WI boom time as new group forms in Accrington (From Lancashire Telegraph)

WI boom time as new group forms in Accrington

8:41am Monday 20th August 2012 in News By Emma Cruces, Reporter

THE Women’s Institute has been so inundated with requests from new members, it is setting up a new East Lancashire chapter.

The group, to be called Accrington WI, is a result of the number of local people waiting to join.

WI groups in Oswaldtwistle and Great Harwood are already full, with 60 members per group.

Former Hyndburn mayor Collette McCormack has volunteered to manage setting up the new group. And before even advertising the plan, she already has 20 new members.

Coun McCormack said the activities of the new group would be completely up to the members and not necessarily of the ‘jam and jerusalem’ tradition.

She said: “There are many different types of Women’s Institute groups with people of all ages. The type of group will be determined by the type of members they get and what they like to do. We don’t have to do crafts, we can suggest ideas we like.

“I have been inundated with phone calls and texts after word of mouth has got around. I’m a bit worried about the group being too popular!

“Everyone is so surprised the WI is in demand and maybe the recession has something to do with it. All I know is the ladies around here want to get together.”

Ann Royle, county advisor for the WI and a member for 30 years, said the WI had set up 10 new groups in Lancashire recently.

She said: “The WI is very popular at the moment and it has always gone in cycles. Every now and then, there is a revived interest.

“No one ever leaves so we have to set up new groups. It’s important that the group is a nice manageable number because the whole point is in getting to know each other. It’s just ladies spending time with each other. That will never go out of fashion.”

A get-together for potential members takes place on September 19 at Accrington’s Peel Park pub at 7.30pm.