Gladestry WI has celebrated its 100th birthday with a special celebration to mark the milestone, writes Ann Dean.

The first ever WI meeting in Gladestry was held on December 10 1924 in the school room. It was held to form to a local branch of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, at which 23 members were enrolled.

Later, the group met regularly at the Rectory where in summer they would play croquet and have treasure hunts in the garden. During the years of the Second World War the Institute closed, before it was reformed in 1958.

The current group now meets in the village hall where various activities are enjoyed such as flower arranging, other creative arts including felting, and all manner of craft work. The group also enjoys frequent visits from guest speakers. A mix seaside outings and theatre trips are also enjoyed - visits all of which ensure that the calendar is full of uplifting and interesting events.

In the past activities might have included competitions for the best darned sock, or the best laundered handkerchief or even the best polished shoe! However, these simple and fun projects in which anybody could participate and feel included was always interlaced with service to the community. This ethos is the same today.

A special service of thanksgiving was held in St Mary’s Church on Sunday, June 31 to mark Gladestry WI’s special birthday. This was followed by a sumptuous tea in the village hall which included a beautiful birthday cake.

When so much is changing all around us every day, the WI still remains a solid institution of service and loyalty to community, ‘.....the still point of a turning world.’ (T S Eliot).

The very first Women's Institute meeting in the UK took place in September 1915. The WI was originally brought to life to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK.