• Contact us
• FAQs
• Jobs
• WIs A-Z
• Documents

1970

New teaching Centre and Brunner House at Denman College were opened by HM the Queen Mother.

Queen Mother signs the visitors’ book at Denman College

The new Teaching Centre

1971

 
Olive Farquharson

A resolution was passed at the AGM changing the interpretation of the non-party political and non-sectarian rules. Olive Farquharson, a WI member from Surrey,  was elected World President of ACWW. The total of WIs had reached 9,203. 

1972

The WI exhibition, This Green and Pleasant Land?, took place at the Ideal Home Exhibition. The Produce and Handicraft Guilds were replaced by the Home Economics committee and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (CUKT) gave a grant for the Town and Country Project. The AGM passed resolutions calling for a full free family planning service and for more nursery education for children.

1973

Meriel Withall retired as General Secretary and Anne Ballard was appointed.

 
Anne Ballard

1974

 
Pat Jacob

Subscription to the WI was raised to £1 (15p to the National Federation, 35p to the county federation and 50p to the WI). Sylvia Gray resigned as Chairman and was succeeded by Pat Jacob. The number of WIs recorded this year was 9,309, a record so far! The AGM called for a national policy for reclamation, reuse and recycling of waste. 

1975

The Diamond Jubilee was celebrated. The NFWI was awarded a coat of arms designed by J P Brooke-Little, MVO, MA, FSA, Richmond Herald of Arms.
The WI exhibition, Tomorrow's Heirlooms, took place at the Commonwealth Institute. The AGM confirmed that NFWI 'believes in the principle of equality of opportunity and of legal status for men and women and pledges itself to work to achieve this'.

Tomorrow’s Heirlooms logo                  Queen Mother at the exhibition

1976

A resolution was passed at the AGM that in future the amount and division of the subscription should be decided by the NFWI executive committee in consultation with the Consultative Council representatives. The AGM urged more rented accommodation should be made available to alleviate homelessness.

1977

Patricia Batty Shaw was elected as NFWI Chairman and
WI Books became registered as a privately owned limited company. The number of WIs was 9,299.

WI bookstall

1978

The foundation stone of the Home Economics Centre at Denman College was laid by the Countess of Albemarle. The AGM showed support for doorstep milk deliveries and voiced concern about increasing marine pollution. The AGM also expressed concern about the availability to children of literature of a pornographic and violent nature.

Lady Albermarle lays the foundation stone at Denman College with Lady Brunner, Patricia Batty Shaw and Gabrielle Pike

1979

The Home Economics Centre at Denman College was opened by HM the Queen. An AGM resolution was passed urging the provision of single sex wards in hospitals, and voicing concern about the closure of village schools.

 
The Queen opens the Home Economics Centre at Denman College

‘The great jam debate’ took place when the NFWI lobbied successfully for the law to be changed giving WI members exemption from having to register their kitchens with the local authority before being allowed to sell jam to the public.

 
Patricia Batty Shaw giving an MP a taste of WI jam