HISTON AND IMPINGTON WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

The Women's Institute is a thriving part of the life of our village. Monthly meetings are well attended and attract a fine range of speakers. Recently, members have had a chance to dress up in Victorian fashions, been given advice on tracing family history, the art of sugar-craft and making miniature models. There were slides of Histon comparing it with what it looked like in the early 1900s, a talk on 'birds in winter' and ideas on picture framing. There are monthly competitions, and often quizzes to sharpen the wits.

The Histon and Impington W.I. was inaugurated in November 1927 at a meeting called by Miss R. Hope Chivers. The Institute's first meeting was held in the Infants' school in New School Lane. The first President was Mrs Roberts, of 'The Gables'. According to a diary kept by Mrs. Bryant, 78 women were enrolled. She notes: 'They wanted me to be Vice-president, but I daren't take on such an unruly crowd' In the 1930s numbers increased to over 100. Today there are around 70 members.

The Institute celebrated its Golden Anniversary by giving a seat for Histon Green. Another seat was put on the Green in 1987. In 1997, the 70th Anniversary was celebrated by planting a John Downie crab apple tree on open ground near the A14 flyover. At the same time spring bulbs were planted, and these should give pleasure for many years. To celebrate the Cambridge Federation's 75th Anniversary, in 1994, a new wood was planted in Histon, alongside the railway line. The trees are flourishing and, thanks to subsequent bulb planting, daffodils and bluebells can now be enjoyed in the spring.

The Institute has always taken part in village affairs. In 1977, Ethel Jamson, the President at the time, served on the Queen's Silver Jubilee Committee. More recently members added their signatures to a protest against the proposed Sainsbury development at Arbury Park. The Institute represents both villages in Histon Feast activities. They enter a decorated float in the procession; in 1998 the theme was 'The Wizard of Oz'. Games for the school children are organised on the Green and the Institute has a stall on the Feast Market. Members take part in group-meetings with members from Cottenham, Rampton and Girton, and in Cambridge Federation activities. There are opportunities to take part in quizzes, darts competitions, craft demonstrations, visits to the theatre and to places of interest.

Those wishing to pursue a particular interest in depth can attend residential courses at the Institute's Denman College in Oxfordshire. These cover arts, crafts, sports, public speaking and history, to name but a few topics. The National Federation also organises home and overseas holidays and produces a magazine - an excellent publication, full of articles on a great variety of subjects. The current President, Queenie Davies, knows how much members enjoy being able to take part in these activities and extends a warm invitation to any non-member to 'come along and give it a try'. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month in Histon Church Hall at 7.30pm.