MAMBLE CUM BAYTON WI: Members met in Mamble Village Hall on January 8. This meeting was the first of 2018 after a year of centenary celebrations. Everyone was warmly welcomed by the president to the next 100 years, including two new members and several visitors. After the WI business was concluded members enjoyed listening to and watching Cheryl Allen a hair consultant, who spoke about styling, individual hair techniques, scalp analysis and hair products.

One lucky member went home extremely happy as she won the draw for a hair makeover and bravely sat with wet hair and was transformed by cutting, styling and a blow dry.

Members with husbands and friends met again on January 29 for their belated Christmas lunch at Kateshill Bewdley. The original date had been cancelled owing to the snowy conditions at the beginning of December. As always an excellent lunch and enjoyable occasion for all.

On February 12 members, visitors and two more new members met in Mamble Village Hall where the speaker for the meeting was Malcolm McGarrow, who gave a very interesting and enthusiastic talk on his love of beekeeping in Mamble, complete with powerpoint presentation, a hive (no bees), protective clothing and all manner of equipment used in the production and retrieving of honey.

The Institutes archives showed that coincidently their first meeting with a speaker in January 1918 a century ago, had been on the subject ‘Beekeeping for Beginners’ presented by a Mr W Needham. A hive in 1918 cost 36/- (£1.80.) Italian hybrid bees were the best to start with at that time.

There is a full programme of speakers planned for the year. Outings will be to the National Memorial Arboretum, Afternoon Tea at Wichenford in March, Lunch and Garden visit to Stocktonbury, a visit to a monastery, as well as Worcester Federation offerings.

Next month March, the speaker will be Wendy Moore from Johnson’s Travel Company. This meeting will be in Mamble village Hall at 2pm on March 12.

New members and visitors are most welcome.

Contact number, Lyn Bowen 01299832495.