The July meeting of Storridge WI members, started with a talk by the celebrated speaker on all things relating to Herefordshire, Mrs Penny Platts, with her presentation of “The History of Cider.

With the recent increase in the popularity and consumption of cider, perry cider and perry, there has been a resurgence in the planting of cider apple and pear orchards in our locality, but Penny took us back to the 1600’s when Viscount Scudamore of Holme Lacy introduced a cider apple from France, which was known as “Red Streak”, which revolutionised cider making in Herefordshire. He grafted this variety on to root stock in his orchards because from this single variety he was able to make superb cider. In an article published in 1667, the good health of the men of Dilwyn was put down to the drinking of cider and even babies were baptised in cider because of the many diseases carried in the water supply.

It is not really known when cider making first began but we do know that apple orchards were planted as long ago as 600BC and that St. Jerome d420 drank sicera and piraceum (cider and perry).

In the seventeenth century, the government of the day soon recognised that there was money to be made from the popularity of cider and in 1643 they imposed a tax of 1/3d per hogshead. This was increased in 1660 to 2/6d per hogshead and this tax remained unchanged until 1763, when the country was almost bankrupt following the Seven Years War and Lord Bute increased the tax by 4/- per hogshead. There was so much resistance to this increase that it was abolished in 1766.

In the late 19th century, Percy and Fred Bulmer set up their cider making factory in Hereford. A pamphlet published at this time by Bulmers claimed that cider was a cure for gout, rheumatism and stones! I wonder if they would dare to make such claims today?

It was also at this time that Westons started their cider production at Much Marcle. The basic process of making cider and perry has changed little over the years although trees are now much smaller, are planted much closer together and the fruit is now harvested by machine.

After Penny had finished her talk, members sampled for themselves local cider, perry cider and perry.

The president welcomed Elizabeth Hartwright from Leigh & Bransford WI, who had attended the NFWI annual meeting at Brighton on our behalf. Elizabeth gave members a short talk on the proceedings.

It is now time to submit Resolutions for 2017. Should a member has any issue that they wish to put forward for consideration , then they should contact the Secretary.

A trip to Bulmer’s Cider Museum is to be arranged on a date in August, the closing date for ordering WI diaries and calendars for 2017 is 8th September and a new brochure is available for courses at Denman College.

Under the restructuring of WFWI, Storridge WI will no longer be a part of the Elgar Group but will join the Malvern Hills Group. This restructuring will take effect in January.

Our next meeting will take place on 11th August when Diana Street will speak about Reiki in her talk “Ease stress and anxiety a get a good night’s sleep”! All visitors will be most welcome.