| 
                  In 1942 Swanley District divided
              and the new Hartley District came into being of which Ash and
              Ridley formed a part. A list of officers to date are as follows:- 
                 Presidents:- 
                    1933 – 1937 Mrs Foa, Holywell
              Park 
                    1937 – 1944 Mrs Ewbank
              "Cherry Orchard", Ash 
                    1944 – 1945 Miss Davies School
              House, Ash 
                    1945 – 1946 Mrs Ewbank 
                    1946 – 1947 Mrs Vigo The Rectory,
              Ash 
                    1947 – 1950 Mrs Ewbank 
                    1950 – 1956 Mrs Simmons
              "Hillside", Billet Hill 
                    1956 – 1957 Mrs Sprenger
              "Langley", Hartley 
                 Treasurers:- 
                    1933 – 1936 Miss Poole "Home
              Cot", Hartley 
                    1936 (6 months) Miss M. Edwards
              "Malden", Ash 
                    1936 – 1944 Mrs Meager "High
              Leigh", Ash 
                    1944 - 1956 Mrs E. Hollands 4 North
              Ash Cottages 
                    1956 – 1957 Mrs Meager 
                 Secretaries:- 
                    1933 – 1935 Mrs Ralph
              "Violet Cottage",  
                                             
              Hodsoll Street 
                    1935 – 1942 Miss D. Underhill
              Holywell Park Dairy 
                    1942 – 1947 Mrs Meager 
                    1947 – 1952 Miss Day "Meadcot",
              Hartley 
                    1952 – 1956 Mrs Meager 
                    1956 – 1957 Miss Day 
                    1957 Mrs McCarthy Old Rectory, Ash 
                 Ours is the only Institute in the Hartley District
              with members holding office at County level. Mrs Simmons, of
              "Hillside" Billet Hill, became a Voluntary County
              Organiser in 1953, in 1956 she was co-opted to the West Kent
              Executive Committee, and 1957 saw her voted on to the West Kent
              Executive Committee and elected Chairman of the Produce
              Sub-committee. Mrs. Sprenger, our President has now qualified as a
              Voluntary County Organiser. 
                 When the Institute was re-formed in 1933 Miss Wright,
              the Schoolmistress, loaned the "Hut" which she had built
              for extra school accommodation, for our meetings. When she left
              the village in 1942 the meetings were transferred to the Parish
              Hall which we still use. 
                 In 1939 and 1940 a large "Keep Fit" class
              was most popular. The Kent Council of Social Service provided the
              Instructress.  | 
            
               | 
            
                  At the outbreak of the Second
              World War in 1939 the Women’s Institute, in co-operation with
              the Women’s Voluntary Services, decided they would organise a
              money raising effort, mostly Whist Drives, as near as possible
              once a month, to raise funds for "Comforts for the
              Forces". With this money wool was bought and distributed once
              a week to any of the Villagers who were willing and able to knit.
              Many large parcels of woollen comforts left the Village throughout
              the War. When hostilities ceased a representative committee met to
              decide what should be done with the money still in hand, viz. £52.8s.9d.
              It was decided to send a cheque for £41 to St. Dunstan’s and
              the balance of £11.8s.9d. to go to Women’s Institute Funds
              which had suffered rather badly during the War years. 
                 In 1939 we combined with Hartley Women’s Institute
              and throughout the War ran a most successful preserving centre. At
              least one full day every week was given to this work. 
                 After the Second World War an effort was made
              throughout the movement to establish more contacts with Women’s
              Institutes in other countries. Ash and Ridley have established
              links with :- 
                 Ararimmi Country Women’s Institute, Ramarama, 
                 New Zealand and Horden Vale Branch, Country 
                 Women’s Association, Horden Vale, via Lavers Hill, 
                 Victoria, Australia. 
                 Letters, books and small gifts have been exchanged.
              One of the members from the New Zealand Institute attended one of
              our monthly meetings while in this country on holiday. 
                 It is the ambition of Women’s Institutes to have
              their own banner designed and worked entirely by members. The
              design is emblematical of the Village name as far as possible. Mrs
              Self "Eastwood" Rogers Wood, designed our banner and was
              responsible for obtaining the materials used and getting the work
              done. It was completed in 1952. 
                 Handicrafts of all kinds, Drama and Music, are
              encouraged for exhibitions and contests at District, County and
              National levels. Several of our members are also members of the
              National Produce Guild. There is also a Home and International
              Relations Representative.  |