It was fitting that the two longest-serving members should cut the cake to mark the 70th anniversary.
Ann Heath and Ruth Rice stepped forward to ‘do the honours’ at the Kidlington Townswomen’s Guild celebration. Both joined in 1964.
The group was formed at a public meeting at Foresters Hall in the village on September 27, 1955.
A leaflet had been circulated inviting everyone “to discuss the desirability of forming a Townswomen’s Guild”, adding “non-party, non-sectarian, do come, everyone welcome”.
It suggested “you may find new friends and fresh interests through music, drama, handicrafts, social studies, keep fit, dancing or kindred subjects”.
Mrs P Axtell chaired the meeting and the speaker was Mrs Smalley Platten, from the National Union of Townswomen’s Guilds.
More than 100 women turned up and two guilds were formed - Kidlington Cherwell, which met in the afternoon, and Kidlington Evening.
Kidlington Cherwell later changed its name to Kidlington Afternoon to avoid confusion.
The guild, now one, is still active, with up to 50 members meeting for a social gathering and to hear a different speaker one afternoon every month.
They also occasionally spread their wings - recent outings have been made to Millets Farm, Aston Pottery and Oxford Playhouse and, of course, there is always a well-attended Christmas lunch.
One memorable event was a tea party to mark the late Queen’s platinum jubilee when everyone wore red, white and blue.
The guild has met in various places over the years but is now back at Foresters Hall where it all began 70 years ago.
The National Council of Townswomen’s Guilds is closing in January, but the Kidlington group plans to continue.
It can now look forward to its 75th and perhaps even its 100th anniversary.
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