New Barkby Womens Institute News

Mrs Felicity Austin gave a talk to the New Barkby WI members at their August meeting on ‘The History of Toys and Games’. From the amazing display of toys, some old, some more recent, members were fascinated to learn of the history of items. An example was a photograph of a Greek Plate depicting a boy playing with a yoyo, this toy disappeared for sometime, but re-appeared in China after the 16th century.  In Medieval times there was a counting game of ‘In and out the windows’ in the springtime.  Tudor Times had hobbyhorses, whips and tops, balls made of leather (or even blown-up pig’s bladders). Something similar to a football game was quite vicious when apprentices in different villages became rivals for the game.  Knobs or Dibs were made of bones from sheep or pigs and in groups of five, whereas China used seven stones. In Leicestershire, shoe buttons were also used. Many toys were improvised from the materials around at the time, wood or hollow grasses and bones. Mostly children were creative with what they could find, until more toys were manufactured commercially, for example, Action Man, Cindy, Barbie and the cuddly Teddy Bear.
The vote of thanks was given by Mrs P Warren. The competition for a child’s table mat was won by Mrs A Taylor, raffle winner was Mrs J Cross. Tea Hostesses were Mrs R Foster and Mrs M Hegginson.
The next meeting will be on Wednesday 2nd September at 7.30pm in Syston Community Centre when Mrs Kerry Evans will be demonstrating ‘Flower Arranging’ and the competition will be a small flower arrangement. All visitors are welcome.