100 not out - that's the Sunderland group which started in the era of Winston Churchill and silent movies!

Now that’s some achievement – a Sunderland branch of the Women’s Institute is 100 years old today and still going strong.
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Hylton WI is celebrating its big day with a look back on its history of surviving through everything from a world war to a pandemic.

The coronavirus means they can’t hold a celebration yet, but officials say it will be ‘glorious’ once it does go ahead for members of the South Tyne and Wear Federation.

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Joanne Inglis, from the Tyne and Wear South Federation of WI’s, shared the fantastic milestone with the Sunderland Echo.

Members of Hylton WI at one of their meetings before the pandemic.Members of Hylton WI at one of their meetings before the pandemic.
Members of Hylton WI at one of their meetings before the pandemic.

She said: “The members had been planning the celebrations for an age before Covid-19 interfered and even though it will be late it will be a party to remember, all Federation members will be invited and I’m sure it will be a glorious occasion when we all get together.”

Hylton Women’s Institute was founded on January 25, 1921 in a society which was pulling itself back together after the Great War, which later became known as the First World War.

The Sunderland branch was born ‘against a maelstrom of world events that we can now look back on and see their impact on the world today.

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“Women were finding their voice and not being prepared to give back the progress they’d made during the war”, said Joanne. “The world was changing rapidly and the women of Hylton were part of that change.”

Members of Hylton WI which is celebrating its 100th aniversary.Members of Hylton WI which is celebrating its 100th aniversary.
Members of Hylton WI which is celebrating its 100th aniversary.

The branch began when the ladies of the village met to sew for the forces serving during the First World War.

"Supporting the war effort was also something they did in the next war too,” said Joanne. “The oldest member, a Mrs M Markham, knitted 100 garments, no mean feat when materials were scarce.”

The WI soon developed into a force to be reckoned with. The branch had a very active drama group and choir.

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It campaigned in the 1960s for better street cleaning and more recently, it has supported worthy causes such as local food banks and the Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre.

Members of the thriving Hylton WI group.Members of the thriving Hylton WI group.
Members of the thriving Hylton WI group.

The WI has 25 branches in the region with more than 1,000 members. Anyone interested in joining a branch of the WI should email [email protected] and to find out more, visit here.

ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING IN 1921

l Winston Churchill became the British Minister for the Colonies.

l Einstein gave a lecture in New York where he outlined his new Theory of Relativity.

Hylton WI members at a festive event.Hylton WI members at a festive event.
Hylton WI members at a festive event.
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l Dr Marie Stopes opened Britain’s first birth control clinic in London.

l The British Legion was formed to care for ex-servicemen.

l Johnny Weissmuller, who would later become the star of Tarzan films, set the world swimming records for 100 metres and 150 yards.

l Rudolph Valentino’s first silent film The Shiek was premiered.

l The Education Act raised the school leaving age to 14.

l Home-made children’s toys were all the rage such as the whip-and-top and skipping.

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l Comics such as “Chicks Own”, “Tiny Tots” and “School Friend” were available for children.

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