'Don't patronise us' memories of Women's Institute as it celebrates 100 years

Women all across the North West are celebrating an important milestone for the Women's Institute.

It began 100 years ago on Anglesey and is now one of the largest women's voluntary organisations in the UK with over 212,000 members in 6,600 different groups.

Fifteen years ago they hit the headlines by showing their disapproval of the Prime Minister Tony Blair with a slow hand-clap.The National Chairman at the time was Helen Carey from Cheshire.She says they felt he was patronising them.

The WI was established to encourage women in rural areas to get involved in growing and preserving food to help to increase the supply of food to the war-torn nation. Education and sharing skills have always been at the heart of the organisation.

These days the venues might have changed from the local village hall to local café, the ethos and reputation of the WI remains the same, and women join now to meet new friends, learn new skills and make a difference on matters that are important to them now as fellow members did in 1915.