WI members give modelling a whirl at show

Members of the Boston Spa WI stepped in the glamorous world of fashion yesterday when they took to the catwalk at the Great Yorkshire Show, modelling daywear and city separates for upmarket High Street retailer Hobbs.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Jul 2012, 07:00 BST

The appearance was the latest in a series of challenging experiences for the nine-strong team, all members of the new Boston Spa Women’s Institute, which was launched in October by president Karen Slade, treasurer Louisa Garton and secretary Zara Batty, three young mothers determined their WI would offer more than jam and Jerusalem.

“We try to be different, get away from the idea that it’s all about Victoria sponges,” said Karen, 36. Instead there have been wine tastings, demonstrations of power tools and speed-dating ice-breaker meetings.

The branch now has more than 100 members, aged from early 20s to 80. After catwalk training by Bernadette Gledhill of model agency Morton Gledhill, the runway novices admitted they were anxious about taking their places beside the professionals.

Jerusalem