Wentworth Women’s Institute
Wentworth WI was formed in 1985. There were 16 ladies present at the foundation meeting in June. The following month there was an election meeting at which 24 ladies were present. Betty Sharp was elected as President and a committee was formed. The annual subscription at the time was £4.00 – 25 years later it has risen to £29.50.
Monthly meetings were held during the year and the membership increased to 42. At the first AGM in October 1986 Winnie Weldon was elected President and she continued in office for the next 10 years, when Beryl Ambler took over until 2007.
Wentworth WI is a member of the Rockley Group, along with Chapeltown, Grenoside, High Green, Tankersley, Thorpe Hesley and Wath. The Rockley Group, with seven other groups in South Yorkshire is under the umbrella of the South Yorkshire Federation of Women’s Institutes based in Doncaster, and SYFWI in turn reports to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes whose office is in London.
As the largest women’s organisation in Britain, we aim to offer the best opportunity for women to make an impact in their communities, to influence local, national and world issues affecting the social, economic and environmental life of families and communities and to learn traditional and new skills.
The purpose of the WI is to encourage and enable women
To enhance their lives and to play their part in the community
To improve their lives and the lives of those around them
To lead fulfilling lives and to be of value in the community and nationally to influence
policy/decision makers
To provide friendly, safe and regular opportunities for women to meet, be inspired
and enlightened and enjoy the company of others.
Wentworth WI now has 52 members, including three original founders – Kay Gittins, Enid Ryan and Winnie Weldon. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month in the Mechanics Institute, Main Street, Wentworth at 7.30 pm. You will see from the programme that we organise a theatre trip, an outing which in 2010 is to Duncombe Park in Helmsley, social evenings and have a variety of interesting speakers throughout the year. We always join in village activities and usually have a stall at the Village Day and at any Charity Fairs.
