NINETY years ago, on a June day, a group of ladies held the first meeting of the Women’s Institute at Tedburn St Mary. Nationally, the WI was then 12-years-old.

This year, on the same date, June 22, the Institute held its birthday party at the same house, Thornwood, this time in a marquee on the lawn. That first time it had been a fine day, too, so the meeting had been held outside.

The first president was Miss Edith Cuddeford who held the post until 1956, a record. Current president is Mrs Jean Wise, the secretary is Jane Burrows and the treasurer Mrs Shirley Kibbey.

There was a display of photographs, a scrapbook of news clippings, membership cards through the years and other memorabilia.

Sixteen members performed an hilarious and superb resume of “The Last 90 Years” with Sandra Chomiak being the narrator in the part of Miss Cuddeford.

The rich fruit cake was made by Mrs Elizabeth Mackie and iced by Jane Burrows. It was cut by Mrs Wise with Julie Ayre, the Devon County Federation chairman, using the ceremonial sword of the late Lt Col Graeme Mackie.

As well as Mrs Ayre, other DFWI guests were Jenny Roberts (adviser), Sally Wilson (treasurer) and Cynthia Somerfield (chairman of advisers).

Other guests included representatives from Brampford Speke, Alphington, St Thomas WIs, all in the same group as Tedburn and from neighbouring Longdown WI.

Organisers of the day were Molly Hutchings, immediate past president, and Sue MacPherson.

In 1927, 38 members joined the new WI, paying a subscription of two shillings (20p today). By Christmas there had been 45 members and today a number of names on that list are the same with several generations of one family having lived at one farm at least.

Meetings were held in the old school room but by 1929, they had moved to the village hall.

Mrs Wise said that in the early days members would have walked to meetings, one lady walking four miles from Dunsford and back home again. She wondered how many had gone by pony and trap or even horseback.

Ladies could join from the age of 15 years and there had been talk of a junior section for 12-14 year-olds.

“Now, as then, we have a lot of fun. A chance to make new friends, to learn new skills but there is a serious side to being a WI member.

“There are our Resolutions and campaigns, we have a chance to make a difference - we are so much more than a women’s social club,” said Mrs Wise.

Mrs Somerfield said that the values and objects of the WI had remained the same through the 102 years with its original motto of “Home and Country” being changed now to “Inspiring Women”.

Among some of the achievements of the WI at Tedburn was in 1977 moving the hundreds of daffodils then growing where houses were to be built and plant them again around the village.

This scheme was added to by the village Enhancement Group in later years.

Devon is one of the largest WI Federations with 7,000 members in 218 Institutes. It recently moved its headquarters out of Exeter to near Exeter Airport.

Thornwood is the home of Mrs Mackie and family.

Sue Read