THE village hall certainly looked welcoming, decorated for Christmas and with festive table settings, for the Christmas party. After members and a visitor were welcomed by the President, business was kept as brief as possible, there being no federation newsletter, though members were signing up to several events in the New Year.

David Bailey then gave a magic lantern show, using some of his collection of glass slides dating from Victorian times. Some were hand-made, but many were professionally painted. They ranged from serious religious pictures designed for Sunday Schools, through those telling whole stories, those that were highly amusing and finally to very ingenious moving pictures. They were all shown using a genuine antique magic lantern. Coral Male thanked Mr Bailey on members' behalf.

All the members had made a contribution towards supper, which as always, was delicious. At the end of the evening everyone went home with a small gift.

The first meeting of the New Year will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 10 at the village hall when Peter Clement will give an introduction to the work of the National Trust.

Visitors are always welcome. For more details of activities please contact Sue Strang on 01684 592408.