My dear friend, Kaila Shabat, led me to a wonderful friar in Jerusalem who explained how closure could be brought to Jake. Thank you both.
The Women’s Institute was formed in Canada in the late 1800s, and arrived in the United Kingdom in 1915. During the First World War the WI encouraged countrywomen to become involved in growing and preserving food to support the war effort. The WI did the same in the Second World War but also collected herbs for medicines, and salvage for all sorts of things. Bravo, I say, and to the Guides and Scouts who did their bit. Let’s hear it for all their unsung efforts.
Today we think of the WI in terms of jam, Jerusalem, and perhaps a saucy calendar. As a member of the Downley Village Evening Women’s Institute – bring it on. But we’re more than that. As a movement we care for one another and the community, we have monthly speakers who add to our knowledge, and every year we choose resolutions that could bring about real change at local and national level on the issues that matter.
Also, I write of submariners. My husband, Dick, was a peacetime, well, cold war, submariner, and has been an invaluable source of information, though all faults are mine.
I bow my head to the memory of all those who served, and still serve.
Above Us the Sky is my tribute to all these organisations. It is written from the heart.