Bucknell Women’s Institute

Bucknell has had two Women’s Institutes: the first was formed in 1936, but sadly it was disbanded at the outbreak of war. The monthly meetings were held in the Memorial Hall, but this was commandeered by the Home Guard. The ladies continued to meet in members homes, making jam and bottling fruit. Jam jars were in short supply so ladies searched the tips for jars then took them home to wash and scald.When not busy with fruit , members were fully occupied sewing and knitting woollen helmets.

The present Institute had its formation meeting on January 5th 1949 and was attended by Lady Dyer in her capacity as Voluntary County Organiser. Early programmes show that their were demonstrations on home decorating, smocking and candlewick embroidery and that slides about the railway were popular. Trips were undertaken to Aberystwyth, Bath and Cheddar Gorge as well as evening trips to the Elan Valley and Newbridge on Wye. On one occasion on an outing to the Brecon Beacons the coach driver lost his way and ended up driving across a rifle range whilst the army were practising!

In 1970 Bucknell WI celebrated its 21st birthday at the Lion Hotel at Leintwardine, the guest of honour being Lady Dyer. In 1977 the Institute hosted the BBC panel for Gardeners Question Time and in 1986 took part in The BBC’s video disc project commemorating the 900th anniversary of William the Conquerors Domesday Book. The same year the Station Garden was established and still flourishes today. The Institute has a very energetic group of ladies who generate funds to buy plants by holding an annual plant sale and who can be seen on summer evenings watering and tending the beds. Unfortunately recent legislation (Health & Safety) and new conditions laid down by Railtrack have meant that the hanging baskets have had to be removed and  the flower beds are to become a wild life garden. In 1996 the WI decided to smarten up the village, so more than 200 daffodils were purchased and planted with the help of husbands and friends.

Over the years many projects have been undertaken by the ladies of the WI including the Churchyard survey, raising money through whist drives, dances and a slim-in to buy a Kings Fund bed for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. the Parish Map was updated by the WI in1997 and distributed to the emergency services and in 2003 members stitched quilts for Project Linus UK. To mark the new millenium 14 of the members (past and present) made a banner – worked in sections each panel depicting an aspect of the village. the vicar blessed the banner and it now stands in the North East corner of the church, held in place by a carved oak stand made by a village craftsman. The work has been registered with Stitch 2000, an archive devoted to to projects that celebrated the Millenium by the National Needlework Society.

The Rose Bowl was introduced in 2004. This was donated by a member and graces the presidents table every month with a lovely floral display – the responsibility rotating amongst the members. At the end of the meeting the arrangement is given to someone in the village who may be celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, returning from hospital or who just needs cheering up.

Anniversaries have been regularly celebrated in style with the chiming of the church bells and a variety of dinners and teas. The latest in 2009 (60th) was celebrated on a beautiful summer evening in the gardens of The Old School House, home of  the president Beryl Starr  with a Hog Roast.

The village carol singing has been part of Christmas for nearly twenty years and for many of those years we have finished the evening in the home of avery generous member who plies the cold and hungry singers with Danish pastries, mince pies, tea and coffee and on occasion – hot punch.