Immediately after our president had welcomed us all to the April meeting she introduced the speakers for the evening, Pauline Blackburn and Yvonne Mort of Orchard Flower Craft. Standing behind two tables full of beautiful samples of their work they told us how they had become hooked on pressing flowers and using them to make greetings cards and pictures.

Their technique for pressing their specimens is rather time consuming, but well worthwhile, as the resulting dried flowers look as fresh and colourful as when the are picked. By contrast, mounting them seemed a relatively quick procedure, as several cards were completed whilst the ladies were talking to us. However, some of the beautiful pictures that they made obviously took longer. All this work is done for the love of it and to raise money for charity.

Members' attention was drawn to several forthcoming events, including a clothes show at Great Witley, an evening with Reg Moule at Callow End, a new speakers' evening at Hanley Swan and a tea party at Peopleton.

The annual council meeting at Malvern had been very enjoyable, with Tricia Stewart, one of the Calendar Girls, giving an excellent and highly amusing talk in the afternoon. The Severn Group meeting had also been enjoyed by several of our members.

At the next meeting at Earl's Croome Village Hall on May 8 at 7.30pm we shall be discussing the resolution regarding the closure of community hospitals, which will be voted on at the national AGM at the Albert Hall in June.

Afterwards some of our members will demonstrate a favourite craft and give others the opportunity to have a go. For details please contact Sue Strange on 01684 592408. JANET CLEMAS