At the February meeting a floral bouquet was presented to Jill Green on the occasion of her ‘special birthday’.

Members were updated on several events which have been arranged over the coming months including the Group Meeting to be hosted by Hartlebury WI in April and the Federation Spring Council meeting in March. The summer birthday meal will again be celebrated at Bodenham Arboretum.

Members were informed that a trading stall would be organised each month and any contributions for this would be most welcome.

As part of the Centenary celebrations of the formation of the W I movement, members are going to get creative and make a table runner, with each member making an individual square which will then be assembled into the finished piece. Diane Ferris had created several examples in order to share ideas and encouraged everyone to get busy with needle and thread!!

Diane reported back on the recent Crochet class that she had attended and had included crochet on one of her demonstration squares.

The speaker for the evening was Yvonne Cocks who, in her own way had been rather a pioneer. Joining the ambulance service in the early 80’s as the first woman ambulance driver, she entered a very male orientated world and met with much prejudice which she eventually over came.

She was among the first people to be trained as a paramedic which involved the use of intubation and use of canulas which were a huge advancement in dealing with patients at the scene of the accidents and therefore enabling A and E staff to deliver medications and treatment with greater effect. Again she became the first woman in this role.

Yvonne did say that some Doctors took time to adjust to the fact that these procedures were being delivered by ambulance staff let alone a woman. Her next encounter with working in a mans world was when she joined the fledging Air Ambulance Service and again was the first woman to do so. Her talk was most interesting and informative and gave a very valuable insight into the invaluable work both of the Paramedic and The Air Ambulance Service.

There then followed a quiz on a First Aid theme which was was won by Pat Topham and Mary Quinton.

Sue Jennings is gathering information from the old minute books prior to them being archived at The Hive in Worcester. She shared notes from February meetings over the last 30 years and it was interesting to see that some of the issues being discussed in years past were still an issue now and that the three presidents in office are still members .

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday March 10 at St Celias Church, Hoo Road. New Members most welcome.