MAMBLE CUM BAYTON W I: President Val Evans welcomed members and two visitors to the first meeting of 2017. Val mentioned that the year would culminate in the Institute's 100th birthday celebrations, and with a varied Speakers' programme planned, it is an exciting year to look forward to.

The speaker was Sylvia Perkins who played the second part of her mother's recordings made in conjunction with BBC about her life from 1907. This was mainly her memories of WW1 and how she and her brother befriended a wounded American soldier who was hospitalised near them in Birmingham. She remembered the service held in Centenary Square in 1914. Sylvia was thanked by President Val for her fascinating talk.

The next meeting will be held in Mamble village hall on February 13 starting at 2pm. The speaker will be Edwina Newman, who will talk about the 19th century employment of women, children and young persons in agriculture. The competition is an item beginning with D and there will be a trading stall.