Women from Lytham St Annes National Women's Register have marked 60 happy years

By Louisa Gregson

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The women enjoyed an afternoon tea in the boardroom at Lytham Hall last Wednesday, February 26, and raised their tea cups in toast to its founder Maureen Nicol.

Local Organiser Jenny Edwards said: “Back in the day, very many women gave up their jobs when they married, as was the expected custom, and thus many became mired in domesticity and child-minding and a lack of stimulus often became stultifying and stifling.

“In 1960 two Guardian journalists named Mary Stott (Editor) and Betty Jerman, wrote an article about this entitled “Squeezed like Sardines in Suburbia,” to which a housewife named Maureen Nicol replied, on February 26 1960, suggesting that women should help themselves out of this by forming interest groups to get out of the house and to help them develop new interests and to make new friends, especially if they moved to a new area.

“Thus the Housebound Housewives Register was formed.

“It was later renamed The National Housewives Register and then it metamorphosed to its present day title of ‘National Women’s Register’ - the current NWR.

“Miraculously the organisation has lasted for 60 years and many of today’s members have had careers or are still working.

“The basic idea hasn’t changed though which is to encourage women who may be lonely or lacking in stimulus for one reason or another or who may be seeking a new interest, to get together for fun and friendship.”

Maureen Nicol was awarded an OBE in 1995 in recognition of having founded the organisation.

She is now in her 90s and still an NWR member.

Jenny was a teenager in the 60s when the group was founded and herself worked for 38 years in both the civil service and land registry.

She reflects on how women were not able to use their talents and intelligence to help with the family economics as it would bring shame on the husband.

So even if his salary was low they would have to live on it to save face.

Jenny said the afternoon was a wonderful success and left its members ‘buzzing.’

She said: “It was lovely.

“We have 22 members and 20 attended so it was a super turnout.

“We had the boardroom upstairs and it was beautifully set out.

“We had beautiful tea and cakes and raised a tea toast to our NWR Founder. Lytham Hall really looked after us and we even had to take some of our cakes home with us, there was so much.

“I organised goody bags for us all and we left buzzing.

“It was absolutely delightful.”

The group are non fundraising and meet every two weeks or so in the home of a member to discuss anything and everything from a prearranged programme.

Jenny says: “Our mantra is LIVELY MINDED WOMEN.”

Such is its popularity the Lytham St Annes group is full to capacity but Jenny says new groups forming is always welcomed.

She says: “We have a waiting list for membership but the formation of new groups is encouraged.”