AT our monthly meeting at the Town Hall on September 22, over 40 members and visitors enjoyed a tasty Fish and Chip Lunch, delivered hot and freshly cooked by the nearby Monica's Fish Shop. The hall was quite quiet as everyone there tucked into the food.

Afterwards Sarah Hodgson from GAGA (Goodwill and Growth in Africa UK) gave us a talk on the work of the organisation which coordinates with others to give 'hands-up' rather than 'hand-outs' to people in Africa and to encourage sustainable growth in the areas they work in. Building schools, providing scholarships for teacher training and university students, as well as helping to run clinics and supporting the creation and development of small businesses are all among the tasks GAGA aims to help with.

Sarah also displayed photographs of various projects including yarn-bombing a tree in Stratford upon Avon, to raise further funds for GAGA.

October 1 is Older People's Day and the exercise classes run at the Town Hall are inviting people along for a taster of what goes on at these classes and to celebrate the contribution older people make. Anyone interested can drop in between 10.30 and noon on Monday, September 28 and Thursday, October 1.

JEAN PARLETT