June was the month for celebration in Barrow. It was birthday time, not just any birthday but Barrow WI’s 100th Birthday, having been formed on June 17th 1919.
We celebrated on that day with a wonderful afternoon tea party. The hall was decorated with bunting and the tables with flowers. Many members wore colourful hats and some dressed up in the fashions of that era.
A member made a beautiful floral decoration of cream rose buds and candles, which were blown out by the three seniors of the WI while everyone sang ‘HappyBirthday’.
This time it was not ‘Oh, the WI will do the tea’. We did it in style and were served tea, all sorts of delicacies – delicious. Our birthday cake was made by our President, which had been cut at the monthly meeting the previous week, was served again.
On that occasion, we were entertained with ‘Old Time Music ‘, which was much enjoyed by all.
Our guests were two former members, both in their nineties. We were also joined by Jean Harding, Federation Chairman and Jean Harley, Gowy Group Convenor.
Many archives were on display reminding members of past birthday parties, wartime activities, extracts of old minutes, photos, programmes, walk scrapbooks and the 1951 ‘The Barrow Book’.
Looking forward is also important and we have a bucket this year. This contains things, such as walking all the footpathsin our lovely village; visiting Hilbre Island; afternoon tea on the Llangollen Railway; a ghost walk in Chester; the continuing planting of daffodils and a tree in Barrow. This will keep us busy and enjoying ourselves. What a wonderful year we are having.