Aberaeron Women’s Institute
The Aberaeron branch of the Women’s Institute first met at Aberaeron Memorial Hall one hundred years ago in 1925.
This inaugural branch at Aberaeron was formed on the 12th of January 1925. The organiser was Mrs. Kate P. Davies and the rules were passed on the 30th of January 1925, when the names and addresses of the officials were recorded. There were sixty ladies present at the original meeting, and the Committee was made up of eighteen members, which would meet monthly. It was reported that the meeting was very enthusiastic, and it was hugely anticipated that the Institute at Aberaeron would be very strong and active.
Classes were held every Friday in various aspects of handicrafts, tray and basket making, glove and sweet making. The branch was very involved in the community, sewing items for Bazaars to raise money for Aberaeron Memorial Hall, and also nationally selling poppies on Poppy Day.
The Annual General Meeting was held in December, but there were no meetings for the three months of Summer. One revealing comment was made after the first year that
‘the younger women and girls do not appear to take much interest in the Institute’.
Over the many years we have celebrated numerous events, both local and national. However, the heart and core of the Institute is still its members who turn up for meetings and activities and greatly contribute with their ideas and valued friendships.
In the monthly meetings, the members enjoy listening to guest speakers, who impart their knowledge on diverse topics. These subjects range from antiques, dolphins, yoga and the Blood Bikes charities. Sometimes there are practical sessions where members make Christmas decorations or floral bouquets. There are also very popular quizzes, alfresco tea parties in the park, and each month there is a competition for members.
Not only does the branch meet monthly, but there are also opportunities to attend County W.I. events, group meetings, resolution meetings and Spring and Autumn rallies. Aberaeron is very welcoming in inviting other W.I. branches to our meetings. Of course, one of our most popular events is the annual outing, the most recent being a tour of the Welsh Folk Museum at Sain Ffagan in Cardiff, followed by a sumptuous meal on the return journey.
We have enjoyed travelling to theatre events in Aberystwyth, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. Previously there have been trips abroad to Paris and the War Memorials in Belgium. One of our more momentous occasions was a tour to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on Anglesey in 2015, where the first Women’s Institute meeting in the whole of the UK took place. It was wonderful to be part of this delightful celebration of the Centenary of the Women’s Institute movement in Wales and the UK.
Each year the Aberaeron branch supports local groups with our annual stall on Aberaeron Carnival Day and last year we were fortunate to be able to support the children’s dance and youth theatre groups using the Memorial Hall. Therefore, one hundred years on, we continue to meet as a thriving Women’s Institute branch, initially meeting at Aberaeron Memorial Hall until 2011. It was decided at that date, as our numbers had been increasing, to reluctantly transfer to Aberaeron’s British Legion Hall. However, so as not to break our links with the Memorial Hall, we continue to hold the monthly committee meetings in the Hall’s Committee Room.
2025 sees our Centenary celebrations, which we are very excited about. Some of these plans are still under wraps, but the undoubted highlight will be a celebratory lunch at Tyglyn Hotel in September. We always welcome new members; please contact us for further details.