Leigh and Bransford WI

Ann Sharp welcomed members and guests to our September meeting.

Our business meeting was concerned with several important issues. The climate change week in October is intended to lobby MPs in our local area and there will be another week of action in February. Food waste is also being addressed and surveys are taking place by individual WIs, to be collated for a wider picture to be obtained. We are also being asked to support carers of dementia patients and an action pack is available

Members were asked to pot up cuttings of plants in readiness for our Denman fund-raiser next June. We are also providing shoeboxes and a list of contents was suggested for members to contribute. Our next meeting on October 4th at 7.30 p.m. is a special fund-raiser for Guide dogs for the Blind, which we regularly support. We would be grateful for any bottles for the tombola. It is an open meeting so all are welcome at a small charge of £2.50 each, which includes our delicious refreshments.

Group activities were displayed on the Boards. Visits to Croome Court and Forge Mill will take place shortly. Shirley Smith had been to visit Peggy Johnson and said she was very happy and sent her love to all her old friends in Leigh.

Birthday posies were given to Marilyn Harding, Angie Pulford, Sue Benjamin, Shelagh Willis and Lyn Saunders.

The Speaker, Richard Kendrick, gave a very entertaining behind- the- scenes view of a TV and Film Caterer. The logistics and organisation in setting up mobile kitchens, ordering and preparing food, are incredible. Richard had met many celebrities and told one anecdote of when a shabby man came to choose food from the trailer and they had to explain that they were only allowed to provide food for the film crew and cast. Eventually, they had to call the police to take him away. Later the director arrived and asked if anyone had seen Sir John Gielgud, light dawned, and Richard had to admit he knew exactly where he was! Apparently he was playing cards with the police and had won a fair amount from them! The incident was later related in his biography. The vote of thanks was given by Pauline Phillips.

Richard then had a chance to sample some of our delicious refreshments!