NOW in July it is time to order and pay for the diaries and calendars for 2016.

The WI has lots of invitations for events organised for the centenary celebrations, there are trips to the National Memorial Arboretum and Lichfield, to Blenheim Palace to the Christmas Craft Fair and to the new Wedgwood Visitor Centre.

The speaker for July was Mike Aldridge who gave a demonstration on his portable potter’s wheel. He used to be a lecturer and now teaches pottery and gives talks and he explained the different types of clay and how it all started in China.

The clay has to be moulded and then dried before it is put into the kiln and wet hands are needed to place the clay on the centre of the wheel so that it can be moulded into the required shape. Mike started in 1970 and now makes teapots to order.

The main shell is formed and the lid and spout are made separately, holes are made where the spout is attached and must be fairly high up so the tea comes out without dripping. After the pot has been in the heated kiln at a controlled temperature and then cooled it is ready to paint. Angie volunteered to have a go and was soon developing the skills needed and thanked Mike for giving members an interesting demonstration.

There is no meeting in August but a friendly skittles match against the RBL at Madresfield on August 21.

The meal out this month is at The Three Nuns on Thursday, July 30 and on September 12, members are holding a coffee morning and raffle at The Orchard Club in Colletts Green to encourage you to buy from their craft stall and promote the WI in Powyke.

Two members were entertained by the Ukelele Band at the Swanpool WI meeting only to find that one of their members was part of the band on her first engagement.

The next meeting is on September 9 at The Orchard Club and members will organise the coffee morning.