The Women’s Homely was a part of the Congregational Church in Market Lavington. It was, as the name implied, a group for the ladies of the church to get together and enjoy the company of each other. They first met in 1923 – now 90 years ago. But it meant that in 1983 the group celebrated its diamond jubilee – 60 years of existence. The ladies had a bit of a party and a rather splendid cake was shared – as shown in our photo.
The Women’s Homely clebrate 60 years – a photo at Market Lavington Museum
The cake was cut by Mrs Lily Oram – the older of the two ladies wearing blue. She was assisted by Mrs Ken Ellis.
Lily Oram had been born in 1891 as Lilian (or Lillian) Rose Bryant. She was born in Chittoe which is near Bromham in Wiltshire. Her parents were James, a Chittoe born farm worker and market gardener and Alberta who hailed from London.
In 1910 Lilian married Market Lavington born Herbert Oram and in 1911 the couple lived in Market Place, Market Lavington.
Herbert died in 1962 with his address given as ‘Vale’, Northbrook.
Lily just made it to the age of 100. She died in 1991 and she was still a Market Lavington resident. By that time she had left the Northbrook house and was a resident at Dalecare – then the name of the nursing home based in the old Vicarage in the village.
We do not know, but Lilian could have been an original member of the Homely.
We’d love to know who the onlookers are.
Tags: 1980s, 1983, cake, chapel, church, Market Lavington, women
Market Lavington Museum 
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