SWRI West Lothian Federation

West Lothian Federation consists of 17 Institutes with a membership of approximately 700 women. Their interests are as diverse as the county itself. On the one hand West Lothian has sites of historic interest - viz. Linlithgow Palace, The Preceptory at Torphichen, Cairnpapple Burial Cairn in the Bathgate Hills and the Five Sisters at West Calder which commemorate the shale industry - and on the other hand there are the modern industries associated with the computer age.

At national level our members take part in many events, such as holidays, study tours , summer schools , conferences and competitions which gives us a wonderful opportunity to visit other parts of the country and to meet new people as well as old friends. Our organisation is affiliated to the Associated Country Women of the World, ACWW , giving us an insight into women's lives globally and an opportunity for exchange visits.

At Federation level our annual programme covers bowling, curling, a rally with demonstrators and speakers of high calibre, a show of work which is so beautiful it is breathtaking, a cookery demonstration which is hilarious as we listen to the antics of the demonstrator's experiences, public speaking competitions which are great fun, singing with professional coaching, and an international evening when the whole evening is dedicated to one specific country. The Indonesian and the Japanese evenings were particularly colourful with Indonesian students singing and dancing for us, and the Japanese ladies teaching us to put on a kimono. At these evenings we have a speaker or speakers followed by music and food all from the chosen country. Our year's programme includes classes on whatever is asked for, from bead-work to picture framing, and counted thread embroidery to upholstery. We hope to reintroduce golf, walking and amateur dramatics to our wealth of activities. We try to help those less fortunate than ourselves with community projects such as knitting for the premature baby unit in the local hospital and sewing heart-shaped cushions for its breast cancer patients.

At Institute level we have speakers and demonstrators, and outings to theatre, shops, gardens, stately homes etc. Most Institutes fund- raise for local causes with dinner-dances, fashion shows, whist drives and concerts along with some novel ideas.

So come and join us and add your ideas to ours.

WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU!

West Lothian Institutes