MEMBERS of Allendale Women’s Institute turned the clock back to 1946 as they celebrated their 70th anniversary in style.

The fashions of the 1940s were rolled out during a special evening of entertainment at St Cuthbert’s church hall.

The ladies were joined by members of other local WIs, from Catton, Bardon Mill, Langley, and Whitfield, and also welcomed county chairman Hilary Robson.

The WI’s recognised anthem, Jerusalem, was sung, a special birthday cake was served and a quiz took place focusing on WI life over the past 70 years.

Allendale WI president Mary Illingworth said: “It was a wonderful party and it was lovely to share the occasion with the members of neighbouring branches.”

Allendale WI still has an immaculately-preserved booklet in which the minutes of meetings were recorded from 1946 to 1952.

Handwritten notes state how a joint branch of Allendale and Catton had been operating for some years previously, before splitting in 1946 to form separate groups.

Mrs Illingworth, who has been president for a decade, said: “Many things have changed since then. The minutes suggest meetings were quite formal occasions, and I found an old article which told women how to be the perfect wife.”

Mrs Illingworth said the organisation moves with the times. It now meets during the evening, instead of afternoons, to ensure it is inclusive to working women, thus attracting younger members.

The branch holds meetings on the first Monday of each month at the Kings Head pub in Allendale, from 7.15pm.