based on 'Looking Back Sixty Years' by Doris Barnes.
Ningwood and Shalfleet Women's Institute was founded on the morning of Monday 19 May 1919 The first meeting was held in Mrs Newton's garden at Lee Bungalow when 30 members were enrolled. The first President was Laura, Lady Simeon, with Miss B Jannings as Secretary.
The Hall was an ex-Army hut, purchased and erected in 1921, and financed by Mrs Edith Kindersley. The Institute paid the moneys back by having many money-making events. The Hall stood in nearly two acres of land which was bought for the sum of £10.
Miss Twiddy from Cranmore was the first member to run the Market Stall which was put up on the grass outside the Hall. This proved a very paying concern and at Christmas it was a real picture with all the turkeys etc. hanging up and lots of other seasonal fare.
Laura, Lady Simeon, presented the silver bell for the President's table and the silver vase was given by Miss Jannings in memory of her friend, Miss Catt, one of the pioneers of the Institute. In 1938 the President's chair was presented in the memory of Mrs McMasters by her daughter. She had been President of the Institute for 8 years.
The Institute was very active during the Second World War. In 1940 Miss Twiddy gave the latest account of the fruit situation: 1,964lbs which made 1,562lbs of jam, 316 cans of fruit and 294 bottles of fruit. Quite a lot of the fruit was grown in the garden at the back of the Hall and it was all cooked on a double oil cooking stove. A lot of the jam was sold and a lot went to hospitals. The Institute got a special allowance of sugar for their products.
There was a call for fur-lined coats for the Russian people and the Institute managed to send 23 (presumably lined with rabbit fur from animals caught locally) out of a national total of 50!
In 1941 the Institute invited applications for a caretaker at the salary of 4/- a week, duties included laying and lighting two fires before any event. The Hall was used a lot more then: by the Home Guard, the Girl Guides and for various functions. An entertainment for the Forces and Evacuees was held in the Hall on 6 January 1941 - over 100 people attended and a very enjoyable time was had by all with team games and dances organized by Miss Heal, who also gave an amusing recitation. Refreshments, made and served by members, were promptly disposed of. Towards the end of the evening Mrs Rowland Allen presented knitted Comforts to all those in uniform. During the war 974 garments were knitted for the Forces by members of the Institute.
In 1942 the Institute adopted the trawler 'Vincento' and sent books and parcels to the crew when possible; all the correspondence was dealt with by Mrs Bishop. In 1945 the Captain of the trawler attended the January monthly meeting and presented the Institute with the Ensign in appreciation.
In 1965 it was the Golden Jubilee Year of the WI and many local and national events were held. Local Institutes compiled Scrapbooks giving pictures and activities of village life. To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Mrs E Mitchell, County Chairman, planted a Golden Laburnum in the Institute grounds. Unfortunately it never grew.
Also in 1965 the President, Mrs Audus, attended the Garden Party held at Buckingham Palace, and at the AGM at the Albert Hall Mrs Hector was the delegate and Mrs Ann Kindersley was a Steward. The AGM was attended by the Queen Mother. A coachload of members attended the celebration at Broadlands, the Romsey home of Lord Mountbatten.
A link was fostered with the other side of the world by an exchange of correspondence and Christmas presents with Milsom WI, Palmerston, New Zealand.
To commemorate the Oueen's Silver Jubilee a very beautiful wooden seat was presented to the Institute by Mrs Trill, a former member, and placed outside the Hall by the bus-stop. The unveiling was performed by the President, Mrs Ann Kindersley, and Mrs Brown, County Chairman, attended the ceremony. This seat later 'disappeared'.
To commemorate the Institute's own Diamond Jubilee in 1979 rose trees were planted.
By the late 1980s the Hall was becoming unsafe and vermin lurked both in and under the hut. The Hall and its grounds were sold and meetings are now held at the Church Hall.
To mark the Millennium six kneelers were made by members for Shalfleet Church.