The History of NWR 2007 The annual National Conference – first and possibly only one in the summer, is held at Keele University. The theme is Midsummer Medley and it includes a Murder Mystery event for Friday evening, written for NWR by local author by Priscilla Masters. The Mary Stott Award is presented to Barbara Lang for participating in the Tall Ships programme. The themed evening is France – which gives rise to great deal of interesting responses to the survey of French likes and dislikes. It is NWR’s year of Gardens and Gardening: many groups avail themselves of the chance to go out and about or discuss the effects of climate change. The results of the Programme Competition are both interesting and inspiring. The Telephone Treasure Trail highlights the new website by adding a compulsory question. 2006 Manchester hosts the National Conference with the theme of Making a Difference. Mary Coslett of Horrabidge NWR wins the Mary Stott Award for her voluntary work with pregnant women in Tibet. It is NWR's Travel Year and the themed evening is China. 2005 This is NWR's 45th (Sapphire) Anniversary. Groups are given a list of 45 blue themes and a 45 Pack of ideas and quizzes for meetings. Reading holds the National Conference on Nothing to Declare but our Genius. The second presentation of the Mary Stott NWR Woman of the Year goes to Margaret Lavelle, Area Organiser for the South West Region and member of the Kingsbridge and District group. The themed evening is The United States of America. 2004 Swansea holds the National Conference on Women of the World. The first presentation of The Mary Stott Award for the NWR Woman of the Year is awarded to Ann Scarborough, MBE, of the Bradford-on-Avon group. The National Themed Evening is India. The Co-ordinators hold NWR's first Themed Year: a Literary Year. 175 groups take part in a national debate on The Best Woman Writer of the Twentieth Century. 2003 York hosts the National Conference on Exploring Diversity. The NWR Archive is professionally catalogued and to be viewed on request at the Women's Library. The annual NWR Woman of the Year Mary Stott Award is instituted in memory of one of NWR's founders, the editor of the Guardian Women's page in the 1950s and 60s. 250 Groups take part in the first national Themed Evening on Italy and 150 groups join in NWR's Great British Women debate. 2002 Mary Stott, NWR's first Honorary Life Member dies aged 95. Guildford holds the National Conference on Colours. The Norwich Employment Tribunal, on hearing ex-NWR Administrator Lesley Appel's claim for constructive dismissal, finds in favour of NWR. Members from English and European groups meet up in Luxembourg for a weekend Space to be EU. The New Neighbours project distributes NWR publicity to new homeowners in the Home Counties. 2001 Membership holds steady around 7,800. The year of Area Meetings - 18 in all attended by the Co-ordinators. Target to start 20 New Groups. Enquiries average 100 per month up till present. Nottingham has second National Conference. Gill Vine and Jean Stirk resign after ten years as Trustees. 5 Trustees, 3 new - Julie Baker, Karen Redner and Janet Reynolds, join Vivienne Eardley and Judy Ross on The Board 2000 Ruby anniversary, many groups celebrated throughout the year. Millennium quiz in January involved over 300 UK groups and some overseas groups participate. Tea towel/wall hanging produced from group's squares of what NWR means to them. 8 Consolidation days held for groups to review new structure with Co-ordinators and Trustees. Article in The Guardian to commemorate our origins. Our founder, Maureen Nicol, OBE, attended Durham Conference and cut celebratory Ruby cake. Nearly 1200 enquiries and increasing interest in NWR. First full colour magazine and Annual Report. Telephone Treasure Trail attracts 380 entries. 1999 Members voted to decide future of the running of NWR as insufficient volunteers came forward to maintain the National Group. Members voted for 2 paid staff (Co-ordinators). The Board of Trustees interviewed applicants. The National Group was dissolved at the AGM held at the National Conference in Exeter. Last National Organiser Mary Dodkins continued until Co-ordinators selected. In July Membership Co-ordinator Eilis Thorn and Marketing Co-ordinator Mary Dodkins are in post. Liz Williamson and Betty Jerman retired as Trustees. Vivienne Eardley and Beverly Purvis became new Trustees. 1998 Consultation Days - 7 arranged nationally to discuss The Way Forward. 24% of groups attended. 3 final options settled on and voting papers mailed to all members. The choice was between (a) winding down, (b) appointing a professional Executive Officer or (c) a board of 5 Trustee Directors and 2/3 National Co-ordinators, with larger honoraria and the buying-in of expertise. Option (c) was chosen by the 39% of members who returned their voting slips. Nominations are being sought for new Trustee Directors. National Conference in Chester, Other Worlds. 1997 Trustees' letter to all members expressing their concern about the lack of volunteers to run the organisation and the declining membership. Working Party of five set up to look at The Way Forward. National Group of five. NWR goes on the Internet with a web site. National Conference in Edinburgh, To see ourselves as others see us. 1996 First Telephone Treasure Trail success followed up with second and plans are to repeat annually due to great response from groups. National Conference in Reading, Winning Through. 1995 Founder Maureen Nicol awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday honours for her services to women in founding NWR in 1960. 35th Birthday celebrated. 231 groups take part in the 1st National Telephone Treasure Trail organised by Abbots Langley, thanks to Caroline Bloomer. National Conference in Leicester, Power. 1994 Sponsorship allowed us to send the Annual Report to every member. Trustees and National Group meeting with Strategic Plan Adviser followed by simpler 3 year plan to halt membership decline. 1993 Maureen Nicol retires as Trustee at the National Conference in Southampton and is given Honorary Membership. The Magazine - renamed 'The Register'- is direct mailed to members. The LO Handbook is completed and given to all Local Organisers. 1992 The National Group is restructured in phase 2 of regionalisation. Several Community Service Announcements are broadcast, resulting in hundreds of enquiries. 1991 NWR's Strategic Plan is published. The New Image is launched at the National Conference. Mary Stott retires as Trustee and is made the first Honorary Life Member. Jean Stirk, former National Group Chairman, and Gill Vine, former National Organiser, are elected Trustees. Regionalisation begins. The first Annual Report is produced. There are approximately 900 groups. 1990 30th birthday. Widespread publicity brings many enquiries. Members decide that NWR should build on its original aims, update its image and investigate a regional structure. The National Office moves to Norwich. Lesley Moreland retires as Trustee. Subscription is £4.00 1989 Falling membership (17,600) leads to the appointment of management consultants to analyse NWR and identify possible future directions. 1988 Liz Williamson, former Treasurer, is appointed fifth Trustee. Community Service Announcements are made in several ITV regions. 1987 Following a postal ballot of all members, a resolution is passed at the AGM to change the name to National Women's Register. Subscription is £3.50. 1986 NHR becomes a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Strictly controlled advertising appears in the Newsletter. The Research Bank and the subsidised workshop scheme are established. 1985 25th birthday. Widespread publicity leads to 2,500 enquiries and the formation of over 50 new groups. A record 540 members attend the Silver Jubilee National Conference in Southampton. Past members organise a celebratory luncheon at the House of Commons. 1984 Lesley Moreland, former National Organiser, is appointed fourth Trustee. The first full-time Office Administrator is employed. 1982 Office premises are acquired to cope with an ever-increasing workload. Membership reaches 24,000. There are affiliated groups in 28 countries overseas. Subscription is now £2.00. 1981 21st birthday. The Lively-Minded Women, a history of the first 20 years of NHR by Betty Jerman, is published by Heinemann. The Register is computerised. A European conference is held in Brussels. 1980 Charitable Status is granted and three Trustees appointed: Maureen Nicol (founder), Betty Jerman (journalist and author) and Mary Stott (past Women's Page editor, The Guardian ). The 1,000th group is formed. Membership is 22,000. An international conference is held in Buckinghamshire. Affiliation is introduced for overseas groups. 1978 18th birthday. National and international publicity produces an overwhelming number of enquiries and both membership and the number of groups increase. 1977 The first overseas Newsletter, Register Worldwide, is produced and sent to groups in 13 countries. Annual subscription is £1.00. A postal ballot for National Group elections is introduced. 1976 The first National Group is elected at the Bristol Conference. The number of one-day local conferences increases dramatically. There are now 800 groups and 19,000 members. 1975 A special business meeting at Crewe discusses the results of the research, culminating in the basis of the present organisation. 1973 Research begins into how other organisations deal with policy making. 1971 The by now National Newsletter is the accepted forum for discussion of Register matters and includes informative and controversial articles written by members. 1970 10th birthday. Membership rises from 10,000 to 15,000 as a result of widespread publicity. NHR's increasing size makes it imperative that joint National Organisers are appointed and paid a small honorarium in recognition of the responsibility. A standard national subscription of 5/-(five shillings) is introduced. 1968 The first overseas groups are formed in Australia and Canada. Standardised publicity is used for the first time. 1967 300 members attend the first National Conference in Buxton. 1966 The organisation becomes known as the National Housewives' Register. 1965 The first printed Newsletter. Membership reaches 6,000. 1962 The Register is no longer an experiment, but income is uncertain and the next National Organiser, Brenda Prys-Jones, inherits a "bankrupt, disorganised success". July 1960 Groups begin to form and are encouraged to make their own decisions about activities. Enthusiastic members help answer letters and make introductions on a local or regional basis. Enquirers are asked to pay a registration fee to their area organiser. The first national Newsletter, a duplicated sheet, is produced, giving news of group activities, spread of membership and profiles of members. Some areas produce local newsletters. 2,000 members are asked for a subscription of 1/- (one shilling). Feb 1960 In response to Betty Jerman's article in The Guardian, Maureen Nicol writes: "Perhaps housebound wives with liberal interests and a desire to remain individuals could form a national register so that whenever one moves one can contact like-minded friends?" She is overwhelmed by requests from women wanting to join "her" register and the Liberal-minded Housebound Wives' Register is born, soon becoming the Housebound Wives' Register.

The Keele National Conference Our Sapphire celebration! First National Group 1976 Maureen Nicol