Why am I in the WI?

This poem was created by Karen Morgan, Secretary of West Witney for the occasion of our 20th Anniversary celebrations.

We hope you like it and that it gives you a flavour of the great time we have all had at West Witney WI over the years.

Come and join us!

I sometimes sit and wonder why
I ended up in the WI
It wasn't something that appealed to me
To make jam and drink cups of tea
With people that I didn't know
That were older than me, had less get up and go
I can't arrange flowers, knit, make cards, or bake a cake
Me in the WI there must be some mistake!

But a move to Witney heralded the start
And in a new WI I was to play a part
A leaflet came through my house door
And like an omen lay on my floor
Well I thought what can this be
An ideal group for my mum, not me.

We went along to their first meeting
In the local school with plenty of seating
It was my intention to go to one
Then quietly withdraw and leave it to mum
A group of eight we sat looking at the floor
I wanted to sneak back out the door
But my future had been mapped out for me
They needed eight to form the committee!

Now when I look back at the last twenty years
I laugh at my initial fears
Not for this WI the pearls and tweeds
The formal rows and rules to be agreed
The places we've been, the things we've done
I never dreamt when we first begun
Of all the new friends I'd make
Without ever having to bake a cake.

I've been to Christmas markets and Highgrove House
Heard about the antics of many a spouse
On varied topics we've had humorous talks
And there's always the chance to go on numerous walks
Our annual fund-raised at Witney gala
Used to be an awful palaver
But now we've got it down to a fine art
In which you will all hopefully play a part.

Every month I sit at the front of the room
Once I'd have been filled with gloom
Now I have a feeling of anticipation
Gone is the feeling of trepidation
I sit up here at the top table
My name badge is my only label
I'm proud to serve you by being on the committee
The reward I get every month you see
Are your happy faces smiling back at me
You've seen me through happy times and sad
And held my hand when it's been bad

You've seen my sons from their early days
And laughed with me at their funny ways
Up a Scotsman's kilt one did try to see
What he saw is a secret he's kept from me
From our early beginnings when we numbered eight
We've grown in size and we hope we're still top rate
So I'd like to thank you one and all
The last twenty years have been a ball.

Karen Morgan
20th Anniversary Celebrations 2013