Members of the island’s Women’s Institute Federation welcomed Lynne Stubbings, the chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) this month.

Mrs Stubbings, who was elected chair of the national voluntary women’s organisation last year, paid a brief visit to train the board of trustees who help run the island’s WIs.

The training took place at the Onchan WI office on the Main Road, and included the relevance of equality and diversity within WIs as well as other important advice on how the institutes can be run.

Aileen Rampton, who is the WI press officer for the island, said: ’It was good for everyone to get some feedback and to pick up some bits and pieces from other trustees around the island.

’We have someone from the NFWI who comes over every now and then to train us.

’It’s the first time we’ve had a person visit to train us in the last two to three years.’

The special visit provided 46 members from the island’s 26 WIs an opportunity to meet up and have their questions answered by Mrs Stubbings.

The island has around 700 WI members.

Around 13 of these members will be going to Cardiff between June 5 and June 7 to the NFWI Annual Meeting, which involves England, Wales, Northern Ireland and islands around the UK.

’We will be voting on a resolution for this year called "Mental Health Matters",’ said Aileen.

’Last year looked at "Alleviating Loneliness" and the year before was "Plastic Soup", which focussed on keeping microplastic fibres out of the ocean.

’The guest speaker for the Annual Meeting this year will be Dame Stella Rimington, who is a former director general of MI5.

’Huw Edwards, who is a journalist, presenter and newsreader will also be speaking at this year’s event.’

If anyone would like to join WI you can contact the office at Beech House, 51 Main Road, Onchan by phoning 818194 or emailing [email protected]. The office is open on Mondays 2pm-4pm and Thursday 10am-midday.