100 years of iconic WI campaigns in pictures

From war efforts to jam to women's rights to nudity - we salute the WI on their centenary year!

By Emma-Louise PritchardPublished: 15 May 2015

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1915 - The first ever WI meeting

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The first WI in Britain was formed during the First World War in 1915 under the Agricultural Organisation Society (AOS). The first meeting was at Llanfair PG, on Anglesey, North Wales on 16 September 1915, and the first WI in England was Singleton WI in Sussex.

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1922 - Delegates at the AGM

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As WIs formed up and down the country, one of the first AGMs was held in Kingsway.

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1940 - The wartime efforts begin

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During the war, the WI encouraged country women to get involved in the war efforts, growing and preserving food to supply to the war-torn nation. This WI member is using a machine to seal tins of homemade food.

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1940 - WI jam factory

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They also made jams, preserves and pickled fruits and vegetables. These domesticated tasks were second nature to the war-time country women and the love affair between the WI and jam is still fruitful today.

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1954 - Equal pay for women campaign

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As feminism swept the nation in the 1950s, the WI joined the campaign to get equal pay for women and men.

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1954 - Keep Britain Tidy campaign

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A resolution was passed at the 1954 WI AGM to start a national anti-litter campaign. 26 interested organisations were called to action and the Keep Britain Tidy Group was born in 1955.

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1961 - WI gardening classes

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The WI still hold gardening clubs to this day to encourage green space and help the environment.

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1983 - Campaigning outside Royal Albert Hall

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The 1983 AGM involved a mass campaign for Women's rights on the steps of the Royal Albert Hall.

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2000 - Original WI Calendar Girls

Part of possibly their best-known campaign, these are some of the original WI Calendar Girls posing in 2000. The film, starring Dame Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, came shortly after in 2003.

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2010 - Calendar Girls ten years on

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And here some of them are again posing 10 years after the original calendar that inspired charity fundraising up and down the country. They havn't aged a bit!

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2014 - London march for climate change

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One of the WI's most recent campaigns saw them marching through central London to support the environment and inspire women to stand up for what they believe in.

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