WE did not have our usual meeting in December because we went to the Worcestershire Golf Club for our Christmas lunch, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed Carol thought that she had finished embroidering members' names on our TG tablecloth, but as we have recently had several new members she has had to pick up her needle again! It was suggested that we should have a photograph taken of the completed tablecloth, with Carol, to be sent to TG. HQ for possible insertion into the TG magazine. The 'street market' at Clarence Park went very well and Beryl Maile was thanked for helping. Members were again asked for suggestions for future outings, and there will be a special meeting at our Chairman's house to discuss these. Some members of the Committee will be retiring at the AGM in March so we need some new ones.

Section reports - Music - they have very few members now so would like some more singers to join them. They sang for the WI before Christmas. Sales Table - they have a lot of articles on the table, including some new books. Press - report not in in December. Outings - will be announced next month.

Our speaker this month was Paul Harding on 'A 1940s Christmas'. People still tried to make Christmas special even though the country was at war and everything was in short supply. Christmas trees were popular and people sometimes had decorations that they had had before the war, including small candles in tin clips that were clipped to the tree, and glass baubles. They also made paper decorations for the tree and crepe paper cut into strips to decorate the room, although as crepe paper was difficult to get they sometimes had to use newspaper. There were also home-made toys for the children, including knitted toys. There were not many turkeys or geese around but sometimes there would be a 'mock' goose made of rabbit ! Another ingenious idea was to make a 'Christmas cake' of cardboard or wood, decorate it so that it looked 'Christmassy', and inside there would be a very much smaller real cake. Mr Harding had examples of many of the things he had been talking about, and they brought back memories to those of us who could remember those war-time years with their 'make do and mend' philosophy.

Our speaker next month will be Miriam Harvey with Tales from Worcester Royal Infirmary.

The Guild meets on the third Thursday of the month at 10.15am at Clarence Park Village hall.

EDNA O'CONNOR