New Sutton WI will have a modern twist

The Sutton-in-Ashfield WI is holding its first meeting today at 7pm at St John’s Methodist Church on Titchfield Avenue.

It is one of a new wave of WIs which have been started up by younger women across the country in recent years, offering members the chance to share interests, learn new skills and make friends.

The women starting the Sutton group hope that theirs will see the same success as other new WIs.

“There’s a lot of interest in crafts and baking but there’s been a lot of change over the past 100 years since the WI started,” said mum-of-two Rebecca Low, 33, from Sutton.

“It’s nice to get like-minded women around and do a lot of nice things.”

Though there are already WIs in Teversal, Kirkby and several in the Mansfield area, the town of Sutton has not had its own group until now.

Rebecca said that the response to the Facebook page she has set up has been ‘amazing’.

Many of more than 40 women who have shown an interest in joining the new group are in their thirties or forties - much younger than the stereotypical WI member.

They are all keen to get involved in traditional WI activities such as baking, crafts and floristry, as well as more modern activities like wine tasting and burlesque dancing.

Rebecca said: “We want to keep it as traditional as possible but with a modern twist.”

Women of all ages are welcome to attend the meeting tonight, which will discuss how to become a member and where a committee will be formed.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/SuttonWI.