Bolsover WI Roots

Bolsover has a long WI history! The first Bolsover WI was set up in 1923. This enabled local women to get together and learn new skills in a time when women had very little social time. During the second world war they played a huge part in our community collecting fruit locally and making the WI favourite, Jam! They also got together to form knitting circles making 'comforts' these were socks, gloves and balaclavas for servicemen.

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In 1973, Bolsover WI celebrated its Golden Jubilee and in true WI style, they organised a grand spectacular in the grounds of Sherwood Lodge. This was recorded on Cinefilm and is a real treasure for us to be able to see. There’s a really iconic picture of the time, with the ladies wearing hats on a visit to the Castle, with handbags at the ready!

 

We had the opportunity to loan the archives of the previous WI and we realised,  although we think of ourselves as a new WI doing things in a less traditional way, our meetings still follow a very similar format. There has always been a great emphasis on the social time, tea and cake!

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Sadly, the original WI closed in 2011, closing its doors after 88 years.  But then early in 2013 a little WI spark appeared, local woman Rachel Albanese realised the lack of a community group run by women, for women, to inspire women.  The news went round, the preparations began. Flyers were posted, posters were made, a Facebook page designed and on the 24th September 2013 our new WI was born and the rest we could say is history!