Romanby WI

Romanby WI Hall, usually a busy community-building, joined in lockdown VE Day celebrations by displaying red, white and blue bunting, that allowed for public participation.

Bunting in front of Romanby WI Hall

Romanby WI is well known locally for its community projects including a popular scarecrow festival and climate change awareness events. Committee member Samantha Jennings describes the purpose of the gratitude bunting:

"We'd normally enjoy some sort of community celebration for an occasion like the 75th VE Day, but obviously we couldn't do that during the lockdown. We knew that putting up bunting would bring a little cheer to people’s daily exercise, but we wanted to do more; make it something people could get involved in.

So we decided to display some plain paper bunting and invite passers-by to write down something they are grateful for, or something that makes them happy. We hoped it would spread a little joy, which it did. Many wrote of their gratitude to the NHS right now, and the sacrifices made by servicemen and women for our freedoms in the past. Some messages were simpler. My 5-year-old daughter wrote that 'Jelly' makes her happy when she pushes is through the gap in her teeth, which I hope made a few people smile."

Messages of gratitude and happiness 

The bunting messages, along with photographs will be kept in the Romanby WI archive, which is a rich history of Romanby WI and the wider community.

Emily Jennings (5 years), daughter of a WI member, wrote that Jelly makes her happy when she pushes it through her teeth

Romanby WI normally meets at 7:15 pm on the third Tuesday of the month, at Romanby WI Hall on The Close. Over 60 women are members, ranging in age from their 30's - 90's from all sorts of walks of life, meeting for fun, friendship and education. Although meetings are currently suspended, you can find out more on Facebook or Instagram and enquire about going along as a visitor once activities are able to resume safely.