". Miss J. Lennard won a competition for a bunch of wild flowers, and a letter of thanks for knitted comforts made by institute members was read from the Mission for Seamen.
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1940 July 27th
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1940 November 16th
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1940 December 21st
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1941 January 18th
1941-05-03.jpg1941 May 3rd
1941 May 24th
1941 June 21st
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1941 September 27th
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1941 October 18
1941 December 20 (1)
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1941 December 20 (2)
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1943 February 20th
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1943 April 17th
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1943 May 22nd
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1943 October 16th
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1944 January 22nd
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1944 February 19th
1944 November 18th
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1944 November 25th
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1944 December 16th
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1945 April 28th
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1946 January 19th
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1946 May 18th
From the Bexhill Observer 26th February 1999
DEATH
Hooe WI loses founder
"Ethel Pilbeam, the last of Hooe Women′s Institute′'s founder members, has died aged 105, a week before her 106th birthday. Ethel spent her last years at a nursing home in Chislehurst, near Orpington in Kent, where she died on January 19th. She would have been 106 on January 26th. Ethel moved to Kent from Bexhill about 10 years ago. Second eldest of 12 children born to John and Emily Newport, the family made strong ties with Hooe. Her father was the head teacher at the village school and her mother was head at the infant school."
"Ethel was president of Hooe Women′s institute which she co founded 111 1939. She continued as a member until well in her 80s."
"Daughter Babs Digman, who lives in Orpington, said: "My mother was also secretary of the local branch of the Mothers′ Union.""
"She joined the MU in 1928 and was probably the oldest member, certainly in the diocese of Rochester. when she died."
"Ethel worked as teacher before her marriage to Frank the son of a Hooe farmer. After a while they started their own business, a garage with petrol, car hire, agricultural tools and charging of batteries used for wireless sets. When her husband died in 1942 Ethel continued the business for four years."
"Ethel′s remaining relatives are a brother, who lives at Little Ingrains in Ninfield, a sister, daughter, two granddaughters and one great grand daughter."
Today′s Hooe Women′s Institute was registered as a Charity on the 15th December 1993.
