WOMEN’S Institute groups from across the county came together last Wednesday (16th September) to celebrate the organisation’s centenary.

Eight WI groups from Monmouthshire came together on the anniversary to have a birthday party. Around 80 members from the Hendre, Agincourt, Wyesham, Llandogo, St Arvans, Devauden, The Narth and Penallt groups met at Llandogo Millennium Hall for a lunch party with lunch, cakes and live music.

Gwent Federation WI provided the cake for the lunch and for other meetings, and live music was performed by Felicks Tabis, and two other musicians who performed a range of music throughout the afternoon.

Jill Rundle organised the event, and explained how the idea to host it came about.

“We were originally going to join a group in Caldicot, but there are so many local WI groups and they couldn’t find the space, so a couple of weeks ago we decided to invite eight of the local groups to join in the celebration.”

Around 80 WI ladies were at the celebration, but Jill was keen to point out that the WI now stands for more than the ‘jam and Jerusalem’ image.

“We’ve got a good representative here but people don’t always think that we have a lot of younger members of the WI now - a lot of whom are young professionals.”

“It’s been a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy afternoon tea without the worry of cleaning up! It’s a celebration- you’re not supposed to work at a party!”

In addition to the lunch, the WI groups were each presented with a bag with images of the wall hanging that was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of the WI. They were given one for each year- and one the the Gwent WI members took part in creating one of the patches.

Sue Duck made the panel representing the WI’s campaign to stop violence against women.

“The wall hanging is intended to represent the resolutions that the WI stands for.”

“From 2000 to 2009, the time period that Gwent WI groups made, the WI fought for milk prices, getting women into exercise, sustainability in the organisation and violence against women.”

When the WI celebrated its 100th anniversary, national celebration and congratulations were prompted from the nation.

Since it’s first meeting on 16th September 1915 in Llanfair Pwl, Anglesey, the organisation has campaigned for an impressive range of causes, from women’s rights to the smoking ban.