Our History

Ulpha and Seathwaite WI was founded on 23 December 1931 with 21 members who would walk or cycle to their Tuesday afternoon meeting at the Browfoot Room from all directions of the Duddon Valley.

Talks and Demonstrations … and tea of course were the order of the day. Annually we held two Whist Drives and two dances to raise funds for the WI and to support St Dunstan's who still exist today, assisting ex service men and women who have lost their sight to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

We believe the 1st President was Lady Amos and our Treasurer was Miss E Leece (Barbary and Annes' Aunt),other members included their mum Mrs E Leece; Mrs G Hartley (Joyce Hartley's mother-in-law); Miss Peacock, the head of Ulpha school ; Mrs Simpson, the vicars wife and Mrs Stilling who also became the founder of Broughton Mills & Woodland WI.

Our WI continued to meet during the war years and once the war was over we began the annual Flower Show and the Christmas party for the Valley children.

Towards the end of 1950 meetings changed from afternoon to evening and today are still held on the 2nd Tuesday evening of the month.
 
In the 1950's Membership was also increasing and the occasional coach trip to Blackpool or Southport became a firm favourite.

In the 1980's an additional venue was added and meetings began to alternate with the Seathwaite Parish Room as we do now.

Currently our membership is 18 and our longest serving member is Mrs Barbary Greenhow, who has just received her 60 year award, in 1953 she had to undergo an interview to see if she was a 'suitable candidate' but wasn't allowed full membership until after her 18th birthday a year later. Barbary is a very supportive member and became our Programme Secretary in 1984, she held the position for 28 years - do we still have the mold?