Burgh W.I. is celebrating its 80 th Anniversary this year. We were formed on Tuesday 12 th February 1924 . The first meeting was held in the School Room on 12 th March with 36 members enrolling for membership. Over the next five years the membership grew to 103. In 1932 links were formed with a W.I. in New Zealand.

1939 saw the outbreak of war and in 1940 our WI room was requisitioned by the military between the 19 th June and 16 th July for recreational use. Weekly dances were held there for the troops. During that year Burgh W.I. joined the Letter Friends Scheme and had correspondents in Norway and the USA, and our link with New Zealand, which had been temporary broken, was now re-established. Our monthly meetings were held in various locations during the wartime period but on 1 st October 1945 we returned to our own room.

Letters from and to New Zealand still going strong in 1946 , and in 1949 parcels arrived, two cakes and a hanky for each member was sent plus other gifts of tinned food. Members collected to send gifts in return.

On 25 th October 1949 Lady Massingberd officially opened our own new Hall.

At the February meeting 1952 two minutes silence was observed in respect for King George VI. Later that year our member, Mrs Gunn was proposed to represent the Institute on the committee for the village Coronation festivities.

Proceeds from a whist drive were sent to the East Coast Flood Relief Fund in 1953 , and also that year members helped with teas at the village hall for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II's celebrations.

Our 40 th Birthday was in 1964 . A huge birthday cake made by Mrs Robinson and iced in green and gold by Miss Coward was cut by three founder members, Miss A Barker, Mrs G. Epton and Mrs C. Falkinder.

In May 1965 , Mrs Treadell represented Burgh W.I. at a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Mrs Epton resigned as Treasurer in 1972 after 31 years service, and was presented with a cheque and a bouquet in appreciation of her hard work. A meeting in Spilsby was held to discuss the formation of a group in the area. It would meet twice a year to hear really good speakers and to form stronger links with neighbouring institutes.

Our Golden Jubilee. 1974, 50 years of Burgh W.I. Programmes were printed on gold card. Two cherry trees were planted by two founder members. There was a display of crafts and old programmes in the library. This special year ended with a splendid Jubilee Dinner at the White Horse Hotel in Alford. The Marshwold Group Formed.

The death of Mrs C. Falkinder in 1977 , who was the last of the founder members.

1978; County event held at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa. Members contributed to the “Turquoise” stall run by the Marshwold Group.

The Institute entered a float in the village carnival in 1979. representing “W.I. Worldwide” and won first prize.

Our Diamond Jubilee in 1984 was celebrated with a dinner at The Windmill Restaurant in Burgh le Marsh. A Burgh W.I. collage was made and framed and a scrapbook of the village produced.

A flower festival weekending May 31 st and 1 st June 1986 involved serving ploughman's lunches. The highlight of the Saturday evening was the showing of the BBC serial “Seal Morning”. John Yeadon, the husband of a member, had trained the seals and kept them in their garden in Burgh.

Early in the year of 1992 it was discovered that the building and fabric of our hall was in a very poor state of repair. An extraordinary meeting was held to discuss the future. It was decided to set up a fund to repair or if possible rebuild the hall. All kinds of fund raising ideas were suggested. One member, Mrs Coles, wrote to the Queen Mother who kindly donated a set of silver teaspoons. These were auctioned along with a great many other gifts on the Queen Mother's birthday. Having bought the spoons, Mr Tom Dixon, promptly gave them back to the W.I. Work started on the demolition and rebuilding in 1993 and meetings were held in the Recreation Centre.

Dinner in the Village Hall 1994 for our 70 th birthday .

1995. 6 th January – The Grand Opening of the new WI Hall by Michael Capes followed by an Open Weekend to show off the hall to the general public.

1997 The W.I. movement was 100 years old. A service in Lincoln Cathedral commemorated this milestone, in addition to celebrating 20 years of The Lincolnshire North Federation. Burgh members attended this service and also held a Centenary Weekend and exhibition in the hall. At the evening gathering three plaques were presented, one from East Lindsey Training Services, one from Rural Development Commission and one saying that Michael Capes had opened the Hall 6 th January 1995.

The Marshwold Group celebrated its 25 th anniversary in 1998.

Our 75 th birthday in 1999 was celebrated with a buffet in the hall. John Yeadon was the after dinner speaker. A bursary was established to be awarded for “Education”.

2002 We entered the 21 st century by linking up to the internet and establishing our own Web Pages on the Burgh le Marsh website. www.burghlemarsh.info/wi

• Plans and preparations taking place for 2004 as we look ahead to another 80 years of the Burgh le Marsh W.I, and to bring our history right up to date we have recently re-discovered our friends in New Zealand and correspondence is in progress ,literally, by e-mail!