by Ray Duffill
Preston Women’s Institute held its annual meeting on Tuesday, March 31.
Secretary Mary Wood reflected on another busy and exceptionally successful year.
Entertaining, interesting and knowledgeable speakers gave insights into their respective worlds of creativity, talent and artistry.
Weekly coffee mornings, craft group, and monthly book, walking and dining clubs continue to be enjoyed by members.
A new initiative, Knitting for Charity, saw members keen to knit and crochet squares for blankets, with angels of hope, hearts, gowns, beanie slouch hats, twiddle muffs and character tea cosies produced to support local charities.
Food and toiletry collections for a worthy local cause, St Augustine’s Pantry, have become a regular monthly feature of the meetings.
Competition successes were recorded locally and at the East Yorkshire Federation. All three WI trophies competed for were won. Many individual member successes were attained, particularly at the South Holderness Group Rally and Preston Show.
The Sutton Legacy Class at the South Holderness Group Rally, in association with Burstwick, Sutton and Hedon WIs, resulted in 22 worry monsters being donated to the Shores Centre, Withernsea, for allocation to local organisations.
The initiative in the summer, with Izzy dolls hidden around Preston during the school holidays, had proved very popular.
The Book Hut, in situ at the Community Hall, provides a free and valued service to avid readers and, from this initiative, Books for Schools was introduced, with more than 250 children’s titles donated across 10 local schools. This has all been made possible through generous donations.
Treasurer Jean Ferguson confirmed the recent accounting audit was completed and approved.
After a challenging year, the move to online banking was finalised to enable faster, more efficient transaction management.
President Linda McGowan thanked the outgoing hard-working committee for their support, saying: “All our activities have contributed to the high profile and respect the group has gained in the village and the wider Holderness and East Yorkshire communities.
“We have a reputation for caring within the community, and we sincerely thank all our valued members for their continued and ongoing support.”
Members then voted to elect the 2026-27 committee and officers.
Mary summed up the meeting, saying: “I am so proud to be part of Preston WI, working alongside lovely, hard-working and like-minded ladies, and this year our success and achievements have been second to none.
“Any ladies out there who feel they are missing out, come along and join us – new friendships await, you won’t be sorry!”
Preston WI meets at Preston Community Hall every last Tuesday of the month. All ladies are welcome to join this warm and friendly group.
The next meeting takes place on Tuesday, April 28, at 7.30pm, with a guest speaker from Yorkshire Air Ambulance.