LHL2020-007

Romiley W.I: Janet Gilbody

Objects
LHL2020-007
LHL_2020_007a: Photograph of a brown paper bag.
LHL_2020_007b: a photograph of a number of items lay on a brown paper bag. They are a packet of ginger nut biscuits, a sachet of coffee, an English Breakfast tea bag, a rolled up piece of paper tied with yellow string, a mesh bag containing a plant bulb, and a green lanyard attached to a plastic name tag.
LHL_2020_007c: a close up photograph of the items lay on a brown paper bag - a packet of ginger nut biscuits, a sachet of coffee, an English Breakfast tea bag, a mesh bag containing a plant bulb, and the name tag which has a wooden heart-shaped keyring charm, stamped with 'Romiley WI 2020'.
LHL_2020_007d: scan of the note included in the bag - text says: 'Federation of Women's Institutes celebrate their 100th Anniversary. We are living through a period of history none of us could have imagined, some of us will have learnt new skills, kept journals, tidied cupboards and gardens and definitely missed our family and friends. The WI committee thought it would be an exciting opportunity to put together a piece of local social history by gathering together the views of our ninety-two members during these unusual and sometimes trying times. This information will be collated and shared as explained in Kathryn's message to members which will be included with your July newsletter. It goes without saying that the more of us that feel able to complete the questionnaire the better our understanding will be, enabling us to share our thoughts and experiences during this time with future generations. We have enclosed in your
LHL_2020_007a: Photograph of a brown paper bag. Thumbnail LHL_2020_007b: a photograph of a number of items lay on a brown paper bag. They are a packet of ginger nut biscuits, a sachet of coffee, an English Breakfast tea bag, a rolled up piece of paper tied with yellow string, a mesh bag containing a plant bulb, and a green lanyard attached to a plastic name tag. Thumbnail LHL_2020_007c: a close up photograph of the items lay on a brown paper bag - a packet of ginger nut biscuits, a sachet of coffee, an English Breakfast tea bag, a mesh bag containing a plant bulb, and the name tag which has a wooden heart-shaped keyring charm, stamped with 'Romiley WI 2020'. Thumbnail LHL_2020_007d: scan of the note included in the bag - text says: 'Federation of Women's Institutes celebrate their 100th Anniversary. We are living through a period of history none of us could have imagined, some of us will have learnt new skills, kept journals, tidied cupboards and gardens and definitely missed our family and friends. The WI committee thought it would be an exciting opportunity to put together a piece of local social history by gathering together the views of our ninety-two members during these unusual and sometimes trying times. This information will be collated and shared as explained in Kathryn's message to members which will be included with your July newsletter. It goes without saying that the more of us that feel able to complete the questionnaire the better our understanding will be, enabling us to share our thoughts and experiences during this time with future generations. We have enclosed in your

When lockdown ensued at the end of March 2020, and otherwise face to face meetings had to be postponed or held in new ways, Romiley W.I. (Women’s Institute) decided to send out a ‘W.I. Meeting in a bag’ to their members so they could recreate their usual meeting feeling at home.  The bags contain sachets of tea and coffee, a name tag to decorate at home, and a flower bulb for the recipient to plant and look forward to new life in Spring 2021. Included was a questionnaire so the committee could gather information about how the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown had affected their members. A copy of the results collated from 60 responses now resides with the Libraries.