ONE of the region’s oldest branches of the Women’s Institute is celebrating its centenary year.

It has been 100 years since women in Heighington came together to found one of the earliest branches of the organisation.

Over decades, WI members have played an important part in the community life of the village, which is situated near Darlington.

The branch first met on January 16 1918 and still thrives at the centre of Heighington where its 60 members give up their time to help fellow villagers, to support events and to host their own, as they have historically done.

Last week, the group threw a birthday party for their branch, with members baking cakes and perusing historic newspaper articles about the WI before enjoying a meal together at the village hall, where an artwork designed by members was unveiled by the branch’s longest serving member, Jessie Cragghill.

The birthday event marked the beginning of a year of centenary celebrations, with upcoming events including a performance by the Sans Pareil Choir on February 24, a village treasure hunt on June 3 and a produce fair on September 15.

Karin Allison said it was fantastic to celebrate the centenary year at the same time as the nation prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the Suffrage movement in the UK.

She said: “It is quite an achievement that we are still here after 100 years. Ours was one of the first branches to be founded and I wonder if those who set it up in 1918 thought it would still be here all these years later.

“We’re still going from strength to strength and we attract those who like the tradition of the WI and those who are interested in our very forward looking programme of speakers and activities.”

Ms Allison, who is hoping to encourage more people to join the WI and would like to see more young women get involved, s aid:“If there’s something going on in the village, we will get involved.

“Our group gives members somewhere to go to be social and it is also a great support network.

“It also appeals to me that the WI was developed on the back of the Suffragette movement, I like knowing that we are continuing something that began at that time - girls are still doing it for themselves.”

  • Heighington WI meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm in the Village Hall.