Records from 1918 are few and far between, however we have evidence of a letter on file at WI House in Thirsk, giving the information that we were formed in October 1918, but no date of the meeting is recorded. We also have info from Thirsk stating that, in October 1918, the meeting time and place was 7.30 on the first Tuesday in the village hall. The president was Miss Milner, West Lane, Snainton, and the membership stood at 46. We assume that preliminary planning meetings were held prior to this, but October was the official beginning.
The next dated record we have is February 1920. It states that the president was Mrs George Hardwick, Cliffe Grange, Snainton. We were visited by a Margaret Kekewich, possibly a VCO, who reports on the meeting –There are 81 members, the secretary, Mrs Harold Frain is excellent, the president popular, but no good officially at the meeting, and there was one ill-disposed objector who seemed to be a thorn in the flesh of everyone!...
In 1922 the meeting place is given as Snainton School, with membership standing at 110! As we were the only WI in this area, perhaps members came from many surrounding communities.
In 1918 there were only three WIs in Yorkshire, namely Hackness, Rounton and Snainton. By 1920 when the Yorkshire Federation was formed they boasted 17 institutes. They began operating from one room in Ouse Bridge Chambers in York, and worked their way up to owning their own house at 294 Tadcaster Road, York in 1965. In 1983 the federation split into 5 groups and we are now North Yorkshire East Federation
The records we have in our own archives begin around 1941 and bring us up to the present day. Meetings then were conducted in much the same way as now. We always had a strong committee, as we still do. During the war years much emphasis was placed on raising money for the war effort, recycling clothes etc, and of course making JAM!!!
A recurring theme throughout the 40s and 50s is the children's Christmas party, with tea and games, in some cases a magician, or a film show. All funded by WI members.
The Harvest Auction was also a feature during these years, and always seemed to raise good amounts which were donated to the war effort in one way or another. As we know, a tradition still continued to this day, and still supporting good causes!
The earliest financial records we have begin in 1929. The members fees collected that year total £5.00, but as we don't have the number of members, we don't know the amount each. The total income for that year was £47.6 shillings. Out of that £20.5 shillings was donated to the hospital, and the hall and school hire was £2.00. How times have changed! They also ran a savings club which in 1941 had 114 members (presumably other people from the village) and £995 was saved. This seems a fantastic amount during times of austerity.
We have had many presidents over the years beginning with the founder president in 1918
Miss Milner
Mrs George Hardwick 1920
Mrs Allen 1940s
Mrs Milner 1940s
Mrs Swanson 1940s
Mrs Trowsdale 1940s
Mrs Lightfoot 1940s
Miss Wilson 1950-53
Mrs Braithwaite 1953-1972
Mrs C Burton 1973-75
Mrs Lyn Hall 1976-78
Mrs K Maw 1979-1984
Mrs J Bentley 1985-87
Miss M Braithwaite 1988-1990
Mrs M Huby 1991-93
Mrs M Bellinger 1994-96
Mrs M Barlow 1997-99
Mrs M Bellinger 2000
Mrs J Turnbull 2001
Mrs N Chiverton 2002-2003
Miss M Braithwaite 2004-6
Mrs S Shutt 2007-9
Mrs G Moss 2010-12
Mrs P Butterworth 2013-15
Mrs A Howgate 2016–2021
Mrs Denise Caines 2022–present
