Women s Institute: The President opened the meeting and welcomed new members and visitors. Birthday posies were prepared for Jenny McDonald, Margaret Watson and Chris Rendell. The speaker this month was Joy Shipcott who gave a talk entitled Pathway throu

Women's Institute: The President opened the meeting and welcomed new members and visitors. Birthday posies were prepared for Jenny McDonald, Margaret Watson and Chris Rendell. The speaker this month was Joy Shipcott who gave a talk entitled "Pathway through Flowers". When Joy's children started school she decided to take a postal course in floristry, in which she learnt how to make many arrangements for all occasions including weddings and she was sent artificial flowers and leaves to practice with. This led to a business working from home to fit in with her children's school hours. We were told about many amusing incidents including getting home from Covent Garden Market carrying a large amount of flowers and wires she needed for the arrangements, on a crowded train, and the time her large fridge, used for keeping flowers fresh, broke down just before she was about to start a large edding order.

The monthly competition for a single rose was won by Mary Jensen, Shirley Westcott and Liz Porter, and the May Craft Show overall winners were Margaret Watson and Joan Quinear. The raffle was won by Pam Parrett and Jean Hood.

On July 12 members will have a private garden meeting at a venue to be advised. The next ordinary meeting is on August 9 when the speaker will be Mr Chris Winter with a talk entitled "Where there's a Will there's a Relative". The competition is for "An Old Family Photograph (sepia)". For further information call the secretary Carolyn Trowman (01371 859040). Meetings are held in the Talberd Room, Foakes Hall, on the second Wednesday of the month and begin at 7.45pm. New members and visitors are always welcome.