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EADT article of Saturday 8th August 2009
Jenny Wilkinson receiving a commemorative plaque and paperweight at our 90th Birthday Party on 16th July 2009, from Nicola McEvoy, representing Orwell Park School.
The weather over the last few weeks may have proved a bit of a disappointment (what happened to that “barbecue summer”?) but life as the chairman of the Suffolk East Federation of Women's Institutes has been anything but that. I have been involved in so many exciting events and activities that I would like to share some of them with you.
As you may well be aware, the Federation came into being in 1919 so we are proudly celebrating our 90th Anniversary this year. In March we mounted a major exhibition in Endeavour House, Ipswich, to show all aspects of our history from 1919 until the present day. The preview evening was attended by civic dignitaries and WI guests. A short speech of welcome to them and thanks to all who had worked on the exhibition was to be my first “public engagement” as Federation Chairman.
In July we held our Anniversary Party in the magnificent grounds of Orwell Park School, where we enjoyed strawberries and cream and basked in the sunshine. The thunderstorms that broke later that evening only served to underline how lucky we had been, especially as many of us, myself included, had dressed for the occasion and given our hats an airing!
July is also the month when many WI's choose to hold their monthly meeting out of doors, usually in a member's garden, and many have been kind enough to invite the Federation Chairman to join them. I have enjoyed delicious cream teas all over the county – and my bathroom scales bear witness to this! Sometimes we have needed the suncream but there have been occasions when umbrellas and wellie boots would have been more appropriate.
I think this is where I came in, isn't it, grumbling about the weather? Maybe we shall have a glorious autumn. I know that I am looking forward to it. Come rain or shine, the WI always has so much to offer and I am proud to be Chairman of such an active organisation.
Jenny Wilkinson,
Federation Chairman