Chairman, Pauline Roberts welcomed members and president to our May meeting.

She was pleased to announce that the outing to Stockton Bury is now going ahead.

The harvest supper is on October 12 and anyone interested in attending should submit their names to Joyce Coggins. TG diaries can now be ordered at a cost of £2.50 each.

The sales table was well stoked with garden plants and the sale of books from the hospice continues to flourish.

Doreen Cooke gave the federation report – good news that the question of the abolishment of cheques is to be looked at again in view of public disapproval.

The interguild quiz will take place on November 7, two teams to be entered.

The National General Knowledge Quiz will be in May 2012.

The highlight of the evening was the speaker Chris Smith who in the year 2000 embarked on an awe inspiring journey from his home in Bewdley to Bejing on his bicycle.

His account of the 16,500-mile journey with an average speed of 80 miles per day left us all spellbound.

He had to endure extremes of cold and heat, ill health due to poor food and overcame many obstacles while travelling through dangerous remote deserts and mountain ranges.

His journey took 13 months to complete and was a truly remarkable feat of endurance, determination and passion and left us full of admiration.

The vote of thanks was given by Betty Butler.

Raffle prizes went to Yvonne Maddocks and Joan Jones. The competition winner was Lorna O’Dowd.

Our next meeting is June 21 at Oldswinford School, Field Lane, when the speaker will be Mike Miles, his subject Canal boatwomen of the Midlands 1830-1960. Visitors and new members are always welcome.