President Gill Morris welcomed back several visitors to this months meeting.
Members were reminded the next months meeting is the July Birthday Party and the theme is school days. The party is by invitation only.
Iris Crane spoke of her visit to the WI Speakers day at Hatfield Peverel. There were invitations for birthday parties from Aveley WI, Corringham and Fobbing WI. Chafford Hundred’s WI Queens’ Fete and Chadwell St Mary WI Cream Tea afternoon.
Everyone was pleased to know the WI Autumn County Meeting will be held at Blackshots Civic Hall in October this year.
The speaker this month was Karen Bowman who has written her book “Essex Girls” about the historic figures that were either born or had connections with Essex. She wore a Tudor costume and described how women of this era were treated.
Women were regarded as property of first their fathers and then their husbands and it was rare they were allowed to own anything: an exception being when they were married, if they received a gift from their husband that was theirs to keep or dispose of as they wished without asking permission. Even the children were the property of the husband.
Only widows had more power than married women.
If dressed provocatively women could be put in the stocks and many were sent to Australia and America before this for minor offences. A highborn Lady could be executed for infidelity. Washing of clothes was only done about twice a year. Ladies often carried a nosegay of herbs and sweet smelling flowers to offset smells. This was an enjoyable and interesting insight of how things have changed.
Next meeting August 7th at West Tilbury Village Hall 7pm –9-30pm
Speaker: Elizabeth Lord Historical Novelist.
