Newbiggin WI
NEWBIGGIN-in-Teesdale Women’s Institute members celebrated their 70th birthday by holding a buffet supper with invited guests earlier this month.
WI members from across the dale gathered in the village hall to mark the birthday celebrations. Guests were welcomed into the hall, which was decorated with balloons and banners. A special cake, baked and decorated by Joyce Makepeace, was cut by Doreen Collinson, the group’s longest serving member.
Mrs Collinson, who has been a member of the WI for 49 years, said she had fond memories.
She said when she became a member, committee meetings were always held at someone’s house rather than in the village hall. But she said when they were in the hall everyone gathered around an open fire.
She added the core values of the WI had remained the same but said: “We have evolved over the years. You can’t keep everything the same all the time.”
Newbiggin WI was formed in 1949 and meets on the second Monday of each month, starting at 7.30pm.
Special guests at the party included chairperson of the Durham County Federation of Women’s Institutes Dorothy Proud.
Guest speaker for the evening was Philip Holden, of Philip Holden’s, in Barnard Castle.
