Veronica Herridge opened the Astley WI meeting held on March 4 and explained that there were depleted numbers due to some apologies and the fact that some members namely Shirley Fieldhouse, Linda Tidmarsh, Katherine Gorbing, and Jane Nicholson had gone as our team to represent us in the WI County Quiz held at Hartlebury.

The WI came 9th out of 21 teams.

Worcester Federation Chairman Marjorie Whiting reported back from the The Spring Group meeting. The main speaker Chris Jaeger had been excellent. She then highlighted dates and events planned by the NFWI for this important Centenary Year; She encouraged WI members to take part in the Moon Mission between March and July 2015, register with Worcester University, take up the challenge to travel to the moon and back a distance of 477,714 miles.

The aim is to travel as far as they can and contribute their scores to the grand total.

NFWI has been lucky enough to arrange a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace planned with The Duchess of Cornwall attending for the afternoon of June 2 between 3-5pm. Each WI will organize a ballot to choose the winner and each Institute will then be allocated a place.

The speaker for the evening was Jackie Smith who introduced her mother Rosemary who gave a talk on the history of chocolate.

It was great to hear Jackie say that chocolate cheers us up and has culinary and medicinally properties. Margaret Freeman thanked Jackie for her interesting talk on chocolate.

Irene Hoare will look into more details and possibility of a guided tour at the Carpet Museum in Kidderminster. She will also investigate details of a visit to the Tudor House in Worcester or a visit to the cinema. Nina Saunders reported that the recent Skittles Match had been well fought. The final scores were Far Forest WI 266 points and Astley WI 245 Points.

It was a great evening’s sport. The highest scorer was Maureen Crumpton. Katie Reynolds and Nina Saunders are also planning to arrange darts matches in the near future.

On April 1 there is a Picture and Sounds Quiz by Ray Sturdy. April 15 is craft a miniature picture with Suzanne Moule.

April 21 is the WI Lunch Wagon Wheel 12pm Julie Jeacock and on April 29 will be the next group meeting held at Rock Village Hall hosted by Rock WI. Speaker Max Keen “ The Civil War in Worcestershire”. Members nominated Sylvia Tudor Hughes to continue as group co-ordinator.