HARLECH WI 1923 to 1949

The following history has been painstakingly taken from the archived ‘Minutes Books’ by four ladies,  Ann Edwards, Eileen Greenwood, Ann Massey and Jill Houliston, so BIG thanks to them all as it has and will be a lot hard of work ( I just wonder how many bottles of wine were consumed in its preparation??!!).

Abbreviations: Pres = President  No. M = numbers of members for that time, Subs = subscriptions.  No. NI = Number of National Institutes at that time.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Harlech WI was formed in 1923, but the first recorded meeting was held on 24 January 1924.

PHoto – to add

Our first President was Mrs Lilian Lloyd, (above) who lived in ‘the big house’ Bron y Graig.  The house long since demolished and the gardens now an estate of  bungalows.  Mrs Lloyd was our President until 1953.

We have no information until 1931, and that was very basic until 1936.

During those years the membership varied between 62 and 74. We were one of only 5111 Institutes countrywide.

1936 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No. M: 62   Subs: N/K   No. NI: N/K

A children’s party was organised and also a whist drive and dance at Plas Café. We took part in the local Eisteddfod and Drama competitions.  There are no comments of how well we performed!

Photo – to add

An old friends’ party was held at Bron y Graig (above).  The entertainment included drama, poetry and a demonstration by the Physical Training Class.  Unfortunately the minutes do not say if these were WI members or from the local school.

The Christmas party included a fashion show.  We were busy in 1936.

1937 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd    No. M: 57   Subs: K/N   No. NI: K/N

Again we entered the local Eisteddfod and it is recorded that we won the Silver Bowl.

Other events included a children’s party. On 21 July NFWI reached its 21st birthday and Harlech organised a party for old friends. The highlight at this party in Bron y Graig was listening to a broadcast on the radio.

During the summer members had an outing to Cadburys in Birmingham.

Eggs were becoming scarce and members donated 14 dozen to the hospital at Dolgellau.

1938 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd    No. M: 65   Subs: K/N   No. NI: K/N

On 18th May 30 members took a trip Windsor on the Great Western Railways.  This must have been quite an undertaking and, I am sure, much enjoyed.  During the year a pageant was held, and we also took part in the Eisteddfod. Christmas was celebrated with a party.

1939 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No. M: 65   Subs: K/N   No. NI: K/N

The Merioneth Federation held a drama competition and we had Certificates of Merit in the English Drama Section, Welsh Drama Section and Cyd-adrodd.

photos to add

Quilting classes were also started for members.

We are, of course, now in the war years, and many children from Liverpool and the Birkenhead area were evacuated to the Snowdonia area.  . After a short time some were joined by their mothers, and they along with the children stayed and made homes in the area. The Institute entertained the women and helped them feel welcome.

1940 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No.M. 59

Not much information for this year.  We again entered the Eisteddfod and held a Christmas party.

The minutes note that we paid 5/- rent for our meeting room.

1941 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No.M. 68

Christmas party.

1942 Pres: Mrs L Loyd   No.M. 67

War effort – we received seeds from America.  Craft classes were held and a dance in aid of the Red Cross.

The following table is copied from our programme for 1942.  At the end of the table the following information was printed.

“Monthly Meetings, Second Wednesday in each month, at 2.15, unless otherwise announced.

Tea will be provided by the hostesses at each meeting, minimum charge 3d., which goes to the Institute Funds.

There will be a social half-hour at each meeting, and when possible a short talk on current events.

An attendance book and register will be kept by the secretary.

There will be a prize at the end of the year for the best attendance.

Members are invited to bring recipes to exchange, and to exhibit any interesting work at meetings.  All may knit or sew during meetings.  Extra meetings can be arranged if anything of special interest is offered us.

The annual membership fee to WI is 2/-; Un-married daughters living at home, 1/-.  Subscriptions to be paid in January.

Those wishing to become members please give their names to the committee.

Members should receive a receipt when paying their subscriptions.”

TABLE To ADD

1943 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No. M. 35 (big reduction)  Subs: 2s 6d

Dressmaking classes were in full swing.  Of course at this time we were busy ‘making and mending’ clothes.  An American tea party was held at Bron y Graig, and also a Christmas Party.

1944 Pres: Mrs L Loyd   No.M. not known

Make do and mend classes continued. A picnic was enjoyed at Werngron.  (Werngron is a farm at the top of Llanfair.)

Harlech Institute ‘came of age’, and received the following certificate from NFWI.

Photo to add

1945 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No.M Not known

We are lucky enough to have a copy of the programme for this year.   The January meeting was a craft demonstration by Mrs Tudor of Trawsfynydd followed in February by a speaker from Dr Barnardo’s Homes. The County Director of Music for Meirioneth gave a lecture in March followed in April  by Mrs Berta Ruck ‘Personalities I have met’.  In May the County Director of Education gave a lecture but things were lighter in June, the picnic at Wergron had been such a success in 1944 that they went again.  Mrs Lloyd gave her usual garden party at Bron y Graig in July, with a ‘Bring and Buy’ sale.  After the August break September was a ‘Members’ meeting’, October ‘My Experiences’ by Dr W Rhys-Jones and November a Social Evening followed in December by the Annual General Meeting.  Some meetings included a ‘Roll Call’ with members giving either an impromtu talk or told members of the most foolish things that they had done.

1946 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No.M. 58   No. NI 6033

Our meeting were now held in the Moriah Vestry which is in Pentre’r Efail, but now a private house.  Again we entered the Eisteddfod, held a Christmas party and had a picnic, this time on Llandanwg beach.  The highlight of the year was a trip to Chester.  The members left in a coach at 7am and returned at 10pm.

1947 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd    No. M 63

Make do and mend classes had expanded to include embroidery.  Travel was easier because the fuel restrictions were relaxed.

1948 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No. M. 57  Subs: 3s 6d

Make do and mend classes expanded yet again to include rug making and household repairs.  The trip this year was to Shrewsbury, and we held a Noson Lawen (musical evening) and a whist drive.  The thing of particular note this year was that we received a parcel of groceries from New Zealand.

1949 Pres: Mrs L Lloyd   No.M. 61  No. NI 7281

New Zealand was again generous to us and this year sent two food parcels.  These came from Taihape Institute.  Taihape is a small farming town in the North Island, but unfortunately the Institute disbanded some years go. It would be have interesting to know if any of the members remembered this.

This year’s trip was to Aberystwyth with Talsarnau and Llanbedr Institutes.

Dressmaking classes continued and we held a party for members’ children, and a Christmas party.

photo to add

Do you know anyone in this photograph or the year it might have been taken?