THE President welcomed members to the September meeting after the usual summer break.

Contrary to normal practice, the evening began with the speaker Mr Vince Williams, giving a talk entitled, ‘Idle Women’. This was a complete misnomer for a small band of extremely hard working volunteers who, during the Second World War, gave service on the coal carrying canal barges from London to Birmingham.

The information in this illustrated talk surprised us all and was much enjoyed. After the coffee break and sale of produce on the Harvest stall, normal business commenced.

Six members had enjoyed the successful Hagley group walk on fortunately a very nice evening in July.

The afternoon tea party also organised by group in August was attended by 12 of our members and was a nice, social occasion. The autumn group meeting will be hosted by Clent Institute with Ms Sue Clegg about fingerprints in criminal detection.

A coach has been organised to Worcester cathedral on November 23 for our 90th birthday celebration service, our choir will be taking part.

The nine institutes forming the Hagley group had arranged with Mary Stevens Hospice to donate and plant shrubs and bulbs in the entrance grounds to commemorate 90 years of WI in the county.

Details of our own sub group’s activities were announced. It was unanimously agreed that the Institute send a letter of protest against the proposed closure of Pedmore Post Office.

Our next meeting will be attended by members from Fairfield WI on a return visit; we hope to have another successful evening.