THE president, Janet Clemas, welcomed members to the first meeting of 2015. Birthday cards were handed out and then it was straight into the main event.

Mrs Heather Whatley spoke about the artist Dame Laura Knight and her connections to the Malverns. Dame Laura always declared that she painted life as it was and was not influenced by others. She was born in Nottingham where she started work as a designer, before going to the North Yorshire coast, Newlyn in Cornwall and London, before coming to Malvern before World War II. She drew and painted in various media, her subjects included farm workers and travellers against a backdrop of the hills. She continued painting and exhibiting at the Royal Academy until just before her death in 1970 at the age of 93. It was a most interesting talk, with members particularly liking the paintings of gypsies. Shirley Miles, a member of our art group, thanked Mrs Whatley very sincerely on our behalf.

There was very little business, except to appoint Cath Doig as our delegate to the national AGM at the Albert Hall in June and to select our menu options for the New Year lunch at The Duke of York at Berrow later this month. Some of our members reported on a very enjoyable Christmas party at Hanley Castle WI before Christmas.

On February 10 at 7.30pm in the village hall we have a local speaker, Keren Green, to tell us about bees and beekeeping. Visitors are always welcome. For more details of our activities please contact Sue Strang on 01684 592408 or janetclemas@gmail.com.

JANET CLEMAS