CORNHILL SOCIAL HISTORY PROJECT
Community and social change
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Women's Institute, founded in Cornhill in 1921.
Sadly, it closed in 2025 after 104 years
The minutes of all the meetings are available to view.
However, minutes of the meetings from 7th December 1922 to November 2nd 1977
were transcribed by Ailsa Dickson.
A sample page of the transcribed minutes is shown below:-
1953
1956
Back row, left to right - Nancy Kerr (W. Learmouth), Renee Dalton (Cornhill), Mary Mowitt (E. Learmouth), Mrs Moffat (Station), Jenny Moffat (Pressen), Renee Kerr (W. Learmouth), M. Waite (Campfield), Betty Hope (Cornhill), Bertha Beveridge (Cornhill), V. Dalton (Cornhill)
Second back row, left to right - Mrs Simpson (W. Learmouth), Mrs Maxwell (Cramond Hill), Mrs Scott (Panama), Annie Hudson (Cornhill), Mrs Wilkinson (Cornhill), Mrs Heslop (Pressen), Nell Mowitt (Campfield), Mrs Jeffrey (E. Learmouth), Mrs Nevins (W. Learmouth),
Joan Dalton (Cornhill), Jean Beveridge (Barelees), Mrs Thompson (Station))
Second front row, left to right - Mrs Scott (Station), Sally Carr (Cornhill), Mrs Waters (W. Learmouth), Mrs Davidson Quarry Cottage), Mrs Blain (W.Learmouth), Milly Coultard (Cornhill), Mrs McLean (Cornhill), Mrs Tait (Cornhill), Ruby Larson (Cornhill))
Front row, left to right - Mrs Hope (Pressen), Mrs Clark (Cornhill), Mrs Ford (Cornhill), Doreen Middlemiss (Station),
Mrs Beveridge (Barelees), Mrs Allan (Cornhill)
December 1956
From left to right - Mrs. Maxwell from Cramond Hill, Miss Larsen (teacher), Mrs. Jane Blain, Peggy Allan, Mrs. McLean
WI Children’s Christmas Party c.1957
Members in The Hut, late 50s, early 60s
WI, probably early 1960s
Back row from left to right - Mrs Lindsay, Mrs Beveridge, Mrs Nesbit, Mrs. Allan, Mrs Dalton, Miss Larson, Mrs Ambler
Middle row from left to right Mrs McLean, Miss Carr, Mrs Mowitt, Mrs. Tait, ?, ? ,Annie Hutson
Front row from left to right Mary Mowitt, Cathie Jeffrey, Hazel Beveridge, Doreen Middlemiss, Miss Henderson.
WI group meeting, Tillmouth Hall, early 1960s
Members outside Cornhill House, early 1960s
Back row, left to right - ? , Mrs Lindsay, Mrs Beveridge, Mrs Nesbit, Mrs Allan, Mrs Dalton, Miss Larson, Mrs Ambler
Middle row, left to right - Mrs McLean, Miss Carr, Mrs Mowitt, Mrs Tait, ? , Miss Hutson
Front row, left to right - Mary Mowitt, Cathie Martin, Hazel Beveridge, Doreen Middlemiss, Miss Henderson
WI committee c.1962
Back row from left to right - N.Tait, P.Allan, J.Tait, Mrs Maxwell
Front row from left to right - Mrs Moffat, P.Ford, Miss Larsen, Mrs Mowitt, Mrs McLean
WI Concert Party 1969
Includes Rob Bell (piper), Jenny Hope, Mary Black, Mrs. Turnbull, Nora Tait, Nancy Clark, Irene Forrest, Ailsa Maxwell
WI outing date?
left to right Millie Coultard, Jean ?, Nell Mowitt, ?
WI outing date?
WI Committee, 1970
From middle top then left to right - Mrs Peg Ford, Mrs Peggy Allan, Mrs Nesbitt, Mrs Beveridge, Mrs McLean, Mrs Alice Maxwell, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Irene Forrest
Dinner at The Collingwood celebrating the Golden Jubilee, 1971
Back row from left to right - Mary Black, Ailsa Maxwell, Irene Forrest, Fiona Maxwell, Alice Maxwell, Elspeth Maxwell, Mrs. Thompson. Elaine Lumis
Front row from left to right - Mrs. McLean, Peg Ford,Miss Carr, Liz Davidson, Millie Colthart, Peggy Allan
Golden Jubilee, 1971
Back row from left to right - Miss Marfleet, Mrs N Tait, Mrs Nesbit
Front row from left to right - Mrs Beveridge, Mrs Smith, Mrs A. Middlemiss, Mrs I Thompson
Best wishes cards to Founder Members, 1971
Presentation to Mrs. McLean, 1980
Back row from left to right - M Black, IForrestM Simpson, J Hope, M. Wilkinson, i.Thompson, Mrs Martin, Mrs Tait, Miss Marfleet, N Frater, E Heatley, Mrs. Simpson, A Hudson, Mrs Carr, E Scott
Front row from left to right - Mrs Beveridge, Mrs Nesbit, Mrs N Clark, Mrs McLean, Mrs Moffat, Mrs P Allan
WI day trip to Holland date?
Jean and friend Iris
WI day trip to Holland date?
Peggy waiting to board
WI day trip to Holland date?
left to right ? , Jean, Iris, Fiona
75th Birthday Party in the Collingwood Arms, 1996
Top Mrs Peg Ford
left to right from the top Mrs Peggy Allan, Mrs Nesbitt, Mrs Beveridge,
75th Birthday Party in the Collingwood Arms, 1996
50th Anniversary of the Village Hall, 2011
WI Birthday Party, 2005
Ailsa Dickson presenting a cheque to David Clark, from ‘Chest, Heart and Stroke’.
Money raised at Craft Exhibition by WI, 2007
Burns Supper, 2013
Piper - Robert Bell
Haggis carrier and singer - Bobby Hanlon
Caterer - Elspeth Bell
100th birthday celebrations
Coldstream Golf Club, November 2021
Mary Black cutting the cake
Platinum Jubilee bunting, 2022
Three double-sided pennants
Three double-sided bunting pennants made by Joan Manuel for the National Federation of WI. Each branch was asked to submit three pennants, which will all be strung together to form one giant row of bunting. It will be displayed around the country at selected events. The pennants had to depict what the Cornhill branch currently represents. Only one of the six sides could feature the name of the branch so it did not dominate the design.
WI outing to Paxton House, June 2023 up to top