ASTLEY WI: Brave members ventured out in freezing, icy cold conditions to attend their first meeting of 2017 on January 4 at Astley Village Hall. Careful car owners were well prepared with de-icer at the ready. President Irene Hoare gave a warm welcome to everyone and said she was pleased to see the good turnout on such a frosty evening. She presented a lovely birthday posy to Petrina Walley before continuing with the business in hand. Hostesses for the evening were Nina Saunders and Brenda Knott who later served tea, coffee and scrumptious festive mince pies. Julie Jeacock had donated chocolates for the raffle. Nina had arranged the Xmas red and green floral decoration in a basket for the president's table.Treasurer Marjorie Whiting was pleased to report that a total of £86 had been raised ( in lieu of members exchanging Christmas Cards) for the New Horizon Youth Arts Group.They help vulnerable young people with physical and learning disabilities to create positive futures. We have received a thank you letter from their secretary. ACWW copper donations had amounted to £3.10.

Speaker for the evening was Michael Hardwick accompanied with wife Lavinia giving a talk/photos entitled Spetchley - Berkeley Family and Gardens.They have spent hours tracing descendants of the current owner John Berkeley and also researching the ancestry through the years.

On February 1, Catherine Clarke will talk on "My life and hats".