PRESIDENT Marjory, welcomed 27 members and guests to the March meeting.

The proposed film night has now been arranged for Tuesday, March 17 when the film the “Ya Ya Sisterhood” will be shown at 7pm and will include a glass of wine/juice and savoury nibbles. We hope this will be a successful venture and can be repeated.

Sign up sheets displayed included a WFWI summer concert at Hartlebury Castle in June and a WI Centennial Fair at Harrogate in September. Our own visit to Highgrove Estate has been arranged for June 18 and other interesting outings are planned for May and later in the year.

The cycling weekend in Devon is all arranged and together with our monthly walks it has been decided to take part in the healthy living program – Moon Mission – organised by the University of Worcester.

Last months walk to Kemerton lakes was much enjoyed. Many birds are now successfully breeding here and include a wide range of species including mallards and tufted ducks, reed warblers, ringed plover, many grebes, moorhens, geese and cormorants. An interesting visit for bird watchers.

A team for the group quiz was selected, to be held on April 28 at Badsey.

Marjory announced that the resolution chosen to be voted on at the Annual Meeting in June was “Failing to Care assessment of need in Long Term Care”. This was also Ashton`s choice.

The speaker for the evening was Merlene Watson, a volunteer for the charity, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf”. She had brought along “Grace” her trained cocker spaniel that was the real star of the evening. Marlene, demonstrated the various commands with Grace who performed them well, but the slippy floor caught her out a few times! “Hearing Dogs” has a much lower profile than “Guide Dogs for the Blind”. As Merlene pointed out, deafness is a hidden disability but it can leave people quite isolated, depressed and suffering from social exclusion.

The charity was started in 1982 by Bruce Fogle (father of Ben), and has grown quite considerably since then, relying entirely on public support. To train a dog cost many thousands of pounds so all agreed a very worthwhile cause to support. After questions, members eagerly collected envelopes and donation boxes as obviously inspired by such an eloquent speaker. Merlene can be contacted by email: lunarc.mw@gmail.com

She was thanked by Linda Richardson.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 7 when Doreen Jeeves who represents the Associated Country Women of the World will tell us all about where the latest projects are and how our money is spent.

Visitors are always very welcome.

JEN CREESE