BLAKEDOWN WI: The meeting opened at the end of a wet and windy Wednesday when spring still felt a long way off. Jill was thanked for her basket of flowers for the front table which she also kindly donated to the raffle.

The secretary Chris Burt read out the Minutes from the February meeting and confirmed that votes for the 2016 Resolution had been sent to NFWI but the two resolution to be discussed and voted on at the annual meeting in Brighton in June., The president, Christine Rostron is to be our delegate at this meeting. Marilyn Hiscock was thanked for her sterling work in maintaining up to date and accurate MSC records. The treasurer, Judy Tromans, reported that all 2016/2017 subscriptions had been received and our contributions to NFWI and WFWI would be sent by the required date.

The ambling group would recommence in May. The book club now has two groups who meet monthly. Kath Lahive gave a report on the previous three books read and discussed at the book club and encouraged any other members interesting in joining the club to speak with her. Jan Cook then gave members an update on the Blakedown and Churchill Produce Show which will take place on Saturday August 20. Raffle prizes and bottles are now being collected and Jan is working hard to find sponsors for cups and prizes for the different show categories. Helpers required and any member willing to give some time, speak to Jan. It was decided that the trading stall, started in February, would be run every other month so the next one will be at the April meeting. June Gordon had arranged for a tea party to celebrate the Queens’ birthday on April 21. Members were also asked whether they wished to attend the Brockencote Group Meeting at Chaddesley Corbett Village hall, 2pm on April 20. It was agreed by members that the money collected from the raffle would be donated to the Q.E. Brain Tumour Research Fund.

The speaker Van Greaves, was then introduced. He had a beautiful collection of photos taken when he and seven other members of a climbing group, walked the Haute Route between Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland during the month of June. These had been put onto a film with music and we were all awestruck by the beauty of the scenery. He explained that the walk had taken twelve days and finished in a small village within sight of the Matterhorn.

The view of mountains inspired the evening ending with some songs from ‘The Sound of Music’. Even though those mountains were in Austria we still enjoyed our singing to Rosemary Redheads accompaniment on the piano.

The next meeting will be on April 13 and will include a talk by Adrian James, ‘Through the Garden Gate’.