PRESS REPORT

OVER PEOVER WOMEN’S INSTITUTE MEETING – THURSDAY 27th SEPT 2012

 

Surrounded by fabulous flowers and birthday balloons, the 90th anniversary of Over Peover Women’s Institute was celebrated in great style. 26 members and 6 guests raised the roof with a heartfelt rendering of Jerusalem. Our co-presidents June Leach and Connie Welton cut the beautiful cake made by Connie. (photo) We toasted ourselves with Champagne from Mary Bowers and enjoyed delicious delicate canapés and cakes courtesy of the catering committee.

 

 

Minty Day reported on group news and was given one of Angela Eccles’ lovely floral arrangements for being the longest serving member. Another was given to Audrey Mottershead. Julie Haighton reported on exciting trips including Buckingham and Kensington Palaces and lunch at Abbeywood Gardens and revealed plans for future trips including the 70s musical “Boogie Nights” at Wilmslow on 5th Nov and the Fizz Fashion show on 22nd Nov. The August social meeting and meal at Peover Golf Club had been a great success and very much enjoyed by everyone.

 

Our speaker was Barbara Andrew who enthralled us with “My Grandma was a Suffragette” (One woman’s part in the votes for women campaign). She cleverly weaved her grandmother’s story in to the historical record of the suffrage movement. Using slides and visual aids, she introduced her grandma with humour and explained the different organisations involved in the long struggle for women’s suffrage which began in earnest in 1860 and only resulted in votes for women over 30 by 1918 and women over 21 another 10 years later. Minty featured again as it was revealed that her great-great aunt was Millicent Fawcett DBE who was president of the NUWSS – the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies – the largest non militant organisation. The issue of gender equality continues in her name today as the Fawcett Society. This was a fascinating and hugely enjoyable talk on a subject close to our hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

Vivienne Cunningham, Press Officer