Our April meeting began sadly with the news that Margaret Coles, a long standing member of Clent WI, had died in hospital, after a long period of illness. Our thoughts were with Margaret's family.

Margaret had succeeded in selling hundreds of raffle tickets to us over the years, always quietly and cheerfully persuasive as we searched out our coins and deliberated, ‘Should I go for a single ticket or a full strip?’ She waited and encouraged as we hesitated again weighing up the possibility of winning back our own contributions, ( the vanilla scented candles or bumper bottle of purple bubble bath rescued from the back of a cupboard or even the ‘wrong sort of chocolate’) against the chances of carrying off the star prize. The tickets would finally be handed over with a winning smile from Margaret as she moved on to the next person.

It was decided that we should send the proceeds of our April raffle to a charity to be chosen by Margaret's husband.

The meeting on May 12 got off to an early start with many of our members to be found clustered around the previous month's speaker and the stall he had set up, in the car park at the rear of the hall. In April Dave Smith had given us some very sensible and money saving tips on how to plant and maintain colourful hanging baskets. Even the most resistant gardeners among us were ready to give it a try, or to order baskets which he would make up and deliver to the door.

Once we had sorted out our baskets we were on with the serious business of debating the WI Resolutions which are to be put forward at the June AGM in Liverpool.

This year's concerns are The proposed introduction of Mega Farms (Factory farming of large animals). Is this the food we want? Economy and efficiency over animal welfare?

The closure of public libraries and the loss of essential local educational and information resources.

The Resolutions give every woman in the WI a chance to make her voice heard at national level and exert a degree of influence on government policy making.

'The Late, Late Christmas Party'

followed with a great spread of food provided by members. Our wonderful committee had worked hard to arrange a sociable and very enjoyable evening for all of us.

On June 9 Des Wright will be speaking to us on "The Life History of a Book of Walks" A talk likely to be well received by our members as we have so many walkers among us.

Was it really only last summer that we collectively enjoyed clocking up 1450 miles of walking and running?

It was. WI members are found everywhere!

If you'd like to come along to any of our meetings and events you'll be very welcome.