Welcome to the Asby branch of the
Womens’ Institute.
In 1915 the Womens’ Institute set out to give women a voice, to be a force for good in the community. A trusted place for women, run by women of all generations – an opportunity to share experiences, challenge yourself or learn from someone with real experience, first hand.
The same is true today.
For many, the WI is an opportunity to share knowledge and learn new skills with other women, coming together socially where you will be listened to and be heard. Whether it’s Family History, Spring Cookery, Experiences of a Himalayan trip or Poetry & Plonk there’s an interest for everyone and always something new to learn.
Some join to campaign; the WI has a voice on the issues of today, from climate change to children’s diet, from human trafficking to supermarket expansion. And it’s a voice people really listen to.
For everyone who joins the WI there is the freedom to make what you want of it. Whatever you choose, the WI promises to be a source of friendship, inspiration and enjoyment.
Asby WI meet regularly on the second Tuesday of the month (except January) at 7.30pm in Great Asby Village Hall. There is a speaker, activity or demonstration and the chance to chat over a cup of tea. See the Diary of Future Events opposite for further details of our current programme.
We also organise occasional outings and visits and there is the opportunity to join other WI’s in the local area at their events.
Below you can also read the reports of our most recent meetings.
Asby WI also runs a Knit & Natter (craft) group who meet on the first and third Mondays of the month in members’ homes. Bring your own craft to do, perhaps knit squares for blankets, or just come along for coffee and a chat.
WI members and non-members are all very welcome.
We meet at 2pm. The dates and venues are published on the ‘What’s On’ Calendar on the front page of this website and in “Asby Matters”.
The WI is arranged into Federations; Asby WI is part of Cumbria Westmorland Federation of WIs (CWFWI). You can find lots more information about them at their web site. We all receive a monthly newsletter, “WI News”, from them with details of lots of events in our area. You can check their 2017 Diary of Events.
The National Federation of Women’s Institutes represents all the WIs in England, Wales and offshore islands. Your annual subscription includes 8 copies per year of a glossy magazine, “WI Life”, which is delivered directly to every member. Lots more information about the WI nationally is available at their web site.
If you would like to come along, with no commitment to join straight away, or simply get more information, then contact:-
Annie Johnson – President.
Jackie Smart – Secretary.
June Sowerby – Assistant Secretary.
Anne Hulse – Treasurer.
or just come along to a meeting, you will be made most welcome.
Reports from Recent Meetings
Asby WI Meeting 10 April 2018
British from the Bottom Up!
Members of Asby WI weren't quite sure what to expect when Shirley Crisp's return visit was billed in the program as 'British from the Bottom Up'. But 19 members and one guest were soon fascinated by the story she had to tell.
In the two or more years since Ms Crisp had spoken in Asby she had given up her lingerie shop in Windermere and single-mindedly set up a brand new company called UNIBU - uni-British-underwear.
The trigger for her change of direction was the fact that the quality of the goods she was ordering for her shop began to dip. On enquiring, she discovered that lingerie was no longer being completely made anywhere in Britain: it was being made in places like India, Turkey and China. Following the outsourcing the fabric used had been downgraded and quality consequently lost.
Read the full report
Asby WI Meeting Jan/Feb 2018
It’s an I’ll Wind...
It is said that it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. And so it turned out at the beginning of the year for Asby WI.
January is Asby WI's 'holiday' month but a New Year lunch had been booked at the village pub, The Three Greyhounds. A few days before, we learned that staff at the inn had gone down with the lurgi that was going round and so, unfortunately, the meal was cancelled. It was disappointing for members but it was realised that quite a few of them were also indisposed and our gathering would have been much smaller than planned. Asby WI is considering another celebration when people and the weather are better.
And so February came along - yet again with a disappointment. The planned speaker was ill and, with only a few (unavoidable) days' notice, a replacement couldn't be found.
Read the full report
Asby WI Meeting 12 December 2017
Poetry & Plonk
Despite the rain and ice Asby WI's December meeting was well attended, including by two guests: newcomers to the village. During the formal business Susan Renshaw reported on two events she had attended recently. Together with the secretary, Jackie Smart, she had been to a promotional afternoon at Dalemain. where she had been surprised that WI members had come from as far as Cheshire, Lancashire and Dumfries to see round.
Mrs Renshaw had also attended a moving talk about so-called 'Railway Children' given by David Maidment where she learned that the worst area in the UK for the problem of children living on and around the railways was in the Manchester-Liverpool-Wigan triangle. A problem we would have expected abroad but not in the UK.
The evening's meeting had been programmed as a members' evening entitled 'Poetry and Plonk'.
Read the full reportNote: To access ALL the meeting reports from the last 12 months just choose to read the full version of any of those above, then select from the list of past meetings.