THE President Val Graham welcomed the members and speaker Lesley Evans to a wet June meeting.

Jerusalem was sung and then Secretary Eileen Hunt read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were agreed and signed. The correspondence was read, invites were received from Cradley WI to join them for a walk around Cradley and lunch on September 9 and Bosbury WI to dress up and attend their Vintage Tea Party on September 27. Items from the County Newsletter were mentioned.

The speaker for the afternoon was a retired Teacher who now likes to visit India most years to help for several months at a school in the far north of the country.

The school originally was for the children from leprosy parentage who were all sent to live in one area of India. The school was provided by Sue Ryder and Leonard Cheshire. Although Leprosy is now under control thanks to vaccination the children now attending are mainly disabled who are taught to make items to sell via a Charity. Lesley had kindly bought many items and photographs to show how they start with simple tie-dying then learn more and more complicated patterns. They also make picture frames, padded material covers for books, metal work pictures to name a few. Lesley also showed members items from her home, a beautiful quilted bedspread and a large embroidered and material picture. A vote of thanks was given to Lesley before members took a closer look at the items and photos.

Everyone enjoyed a welcome cup of tea then members who had written poems about Ledbury for this months competition were invited to read their poems which we all agreed were very good.

The meeting closed at 4.30pm.

The next meeting will be held on August 12 at the Baptist Church Rooms, Homend, Ledbury. Competition Fancy Apron. The speaker is Althea Mackenzie from the Textile Museum in Hereford.

Visitors and new members always welcome to join us at 2pm.