At a meeting in December one hundred years ago, it was decided to form the Honiton Women’s Institute and the Mayor Juanita Phillips was elected president.

Curator of Honiton Museum, Margaret Lewis writes for the Herald.

Fifty eight members had already joined and the inauguration was held in January 1924. A tea was provided followed by country dancing and a performance of a dramatic sketch. The Institutes principal aims were friendly helpfulness, perseverance, cheerfulness, loyalty and fellow citizenship. All women and girls over sixteen were eligible to join but owing to limited accommodation they all had to be living in the borough of Honiton.

By March, the membership had grown to 178. In July Mr Sluggett lent his field so that the Institute ladies could hold a fete. The weather was fine, the children performed maypole dancing and a whist drive and dance were held later in the day. In December 1925 the membership reached 260 and the weekly meetings attendance averaged over 100 ladies.

Lectures were held on subjects such as poultry, criminology, the Far East, home gardening, birthdays, and laws affecting women and children, while demonstrations in millinery and cookery proved popular. A Christmas party was held for member’s children. Mrs Summers and Miss Lee donated a Christmas tree, loaded with toys. And over 150 children attended. They were entertained with a tea, games and gifts of paper hats, oranges and sweets.

Members started a threepenny parcels scheme. They had to take one to each meeting and buy one another one. When the group celebrated their second birthday over 200 people were entertained by the Imperial Concert Party from Sidmouth Junction at the Y.M.C.A. hall. The members had spent their own funds to purchase dainty white crockery decorated with the pale blue monogram H.W.I. for serving tea.

Members enjoyed annual summer outings, travelling by charabanc and cars to such places as Tiverton, Crediton, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple and Lynton and Lynmouth. Under the leadership of Juanita there were always plenty of opportunities to take part in pageants, plays (see photo) dinner dances, country dancing, fancy dress competitions and concerts. In 1940 the members decided to buy two piglets. The animals were kept on a local farm, and six members volunteered to carry out the management while other women collected household waste for feeding purposes.