Retiring president Nancy McLure welcomed members and guests to the Ewes SWI Centenary Celebration Tea Party in Ewes Hall last week.
Attending the event were Dumfriesshire Federation president, Helen Braid, retiring secretary, Val Hillen, and treasurerLiz Walters. Former office bearers, Frances Armstrong and Mary Riddell travelled to attend as well as several former members in addition to friends from Westerkirk SWI.
A special guest was Frances Hislop Terrona whose grandmother, Margaret Paterson, was one of the founding members.
Members had decorated the hall and Elaine Cavers had put together an excellent display of photographs and memorabilia including a syllabus from the 1920s.
After reading out cards of congratulations, Nancy referred to several incidents in the institute’s history before introducing Grace Brown to cut the celebratory cake, ably baked and decorated by member, Susie Grant.
Grace is a long-standing member, having been president on three separate occasions.
Nancy then introduced the chief guest, Mairi Telford Jammeh, to propose the toast to the institute. Mairi’s mother had been a member of Ewes Institute, and Mairi herself has helped at meetings and Burns Suppers.
She began by reading out the E&L’s original report of the inaugural meeting in February, 1922. She then gave an account of the roles played by women in the following 100 years, taking into account changes in living conditions and agriculture in the Ewes valley and how Ewes Rural Institute enabled women to come together to share ideas, organise social events and have fun. Her speech was very well received and everyone happily joined her in the toast to the Institute.
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