MEMBERS of Pershore WI had a very busy day on Thursday 11th September because their monthly meeting was in the evening following an afternoon celebration with fellow members from the Pershore, Evesham and LRS groups of WIs at St Andrews Hall. A commemorative baton marking the Centenary of the WI has been making its way around the country from Anglesey by various forms of transport and on this day it was brought to Pershore in a convoy of two Morgan cars from Upton on Severn. We celebrated with afternoon tea and competitions inside St Andrews and brass band music in the gardens.

In the evening our speaker was Mr Bayley who told us about the history of records and demonstrated playing early tracks on an Edison Phonograph with a large horn over 100 years old. Originally, tracks were made on wax cylinders and designed for office use (like a Dictaphone), but then it was realised that there was a market for songs and music in the home. The wax cylinders were superseded by blue plastic cylinders and then with the advent of World War 1 the ‘Trench model’ Gramophone was produced which used circular vinyl records. The quality of the early reproduction was quite remarkable and we enjoyed singing along. It was a most interesting talk

In the absence of our secretary, Maureen Speight assisted president Audrey Whitehouse. Details were given of forthcoming craft meetings, skittles evenings, afternoon tea on October 7th at Revill’s, a trip to Cribbs Causeway on 6th November and a Christmas Dinner at the Berkeley on 25th November. Plenty to look forward to!

The competition for ‘the number 8’ was won by Elizabeth Kearney (No 8 Programme), with Daphne Glover second (8 bells) and Angela Bilboe third (a knitted octopus). The Photographic Plate was won by Janet Arnold, with Angela Bilboe second and Pam Rayner third.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 9th October at 7.30pm in the Wulstan Hall when Mrs Liz Hughes will give a cookery demonstration featuring ideas for simple meals with meat. The competition will be based on the number 9. Visitors will be very welcome.