HEATHER Shute, this month's speaker, told us of the charity Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to help people with lifethreatening health conditions, giving them greater independence and, above all, saving their lives on a daily basis.

The dogs use their noses to sniff out when their diabetic owner’s blood sugar is dropping and thus avert a hypo, which would often require hospitalisation.

Various other disorders can be helped by dogs, including alerting owners who suffer severe allergic responses to such items as nuts.

Research is ongoing into the fact that dogs can detect cancer at an early stage and increase prospects for survival.

It’s true, a dog is man’s best friend.

A week earlier members had been busy with their craft and produce show which attracted a high standard of entries with the winner of the Muriel Payne Cup being Gill Banning.

We had also enjoyed a garden party in a member’s garden and, following the second round of the Gloucestershire Federation Quiz, we now are proud to have two teams in the final to be held in October.

In August we will be enjoying a guided walk of Lechlade. Our next meeting in the WI Hall will be on Thursday, September 12, at 7.30pm when Gillian Kane will talk about A Girl’s Life in the Army.

New members and visitors welcome. Contact Jo on 01608 650821.