Bucks County Museum Trust – WI Centenary Exhibition
The County Museum and Bucks Federation of WIs have put a super new exhibition together opening on October 10th!
The exhibition focuses on the 95 years of the Bucks Federation displaying early banners from Hambleden WI and The Lee WI founded by the wife of Liberty’s department store Lady Emma Louise Liberty in 1919 and decorated with local straw work. WI branches have helped with loans of the Federation cook book and modern examples of Craftwork produced at Denman College in the south of the County – the national HQ for WI Education Programmes.
Among themes exploring the early history of the WI and Bucks Federation , the active campaigning role of the organisation and Educational and Social involvement is a section on the WI in wartime. A photo of the Queen Mum visiting the Hyde Heath WI Fruit and veg canning factory highlights the bombing of the factory – possibly a mistake for Hyde Heath cannon factory?!
The exhibition continues until February 13th with a special procession on 17th October of WI banners carried by WI members. The banner procession will leave the Judge’s Lodgings at about 11am and expect to arrive at the Museum around 11.15 where cake and tea/coffee will be served. Naturally the CAKES will have been made by WI ladies! The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Francesca Skelton will be at the Museum to receive the ladies with their banners and the procession will be led by the Chairman of Bucks Federation of WIs, Jenny Street.