THE WI has an important year ahead as this year the 100th AGM is on Thursday, June 4 at the Royal Albert Hall.

There will many link-ups across the country and most Institutes will be holding celebrations to mark the occasion.

Formed in 1897 in Stoney Creek Ontario, after a talk at the Farmers’ Institute given by Adelaide Hoodless, the first UK meeting was held on September 16, 1915 at Llanfairpwll on Anglesey and the first English Institute was at Singleton in Sussex, and by the end of 1919 there were 1,405 Institutes in the country.

Jerusalem was first sung in 1924 and in 1938 Lady Denman became director of the Women’s Land Army.

Now there are around 6,600 Institutes and over 21,2000 members.

In the early days many members were country women but now, with the revival of traditional crafts, many more younger members are joining and meetings are encouraged in pubs and the workplace as well as the usual village hall.

At the last meeting in Laverstock, Ros Liddington gave a fascinating illustrated talk about the Russian connections with Wilton House.

Catherine, daughter of Catherine the Great (1785) married George Herbert, the 11th Earl of Pembroke. They had six children and are pictured under a Van Dyke painting seated on an unusual 17ft long carpeted sofa. These were very popular items in the Crimea region.

She also influenced the garden area of the house, still evident today.

At the next meeting on Monday, 16 February in the Village Hall Jane Arnold’s talk is entitled Nude not Rude.

There will be a bring and buy table and the competition is for an extremely old book. Further details from Jill Kay on 01722 323407.