First WI Chairman From North Devon

Mrs Ruth Courtney, who lives in Bay View Road, Northam, has become the first WI member from North Devon to be elected chairman of the 15,000 strong County WI Federation.

She is a former president of the Abbotsham institute, which she joined 22 years ago, and for seven years was secretary of the Bideford group of WIs.
Mrs Courtney, born and brought up in Dartmouth, holds an honours degree in French and Latin and spent some earlier years teaching. She is the wife of Mr Gerald Courtney who before retirement taught at Bideford Grammar School for many years.

The full Gazette article is dated 13 May 1977