Ours is a long-established Institute -  
we celebrated our
90th Anniversary in June 2009

We meet in Polstead Village Hall at 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of each month, except August

 
It is a very friendly, informal group with 33 members - 8 of these have joined in the last 3 years. This is in keeping with the national trend of renewed interest in this well-established organization.

The Women’s Institute is not only about learning new skills, improving old ones and finding some you had never considered before, but about making friends and above all, enjoying it.

Belonging to the W.I. offers opportunities for all women to enjoy friendship, to learn, to widen their horizons and, together as a group, to influence local, national and international affairs.

We are part of the Stour Valley Group which includes Boxford, Bures, Nayland and Leavenheath - which is governed by the Suffolk West Federation which then in turn represents us nationally. We have regular contact with the Regional Office at Bury St. Edmunds and take part in many varied activities, events and functions locally, regionally and nationally.

A Little Bit Of Our History

The W.I. in Polstead was formed in May 1919. By 1921 the membership was flourishing and held meetings in the village school. Mr W M Cooke offered a gift of land for the W.I Hall and a wooden hut was obtained, the opening ceremony was held in September 1923.

Over the years Polstead W.I. has continued to thrive, only having a few months break at the beginning of the Second World War - the members being very active in many various ways, usually for the benefit of the local community. Early in the 1970’s a new Village Hall was built for the village and the last W.I. meeting was held in the old Village Hut in April 1975.

It was the ladies of Polstead W.I. who were among the main instigators of a Community Shop for the area - actually the first one in Suffolk. This was set up when the old village shop closed down. The shop has won many awards over the years and it has been a wonderful success. Several current W.I. members still form part of the large group of volunteers who help to run the project.

Programme For 2010

New Members Are Always Welcome!


February 2010 Meeting Report 

Please contact Chris Cuthbert on 01787 210746 email for more information

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