The “Masterminds” of Brookeborough were top of the form at the Fermanagh heat of the Women’s Institute’s annual quiz.

The three-woman team won the local heat and will represent Erne Area at the Northern Ireland final.

That’s a big achievement for a small group of women from rural Fermanagh.

Brookeborough W.I. has 22 members and meets in Brookeborough Primary School at 7.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

As Margaret Bogue, the secretary, says: “It’s not a big Institute but it’s bigger than some.” She thinks many potential new members who hesitate about joining have the wrong impression about the WI.

“A lot of younger women think it’s about sewing and making jam but that’s not what its about,” she says. “We just have a speaker. No jam or sewing.” And not just a guest speaker. The W.I.’s other attractions include competitions, monthly prize draw, beetle drives, bowls tournaments, poetry, sketches and quizzes.

“Way back there would have been a cooker and jam making and the younger ones associate it with that,” says Mrs. Bogue.

Brookeborough has recruited a couple of new members recently but is having to compete with the comforts of home.

“It’s hard to get them shifted out of their houses at night,” admits Mrs. Bogue.

Mrs. Bogue is a past President. She has been a member for 25 or 26 years.

“We have two members, Sheila Carson and Christine Taylor, who have been in it for over 40 years,” says Mrs. Bogue.

The current President is Vera Nelson.

The modern W.I. is as much about providing food for thought as it is about putting food on the table.

Therefore in drawing up its programme for the year the committee of Brookeborough W.I. aims to draw up a programme that includes speakers on topical issues and matters of general interest that will provoke discussion and debate among the members.

The organisation also has a big heart and every December for well over 20 years the women of Brookeborough W.I. have thrown a Christmas party for the Gateway Club for learning disabled in Lisnaskea.

There’s food, music, dancing and Santa Claus distributes presents.

Brookeborough W.I. also donates to charity. This year, following a visit by guest speaker Catherine Boyle, the chosen beneficiary was Autism Awareness.