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Polish military contingent in Lebanon. [183]
WI (Women's Institute) is a voluntary women's social group
Traditionally only in the countryside though this may have changed a bit. Massive support for often isolated rural women and for many, an evening every month when they can get away from their wretched menfolk. In a Yorkshire village, the WI can be a big part of the ecosystem.
Plus they're a good source of income for public speakers who've got a nice and interesting 45 minute turn, with slides and things to pass round.
Denham College which they run is pretty important too; it's changed a lot of lives and kept many old crafts alive.
Sadly they have a lot of schisms and splits; everyone wants to be the Grand Poohbah with the gold chain. About "nice ladies", sort of. Some rough ones too. A kind of place where Councillor Mrs Wotsit with the nice house lectures the ones with print dresses, Woodbine, booze and hens in the yard.
Not as snobby as the Housewives' Register and not as hockey sticks as the B&Ps.Or is that the Soroptimists? One is posher than the other and has more single headmistresses who drive (or used to drive) MG Midgets and took holidays with lady friends 'exploring Greece'.
For annoying old blokes, there's Probus (retired business and professional men), many ex-Rotary though not all since a Rotary Club can only have one man per profession. Probus is in theory mixed now, probably because half of them have had their driving licences taken away by the doctor and their wives have to take them.
Joseph of Arimathea certainly existed and was a rich man but there is no mention in the Bible of him being an uncle of Jesus, merely a disciple.
In the middle ages, they thought his sister and brother-in-law settled in Britain. I think his name was Bron. Something to do with the Fisher King legend.