Based on interviews with countrywomen from all over England and Wales this book has two main themes: village life between 1915 and 1989 and a more specific focus on the rights of women which links up with the history of the Womens' Institute It shows the development of the rural community in Britain from 1915 to the present day and in parallel how the Women's Institute's modus operandi and mechanism for change has developed over the same period. In particular, how its increasing involvement as a pressure group concerned with village ameneties and services, brought its representation on local parish councils, rural district councils and county council committees and how it encouraged and trained women to work effectively from within these and many other organizations effective in creating change.