AUDREY ASHCROFT EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM LONG RISTON W.I. MINUTES 1940-1945

In June 1940 the W.I. was commandeered by the military as an advanced
dressing station. October 1940 the W.I. held a Whist Drive for the Hornsea Spitfire Fund. Whist Drives, Social Evenings and Village collections were organised by the W.I. to raise money for comforts for local boys and girls in the forces. The comfort parcels included knitted socks, chocolate and cigarettes.

Dances were also organised the charges being 1/- for civilians and 9d for
members of the forces. The W.I. hut was used by several groups. The A.R.P.
Home Guard, Women's Land Army and the searchlight party stationed at Arnold, for recreational purposes. A Fruit Preservation Centre was started with a loan of £5 from W.I. funds. The W.I. had to apply for soap coupons to clean the Institute and were allowed 2/6. They sent craft parcels to prisoners of war.

1941 May - 360 eggs were collected and sent to H.R.I. 156 eggs sent to Hornsea Cottage Hospital. Demonstrations and hints on Wartime cooking were held in the Institute. The W.I. always seemed to manage to have their tea or supper after meeting no matter how difficult the times.
Collections of salvage were organised in the village. M.O.I. films were shown - the first show had an audience of 68 children 40 ladies and 1 man. 2nd Show there were 40 children, 20 men and 15 ladies.

1942 - Dances were organised by the W.I. to raise money, e.g. £3-3-0 was sent to Hornsea Cottage Hospital and £2-15-0 to the Red Cross. The W.I. received requests to collect hips and chestnuts, also herbs - mint, parsley, sage and marjoram. 2lb of each was asked for from each W.I. They were also asked to collect nettles and dry them. Demonstration of soft slipper making - these were made from felt hats, pieces of blanket and coat materials.

1943 - Wings for Victory Week - W.I. held a Whist Drive and Social and offered the Institute free of charge to other organisations. A collection of seeds was distributed which had been sent from Federated Women's Institutes in Ontario. Herbs were again collected. The first Annual Produce Show was held in the Institute on September 14th 1943.

1944 - The W.I. agreed to take 3lb of wool per month to be knitted into garments for distribution in liberated countries. The first consignment was 9 coats and 2 shawls. Second consignment was 9 jerseys and 15 pilches. Third consignment was 12 blue cardigans. The members also knitted garments for the Victoria Children's Hospital in Hull. Make-do-and-mend demonstrations were held in the W.l. meeting, some members being sent to Beverley for information classes and then they passed the knowledge gained to the other members.

1945 - The W.I. made no charge for the hall on VE Day and they provided tea and supper. V.J. Day celebrations - the Committee were planning to take the children to the pantomime. W.I. held a Social Evening to raise money towards the cost.