Branching out into a new era

A Women’s Institute branch is set to close after eight years because of increasing fees and lack of new members — but it will be replaced by another group for the women of Whatton and Aslockton.

Members of Whatton-in-the-Vale and Aslockton WI decided to close the group at their annual meeting.

It will be replaced by Wags —Whatton and Aslockton Girls’ Society — a reference to the England football team’s wives and girlfriends’ club.

The new group will meet on the fourth Monday of the month and be less formal than the WI.

The publicity officer for the former WI branch, Mrs Joan Tidy, said it was a sad decision to suspend the group, but one with which everyone agreed.

She said the fees, which covered a monthly magazine and the hire of the hall, had been increasing for several years and had reached £29.

“People felt that it was just to expensive, and they didn’t feel they needed the magazine,” said Mrs Tidy (79) of The Lawns, Whatton.

Representatives from WI headquarters were called to the group’s annual meeting and carried out a secret ballot to decide the fate of the branch.

Mrs Tidy said at its peak the branch had up to 40 members, but the number had gradually dwindled to around 20.

Mrs Audrey Newton, also of The Lawns, Whatton, was a member of the branch from the start.

She said: “We have done a lot of good and positive things for the community and it is a shame, but the new club will hopefully be a good replacement.”

During its existence, the WI branch planted daffodils on Whatton’s village green and organised several trips.

The first meeting of the new club will be on Monday at the Jubilee Hall, at 7.30pm.

The annual membership fee will be £15, which includes the cost of the hall, refreshments and a raffle ticket.