MEMBERS of Malham WI are preparing to celebrate the branch’s 90th anniversary by recreating what their forbears got up to in the late 1920s.

Beginning on Monday, November 25, the group is carrying out a full year of celebrations in commemoration of the pioneering women who came together in 1929 to form Malham WI.

At their meeting in the village hall , they will launch a ‘commemorative programme’ which will see members over the coming year re-create some of the activities recorded in the minutes book at the time, such as rug making, folk dancing and something called ‘waste not want not’.

It will also include the unveiling of the Malham WI cushion, designed by the late Dales artist Constance Pearson and hand embroidered by several past members. The evening will be rounded off by a traditional WI supper and the cutting of a 90th birthday cake.

Hazel Allen, branch president, said: “Looking through the minute books made us realise how determined those women were to start a WI in Malham, as 27 of them walked from Bell Busk, Malham Moor, Airton, Hanlith, Kirkby Malham and Lee Gate, as well as Malham itself.

“It was only a year after the Equal Franchise Act when all women over the age of 21 were finally given the vote on equal terms with men, so we can only speculate that the women of Malhamdale felt a sense of empowerment and purpose in forming Malham WI. “

On January 14, members, dressed in the fashions of the late 1920s, will meet at River House in Malham, close to the site of St George’s Hall, where the inaugural meeting was held and where, according to the minutes, a ‘balloon game’ was held after a lecture on the making of loose covers.

“We are delighted that Sue from Cottontail Crafts in Settle, will be guiding us through the making of loose covers and we are expecting to have great fun trying to do the balloon game in our long skirts,” said Hazel.

“The present WI members are very proud to be following in the footsteps of past members, and we owe a great deal to those women who kept the group alive while living through the Second World War, the ‘swinging sixties’ and foot and mouth disease.

“Malham WI has always been integral to life in Malham, and helps at Malham Show, Malham Safari and as part of Malham Emergency Plan – the latter, thankfully not required yet.”

Today, members take part in federation activities, with some helping at the annual Great Yorkshire Show. A particular favourite is the ‘federation quiz’. The present WI is keen to support many of the national WI’s campaigns, such as the End Plastic Soup campaign, which aims to reduce the amount of plastic in oceans.

“Malham WI is a forward thinking group who come together for friendship, learning and fun and we would welcome new women to join the camaraderie and campaigning of the present members and help take our group forward to its centenary in 10 years’ time, and honour its founding members,” added Hazel.

The WI meets every second Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm at Malham Village Hall, new members welcome.