THE October meeting for Storridge WI was an open evening and Catherine Best was delighted to welcome both members and visitors.

A request was made for any photographs that had been taken during the year at meetings or events, for inclusion in the 2015 scrap book. Alfrick WI have extended an invitation to members, to join them on Wednesday, December 9 for their Christmas Party.

Advanced notice was given that the next National Annual Meeting of the Federation will be held in Brighton on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

The Elgar Group Carol Service will be held this year at Broadwas Church on Saturday, December 12. Although the venue has not yet been selected, the Storridge WI post Christmas meal will be take place on Thursday, January 14.

The speaker for the evening was David Bayley with a Magic Lantern Show. He had promised us an entertaining evening and that was exactly “what we got”!

Many of his early slides were beautifully hand painted and the variety of topics was amazing. We saw Queen Victoria’s funeral, coverage of the Votes for Women campaign, Victorian London and much more.

The advertising slides were also fascinating; pills potions and ointments that would cure all, a bamboo cycle or a typewriter for the middle classes and if you were super rich you could purchase a special motoring hat and foot-warmer for use in your motor car.

The music-hall stars were well represented and members joined in with all the old songs. David then moved on to his Christmas collection of slides, wonderfully illustrated but even Victorian children enjoyed the gruesome detail of “Jack the Giant Slayer”.

The next meeting will be held on December 10 when members will be entertained to “A Victorian Christmas” with From Time to Time. Visitors will be most welcome.