Wickhamford Women's Institute | The Badsey Society

Origins

The branch of the Women’s Institute in Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford was founded in March 1927 and affiliated to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes on 23^rd November 1927. In the Autumn of 1951 a meeting was held in the large room at Leystones Garage (by courtesy of Mrs F. M. Dean and her daughter Mrs Thelma Shannon-Garvey) to discuss the possibility of forming a separate branch of the Women’s Institute at Wickhamford. Previous to this, several ladies from the village had been travelling to Badsey to meetings of the Badsey, Aldington and Wickhamford W.I.

An invitation was sent out to any interested ladies and the response was overwhelming, the room being filled to capacity. Mrs Kannreuther, a Representative from the Worcestershire Federation of W. Is gave a talk and explained what the W. I. was all about, its aims and ideals. With much enthusiasm, Wickhamford W.I. was formed, the meetings to be held on the second Thursday of each month in the Memorial Hall at 7.30 p.m. A Committee was also formed and the first President was Mrs Dean, the Secretary was Mrs Margaret Parry and the Treasurer, Mrs Gwyn Hancock. The first meeting was held on 11^th October 1951 and at least 80 ladies became members in the first few years. The Annual Subscription was 3/6d.

*Mrs Parry and Mrs Dean, the first Secretary and President.*

The members of Wickhamford WI in July 1957 — This picture shows the members of Wickhamford WI in July 1957. It was a monthly meeting, which also welcomed members from Badsey, Broadway and Childswickham WIs. The activities included a beauty demonstration, a bring-and-buy stall and a flower arranging competition. After refreshments the Badsey Drama Group performed a play 'Landslide'.

Back row:- Mrs F Smith, Miss M Willis, Miss A Metzger, Miss B Hancock, Mrs E Litterick, Mrs B Hampton, Mrs H Williams, Mrs S B Carter, Mrs L Poulter, Miss A L Cox.

Middle Row:- Mrs Crump, Mrs R Thomas, Mrs M Mitchell, Mrs Collett, Mrs Voelker, Mrs Boston, Mrs G Halford, Miss J Parry, Mrs A Daffurn, Mrs R Staite, Mrs G Hancock senior.

Seated:- Mrs L Foulkes, Mrs V Sutton, Mrs Pilkington, Mrs E Cooke, Mrs D M Parry, Mrs F M Dean, Mrs T B Shannon-Garvey, Mrs K Hampton.

Mrs Arthurs and Mrs Bryan, Committee Members at the time, were absent.

Activities

The following photographs show some of the Wickhamford W. I. activities from the 1950s to the 1980s – amateur dramatics, day trips, a choir, produce and flower shows, floats at Evesham Carnivals and quilt making.

**A W.I. produce sale at the Memorial Hall.**

From the left, two Daffurn children, Mrs George Foulkes and daughter, Mrs M. Jarrett (Broadway), Peggy Hancock, Mrs Hampton, Mrs Barbara Mills, Mrs Thelma Shannon-Garvey, Mrs Paddy Bryon, Mrs Vera Sutton, Mrs Clarrie Williams (nee Hampton), Mrs Lena Foulkes, Mrs Gwen Hancock, Mrs Roberts, Mrs Doll Smith &son and Mrs Kathleen Poulter.

**A Visit to Blenheim Palace on 10th September 1952**

Left to right: Miss Vera Halford, Mrs Carter, Mrs G. Halford, Mrs Pitman, Mrs L. Foulkes, W.I visitor, W.I. visitor, Mrs D. Harman, Mrs F. Taylor, Mrs Mitchell, Mrs V. Sutton, Mrs G. James, Mrs W. Walters senior, Mrs W. Walters junior, Mrs Arthurs, Mrs T. Shannon-Garvey, Mrs F. M. Dean, Mrs G. Hancock senior, Mrs Dempster and Mrs Phillips.

**A Flower and Produce Show on 12th September 1953**

Lena Foulkes, Mrs Read, Mrs F. Haines, Mrs Figgett, Mrs G. Halford and Mrs G. Hancock.

**January 1959 – The W. I. Choir at Mr & Mrs Sturt's Golden Wedding Anniversary party.**

Left to right, Celia Cox, Vicar’s wife Mrs Chapman, Margaret Willis, Gladys Halford, Elaine Litterick, Gwen Hancock, Peggy Hancock, Eva Cooke, Violet Cox and conductor Marjorie Collett.

**A production of “Just Before Tea” in the Memorial Hall on 16th January 1956.**

Standing left to right, Gwen Hancock, Peggy Hancock and Ruth Thomas. Seated, left to right, Mrs Parry, Mrs Foulkes, Miss Parry and Mrs Shannon-Garvey.

**Wickhamford W. I. 21st Birthday Party - Oct 1972.**

Bridget Brown, Vi Johnson, Thelma Shannon-Garvey, Peggy Hancock, Elaine Litterick, Pat Bell: seated - Ros Stevens & Hilda Evans.

The Wickhamford W. I. float at Evesham Carnival on 11th June 1977

The Wickhamford W. I. float at Evesham Carnival on 11^th June 1977 of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Cast:-

Snow White………………Pat Bell
Wicked Step-Mother……Elaine Litterick
Prince Charming………..Pam Noyes
Witch…………………Eden Pitt
Doc………..Thelma Shannon-Garvey
Dopey………………Irene Farmer
Other Dwarfs………
Joan Coveney
Jill Robert,
Peggy Hancock
Sue Bearcroft
Hazel Cole

**A quilt made by the W. I. completed in February 1984. This was exhibited at Olympia, London and then raffled. Unfortunately, it was later destroyed in a house fire.**

Those pictured are, on the left, Sue Bearcroft, Pat Clinton, Jane Vacaloparlos, Connie Whiting, Margaret Winkett and Lyn Turner; on the right, Hilda Evans, Hazel Cole, Jill Roberts, Alison Rupley, Jenny Tweney, Pat Bell and Pam Locke.

Appendix

Presidents of Wickhamford W. I.

1951 - 1952	Mrs F. M. Dean	1980 - 1981	Mrs Hazel Cole
1953 - 1955	Mrs Eva Cooke	1982 - 1983	Mrs Peggy Hancock
1956 - 1958	Mrs M. Parry	1984 - 1985	Mrs Pat Bell
1959 - 1961	Mrs Thelma Shannon-Garvey	1986 - 1987	Mrs Hazel Cole
1962 - 1963	Mrs M. Parry	1988	Mrs Muriel Harrison
1964 - 1966	Mrs Elaine Litterick	1989 - 1990	Mrs Sue Bearcroft
1967 - 1968	Mrs Peggy Hancock	1991 - 1992	Mrs Rosemary Hendricks
1969 - 1970	Mrs M. Parry	1993 - 1994	Mrs Denny King
1971 - 1972	Mrs Bridget Brown	1995 - 1998	Mrs Barbara Carroll
1973 - 1975	Mrs Thelma Shannon-Garvey	1999 - 2008	Mrs Lil Smith
1976 - 1977	Mrs Judy Hustler	2009 - 2012	Mrs Sue Bearcroft
1978 - 1979	Mrs Elaine Litterick	2013 - 2014 2015 - 2017 2018 -	Mrs Hazel Cole Mrs Nicki Holden Mrs Hazel Cole

Tom Locke and Peggy Hancock
March 2013