The president, Brenda Scraggs, welcomed everyone present and introduced the speaker, Sean Brady, who demonstrated and talked about making handcrafted porcelain jewellery at our September meeting. Porcelain is pure white clay and was found originally by th

The president, Brenda Scraggs, welcomed everyone present and introduced the speaker, Sean Brady, who demonstrated and talked about making handcrafted porcelain jewellery at our September meeting.

Porcelain is pure white clay and was found originally by the Chinese. Potting ran in families and they aged their clay by mixing it and putting it in holes in the ground for their successors to use. The source of their porcelain was kept a secret as it was priceless.

The Chinese name is high ridge or kaolin. It now comes from France and mixed with water it becomes pliable and will keep for ever. Mr Brady demonstrated how to add colour and perfect the clay into small pieces of jewellery.

Birthday posies had been prepared for Linda Herring, Thelma Jennings Smith, Phyl Lewis, Mary Weston and Rosemary Forsyth. Members agreed to invest £12 again this year into the Winsome Club.

The half yearly council meeting is to be held on October 19 at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, Grays. The speaker will be Jim Wight, son of James Herriot (All Creatures Great and Small). There will be a visit to the Chocolate Lady at Steeple Bumpstead on October 4.

The competition for a favourite piece of jewellery was won by Shirley Westcott, with Ann Whitehead coming second.

The next meeting is on October 11 when the speaker will be Christine Middleton who will be demonstrating Christmas flowers. The competition is for an autumnal arrangement.

For further information, please contact secretary Carolyn Trowman on 01371 859040. Meetings are held in the Talberd Room of the Foakes Hall on the second Wednesday of the month and begin at 7.45pm. New members and visitors are always made very welcome.