SIXTY glorious years of Great Dunmow s largest volunteer group for women were celebrated in style last week. The town s Inner Wheel Group invited current and past members to the Green Man in Lindsell for an afternoon-walk down memory lane. Following a del

SIXTY glorious years of Great Dunmow's largest volunteer group for women were celebrated in style last week.

The town's Inner Wheel Group invited current and past members to the Green Man in Lindsell for an afternoon-walk down memory lane.

Following a delicious lunch, past president Sheila Lipson gave a short talk simply entitled 'Sixty Glorious Years', in which she recounted stories about club outings, national conferences attended by members, and the wonderful friendships which had been made through contacts in this country and overseas.

She said: "We have numerous activities at the club, but the greatest benefit of all has come from following the motto of the movement - Friendship and Service.

"The third objective - to foster international understanding between nations - has also always featured prominently in the activities of our club.

"Examples are the support given to George and Marion Mills with their aid to the victims of Chernobyl, and to Felsted Aid for their work in eastern block counties and beyond."

She added: "Suppers with strong international themes, such as Ukrainian, Chinese, and Indian have been held annually for several years through which funds had been raised to support overseas charities."

Current president of the club Jane Askew welcomed the main guest for the Wednesday afternoon lunch, district chairman Beryl Balls from the Inner Wheel Club of Mersea Island, who dined with the members and congratulated them on reaching their landmark.

To conclude the occasion a special poem, written by past member Hilda Stock, was read out.

Hilda's Poem for the Inner Wheel ladies

Sixty years are diamond years,

A jewel in everyone's eyes

Our aim is always to do our best

Not to try to reach for the skies

To help our friends from all over the world

whose needs are greater than ours,

Remember always after a storm

The sunshine follows the showers.

Friendship and service are wonderful things

All Inner Wheel friends will agree

We must work harder for many more years

And a happier world we will see.