WANTED: Wine drinking crazy cat ladies from Leeds

‘Buns and Roses’ is the Leeds city centre branch of the Women’s Institute and is on the look out for new members with a simple brief – that they are wine drinking, crazy cat ladies.

The group isn’t what is stereotypically associated with the WI, in fact for the last ten years the age range of the 90 strong members has been usually between 25 and 40.

And while pastimes do of course include making jam and crafts (well it is the WI after all) it doesn’t stop there.

The most recent meeting was about hula-hooping, there has been burlesque dancing, tea-tasting at Skipton Castle, Indian dancing and work with St George’s Crypt.

Stephanie Dawson said: “I am one of the oldest members at 41. I really enjoy some of the traditional things because I have no idea how to make jam but then the next meeting was hula-hooping.”

And beyond that the WI is at the forefront of political campaigns, at local and national level, which is timely given the recent 100th anniversary of women being given the right to vote. It promoted smear tests for women which led to queues outside surgeries and back in the city, the group was at the heart of the Leeds Pride events.

Mrs Dawson added: “People have this perception that it is old biddies but we are for all women and just ask members to be open-minded.

“For me the WI is a completely different set of friends, not people I would normally hang out with or even meet in every day life but a really nice set of people and a different support network. I like to embrace my inner geek and this is like being a boy scout in an environment that feels very safe.” Meetings are every third Thursday, 7pm, at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.