West Highland women held a special afternoon tea at the weekend to celebrate the centenary of a national institution.
Members of the Lochaber Federation of the Scottish Women’s Institutes – better known as the Rural – tucked into tea, scones and delicious cakes on Saturday in Fort William to mark the 100th anniversary of the organisation.
And many local women who were former members also came along to help mark the occasion.
The inaugural meeting of the organisation was held in Edinburgh in early July 1917 and, the following day, a meeting was held in Fort William attended by many local dignitaries to discuss forming a women’s institute in the town.
Celebrations to mark the centenary will be held later in the year.
Martine Young of the Lochaber Federation said: “We wanted to mark the 100th anniversary of the Rural in a special way, so we thought of having a tea in the park. But because the weather has been so wet, we decided to hold it indoors in the Duncansburgh Macintosh church hall.
“There are five institutes in the Lochaber Federation – Morar, Arisaig, Spean Bridge, Ardgour and Fort William, with around 80 members – and it was nice that some of the former members came along too.”
Mrs Young explained that the aim of the organisation back in 1917 was to improve social conditions and bring interest and variety into the lives of women who lived in rural areas.
“The day after the inaugural meeting in Edinburgh 100 years ago, Lady Hermione Cameron presided over the meeting in Fort William. Mrs Gooch of Torcastle moved a resolution, which was carried unanimously, that a women’s institute should be started in the town.
“Funds were raised and, by December, institute club rooms were rented in the Glengarry Buildings. These were available as a rest room for members as well as for meetings. Women could come into town, put their feet up and have a cup of tea.
“Though the concept of the institute in Fort William began in July 1917, our centenary celebrations will be held in December when the first actual meeting was held in the town.”
