The first meeting of the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives was held on the 23rd of January 1968, in the village’s St John the Baptist Church. There were 21 women in attendance, and the first Chair was Mrs B. Grant.
The group as explained by Mrs Grant at this first meeting…
‘…would be interdenominational and without political bias, and would uphold the following objectives:
a) To create an environment into which young married women come each month.
b) Through lectures, talks and discussions to provide members with the opportunity to develop their personality.
c) To help one another and to undertake social responsibilities within the Parish.
d) To encourage members to take an interest in the life and work of the village.’
(BMW minutes from 23rd January 1968)
Bishopsteignton Modern Wives provided opportunities for ‘young married women’ to socialise, support each other, take part in cultural trips, and acquire new knowledge and skills. It also harnessed the strengths, knowledge, and experiences of its members to benefit the local community. Over its 14 years it raised £1,910.33 for charities and local causes, the equivalent of about £15,100 today, supported vulnerable members of the community, and arranged numerous events and trips for local people.
By the end of its first year, the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives had grown from 21 members to about 37 members. Amongst these members, as well as its first Chair, Mrs B. Grant, there was the group’s first Secretary, Mrs B. Ball, Treasurer, Mrs E.A. Atkinson, and committee members, Mrs Martin, Mrs Clitheroe, Mrs Bernard, Mrs Perkin, and Mrs Ford.
The group met on the last Tuesday of each month (except in August), in the parlour of the village’s St John the Baptist Church. When it started in 1968, its annual subscription was 2/6d per year, the equivalent of about £2.50 today. By 1974 the annual subscription had risen to 75p, the equivalent of approximately £7.36 today.
For this subscription, the women not only enjoyed the opportunity to meet and socialise, but also talks on a wide range of topics, such as: Community Care, Family Planning, Marriage Guidance, Disabled Children, Problems of Fostering and Adoption of Difficult to Place Children, Decimal System, Food Production, Wine Making, Hypnotism, and Women’s Rights.
They also had workshops and lessons in a variety of skills, such as First Aid in the Home, Cooking, Car Maintenance, Flower Arranging, Beauty Care and Hairdressing, and Stress Avoidance. Furthermore, through the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives the women had regular trips to Northcott Theatre in Exeter (e.g., their trips to see the Musical Anything Goes in 1976 and Hello Dolly in 1978), the Ideal Home Exhibition, and skittles and darts evenings.
One of the most notable and impressive about the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives was their hard work and commitment to helping those in need in the local community. From the outset they set up a scheme called the
‘Help One Another Service …for young wives and mothers of Bishopsteignton whereby anyone in need of help in the home or with children at times of sickness or family stress could contact the Modern Wives for help.’
(BMW meeting minutes March 5th, 1968)
During its 14 years, the group also had schemes to help provide social contact for people who were lonely and isolated in the village, a fund to provide financial help for local people experiencing monetary difficulties, and a project that involved giving Christmas presents to elderly residents who would otherwise be unlikely to receive any. In 1976, 44 elderly residents were selected to receive these parcels. They also arranged an annual trip for local children, such as visits to Lindridge Country House and Gardens, where they paid for the children to have treats ice cream and sweets, ‘to the value of 10p’ (BMW meeting minutes July 17th, 1974).
Maypole Dance at a Bishopsteignton fete
The Bishopsteignton Modern Wives were formidable fund raisers. Over the years they not only organised countless fund raising coffee mornings, but also provided numerous stalls at many School and Church fetes, summer fayres and carnivals, raising money for causes such as Cancer Research, Dr Barnardo’s, the village’s St John the Baptist Church, local hospitals, and schools. As well as supporting many national fund-raising campaigns, such as the National Knit, that raised money for Arthritis and Rheumatism charities. When the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives disbanded in 1982, it gave the remaining money in its account to Teignmouth Hospital, the village’s St John the Baptist and Methodist churches, and the Brownie and Guide Headquarters.
During its 14 years, the group also had schemes to help provide social contact for people who were lonely and isolated in the village, a fund to provide financial help for local people experiencing monetary difficulties, and a project that involved giving Christmas presents to elderly residents who would otherwise be unlikely to receive any. In 1976, 44 elderly residents were selected to receive these parcels. They also arranged an annual trip for local children, such as visits to Lindridge Country House and Gardens, where they paid for the children to have treats ice cream and sweets, ‘to the value of 10p’ (BMW meeting minutes July 17th, 1974).
The Bishopsteignton Modern Wives were formidable fund raisers. Over the years they not only organised countless fund raising coffee mornings, but also provided numerous stalls at many School and Church fetes, summer fayres and carnivals, raising money for causes such as Cancer Research, Dr Barnardo’s, the village’s St John the Baptist Church, local hospitals, and schools. As well as supporting many national fund-raising campaigns, such as the National Knit, that raised money for Arthritis and Rheumatism charities. When the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives disbanded in 1982, it gave the remaining money in its account to Teignmouth Hospital, the village’s St John the Baptist and Methodist churches, and the Brownie and Guide Headquarters.
Maypole Dance at a Bishopsteignton fete
Another way Bishopsteignton Modern Wives enhanced village life was through the events they organised. Over the years they arranged many fashion shows, musical evenings, and barn dances, for the entertainment of local people. Never missing an opportunity to fund raise, they used these events to fund raise for causes such as, for the Mencap School in Kensington, Oaklands Park Special School, and local Scouts groups. It was also the group who was responsible for the village’s street party for local children in 1977, to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
For several years, the group even organised a version of ‘Any Questions’, nominating local people to be on the panel, to be questioned by the community on local and national issues that mattered to them, as well as more playful questions. Some of the questions that were asked were:
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‘What are the thoughts of the panel on the Old Village School lying Idle?
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What changes would you like to see in the village (if any)?
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What does the panel think of the centralisations of the hospitals?
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What advice would the panel give to school-leavers unable to find work through no fault of their own to help retain their self-respect?
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If you had the choice of personality which would you choose?
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If you had a chance to return to earth what or whom would you choose to be? …’
(BMW meeting minutes July 27th, 1977)
Similarly, in 1977 the Modern Wives held their own version of the ‘Petticoat Line’, an all-women light-hearted panel show, that aired between 1965-1976, on the BBC Home Service. Some of the criteria used to select the Modern Wives panel were:
‘Members who,
- … are wearing a Marks and Spencer Bra
- … Devonians…
- … live in a bungalow
- … have a patterned wedding ring
- … take the magazine She…’
(BMW meeting minutes March 16th, 1977)
Some of the questions the Modern Wives Panel were asked were:
- ‘What are your husband’s most irritating habits?
- What three items would you take on a dessert island and why?
- Who would you like to spend an evening out with and why?
- Given that you have the necessary qualifications what would you most like to do in a man’s world? …’
(BMW meeting minutes March 16th, 1977)
Bishopsteignton Modern Wives did not only organise their own community events, but were committed to supporting and participating in other village events. Over many years they played a supportive role in the productions by the Bishopsteignton Players and the Children’s Theatre Pantomimes. The group was also regular participants in the Bishopsteignton Carnival, winning 3rd prize with their carnival float in 1980 and 2nd prize in 1981. In 1981 the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives Carnival Float theme was ‘The Wedding of the Year’ as part of a celebration of Prince Charles engagement to Princess Diana. As well as competing in the carnival float competition, the group had many stalls at the Carnival over the years, such as their Guess the weight of the cake stall in 1981.
Table Plan for Modern Wives 10th Anniversary dinner on 24th January 1978, Cockhaven Arms, Bishopsteignton.
On 24th January 1978 the Modern Wives celebrated their 10th Anniversary, with a dinner at the Cockhaven Arms pub in Bishopsteignton. About 45 members attended the dinner, and the top table included all the original, past, and present members of the Modern Wives committee. A special cake was made for the occasion by Mrs Forster, and the anniversary was toasted with sherry.
After a very active 14 years, due to declining membership, the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives decided to end the group, at what was to be their last meeting, on 23rd February 1982. At this last meeting there were 13 members in attendance.
Though the concept of a group for Wives is now an outdated, due to our appreciation of the diverse nature of relationships, households, and families, and greater focus on inclusivity, we can still learn a great deal from ethos and work of the Bishopsteignton Modern Wives. Providing places where women can come together to support each other, and have opportunities to acquire new knowledge and skills, continues to be incredibly valuable for building supportive communities, and enhance wellbeing. Furthermore, the idea that such groups should also be outward community facing, harnessing the knowledge, skills, experiences and interests of its members, to benefit the wider local community and other good causes, remains important for similar groups today.
In fact, even after the Modern Wives disbanded, some of its former members continued to meet once a month until the Covid restrictions in 2020. This is testament to the lasting friendships the group nurtured.
