TO get our records up-to-date members were asked to give their name and address and date of birth (not necessarily the year !) and an e-mail address if they have one.

The new tablecloth has arrived and will be embroidered with the TG logo before being sent around to members for them to embroider their names on it. The sales table for August will be produce, chutneys, jams, cakes, etc. The music group are still rehearsing their new programme. Members were informed of an afternoon tea at Barnards Green House on July 2, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. Correspondence - a card was received from our previous speaker, Ruth Lowe, thanking the Guild for their hospitality. A member suggested that we make a donation to the proposed National Townswomen's Guild memorial at Alrewas.

Our speaker this month was Roger Smith of Link Nurseries Horticultural Therapy Centre, which is run by the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. There are four members of staff and eight volunteers, and a dog called Floyd who is considered to be the Chief Therapist! The Centre used to be in Malvern Link but is now in what used to be the old hospital grounds at Powick and was purpose built as a horticultural therapy unit. The Centre is intended for people who have experienced mental health challenges to have an opportunity to undertake purposeful horticultural work in a realistic work environment, and to give them more self-confidence. Every Wednesday a lecturer from Pershore College gives awards to people who have experienced these problems so that they have a qualification, and their potential for work, volunteering, or further education is assessed by the Unit. The age group of the people needing help is from 17/18 up to 70, as very often men over 50 if they lose their jobs have a breakdown. Friends of Link Nurseries have stalls at shows selling produce to raise money for the Nurseries, which is only partly funded by the NHS, and they have a coffee morning on the second Friday of every month. They need to get Link Nurseries more known in the community as they are doing such good work with people who need help. Link Nurseries is open to the public Monday to Friday selling a wide variety of goods. Mr Smith gave a very interesting and informative talk.

As we are having our annual outing in July we will not have our usual meeting then, but we normally meet on the third Thursday of the month at 10.15am at Clarence Park Village Hall. Our speaker for August will be Cathy Jones on the Isle of Man Roundabout.

EDNA O'CONNOR