THE new President, Ann Sharp, welcomed members and guests to our meeting on 7th June.

She then introduced our speaker, local historian and author, Pamela Hurle. Pamela’s subject was Malvern Women of Note - women who had an impact on life in Malvern in the past and had contributed to furthering the role of women in various ways, leading to improvements in their situation. Several of these women of note were widows, able to spend their own wealth independently, and Pamela had several fascinating anecdotes to tell.

We then proceeded with the business element of the meeting. A coffee morning next summer was proposed as a fund-raiser for the Denman Appeal. The Activity groups are all thriving. Elaine Shaw has produced a varied and appealing programme for the next year, which was distributed to members.

Birthday posies were presented to Heather Clark, Elaine Shaw, Gill Gardiner, Marian Kent and June Mason, and Cath Hall and Ann Sharp were each presented with a beautiful flower arrangement (for their respective “ special birthdays”), as was Peggy Johnson, a stalwart member of our WI, who will be leaving to live near her daughter. We will miss you, Peggy!.

Denise Fereday won the competition with embroidery from the 50s.

Members received individual invitations to the next meeting which will be our ‘Garden Party with a Difference’, this year to be held at the Memorial Hall at 7pm on Tuesday 5 July.

Sally Turner will demonstrate how to make a corsage, and the dress code will be – for a garden party!

ANGIE PULFORD