AFTER 86 years of sharing a distinctive anniversary, a village Women's Institute branch has been left alone to celebrate.

Until last month, Witton-le-Wear and Cotherstone WIs stood together as the oldest in County Durham and the 13th oldest in the country.

They were formed on the same day, March 15 1916, largely due to the friendship between the Canadian wife of a Durham mine owner, Bessie Stobart, and her fellow countrywoman, Mrs Alfred Watt.

This very British organisation had its roots in Canada at the end of the 19th Century. Adelaide Hoodless, living in Stoney Creek, Ontario, provided the inspiration - blaming her own ignorance for the death of her first child and driven to educate women in basic health and hygiene.

England was at war, in 1915, when Mrs Watt's arrival in England to attend a conference on agricultural and industrial co-operation provided the catalyst for the movement to grow in Britain.

Her friendship with Bessie Stobart led her to take time out of a nationwide publicity campaign to visit her at Witton Towers, Witton-le-Wear.

Mrs Watt's campaigning zeal so impressed the women from the village and surrounding communities, called to a meeting in the local school, that the Witton-le-Wear branch was formed.

A second was started a few hours later in Cotherstone, which has now sadly folded.

Growth was rapid and the 14 institutes founded around the country by April 1916 expanded to 24 the following autumn. Soon, even the Queen was a member, joining the Sandringham branch as president in 1919.

By then, Witton-le-Wear was a thriving institute, joining in the war effort and setting up a village library.

Agenda topics reflected the economy of a country in conflict - jam-making, of course, food and fuel saving, medical issues and wider topics such as a proposed new Matrimonial Clauses Bill.

Members, including Margaret Langstaff and Elizabeth French, both grandparents of the present president, Sheila Tock, established still flourishing traditions such as a January Christmas party and a summer fete.

Thanks to the institute's fundraising, a district nurse arrived and an ambulance van and maternity bag could be bought.

By 1928, members had provided loans to build their own meeting hall, recouping their investment from hire fees, and providing a nest egg for the present day institute who have now sold the building on Cemetery Bank.

Over the years, members have maintained a campaigning tradition, involving themselves in village and national affairs. They got the local school repaired and buses re-routed through the village.

Back in 1922, they listened eagerly to a lecture on the potential power and influence of their sex. In 1931, they were advised to Buy British, during the 1939 to 1945 war years the emphasis was on food production.

By the 1950s, talks had moved on from glove-making to electric cooking, and today there are belly dancers and rowing coaches visiting their room at the Methodist Chapel.

Traditional crafts, such as embroidery and Durham quilting, have been preserved and developed, and there has been plenty of time for friendship and fun for the 40 current members.