AFRICA Mercy is a ship converted from a Scandinavian Ferry and equipped with state of the art medical equipment, which includes operating theatres and dental surgeries.

The Speaker was a retired Dentist who volunteered for two stints on this hospital ship. You can tell just by its name Africa Mercy the area in which it does its work. This is a Christian Charity set up in 1978 to help people in poorer countries with medical problems. The ship plies mainly up and down the West Coast of Africa where some of the most deprived people live with their families in squalid conditions on less than £1.00per day.

Ruth Pole the speaker and a WI member herself, told that 450 volunteers are on board at one time and these people give up holidays and spare time to do this work, they pay their own fares and often take unpaid leave in a bid to help. They work closely with each country to find what help is needed and were overwhelmed by so much suffering when 7,000 people turned up to be medically screened.

With the help of pictures members were shown some of the horrific ailments people suffer and the near miracles the surgeons performed. Members were all shocked when told of the terrible internal injuries suffered by thousands of young girls in childbirth when they were married so very young.

Ruth Pole is an extremely interesting speaker who kept members enthralled and even laughing at some of the more light hearted moments. They certainly had a lot to discuss between themselves during coffee time!

This month members still have Coffee with Books, Craft Club and the New Year Lunch to look forward to.

If you feel that maybe WI sounds interesting to you (and it is), members meet on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Wells Village Hall. Just turn up on the night, you will be made very welcome or alternatively contact Trish 01684 560149 or Lillian 01684 565556 for a chat.