SOMERLEYTON WI: Members reflected upon the recent June Birthday Meal which had been held at The Crown and Sandys in Ombersley.

All agreed it had been a most enjoyable evening, with delicious food, very good service coupled with good company.

Next Year sees the 50th anniversary of the formation of our WI and plans are underway for celebrating the occasion.

The Autumn Group meeting will be held in October and will be hosted by Somerleyton WI. The speaker for the meeting will be Max Keen who will presenting one of his lively and animated historical talks - complete with costumes of the period.

Diane Ferris was nominated to go forward for the ballot for the opportunity to win The County Bursary for a course at Denman College.

The speaker for the evening was Christine Gledhill who makes many varieties of jams, chutney and marmalades.

Mrs Gledhill’s Home Made Preserves are the result of a lifelong hobby of making preserves from the fruits of the earth. Much of the fruit is homegrown, scrumped or picked from the wayside hedges of roving country the lanes of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. She told members how she first started gathering when she was a child living in India, when she was sent off by her mother, who made jam. In later life she was advised that if you were going to plant trees in your garden, plant ones that are productive and she was then able to turn the fruit into her preserves. Christine also told members about the history of marmalade as well as the back story to her own preserves

She proved to be an interesting and entertaining racanteur. Daphne Thompson gave the vote of the thanks on behalf of the members. The competition for a spectacular fruit or vegetable was won by Sheila Mason who had created an amazing owl from a pineapple and a melon!

The August meeting will be The annual BBQ to be held at the Rugby Club.

Septembers meeting will be a members night.

New members are most welcome to join us on the second Tuesday of the month at St Celias Church Hall at 7 30.