Cliffe & Cooling Women's Institute
The formation meeting of the Women’s Institute was held
in April 1946 having being called and arranged by Mrs. H.
Couzens. Thirty-five members were enrolled and a committee
formed consisting of Mrs. F. Foord (president) Mrs. Judd and
Mrs. T. Hutchings (vice-president), Mrs. Brook, Mrs. W.W.
Morrison, Mrs. F. Mugeridge, Mrs. L. Oakey, Mrs F. Parker
and Mrs. V. Weeks.
The Cliffe and Cooling Women's Institute
Membership soon increased and numbers over sixty. One
of the earliest meetings was held at the “Globe” Cinema and
addressed by Mr. David Seth-Smith, the well-known
broadcaster. Over two hundred schoolchildren also attended.
There have since been many happy meetings, a particularly
happy one taking place in the grounds of Cooling Castle,
over one hundred members and friends listening to an address
by Canon A.J. Wallis, who was formally Rector of Cliffe. On
numerous occasions the Institute members have assisted with
money-raising efforts for charitable purposes, and the Drama
Group have several times produced plays at the local cinema.
Cliffe and Cooling Institute have a distinction of
being the first Institute to stage an exhibit at a Ploughing
Match of the Gravesend and Rochester Agricultural
Association.
Produce Guild members have had a number of successes
at both local and county shows. One member, Mrs. V. Weekes,
has gained numerous awards at County Handicraft Exhibitions,
and on one occasion had her work chosen for showing at a
National Exhibition.
In 1949 and 1950 the Institute took a party of old
folks for a tour by motor coach of the countryside, the 1950
party numbering 120.