OUR president Helena Downham chaired the meeting held on Thursday, March 27, in the village hall. Cards and posies of flowers were given to the three birthday members.

After conducting the formal business, Mrs Downham introduced our speaker, Faith Jones. Her talk was entitled Every picture tells a story'.

Such pictures come in many forms such as those small ones that appear on the corner of correspondence and delivered throughout the world - stamps.

It all began with Mrs Jones finding a stamp from New Zealand when she was a child. We were told tales of relations emigrating by ship in 1863 and the road was set for tracing the family history.

Other countries mentioned were Poland, Ghana, Greece, Zambia, Vatican City, Australia and America. Faith and her mother moved to Stratford-upon-Avon at the beginning of the Second World War accumulating many more stamps from new friends.

A Penny Black from the beginning of the postal service in 1840 was shown, along with a prized example of a Twopenny Blue.

Recycling was also included by saving stamps for charity. How easy it is to travel the world from the comfort of an armchair and recall friends and relations when simply looking at a coloured piece of paper in the corner of an envelope which arrives through the letter box. The vote of thanks was given by Angela Merry. The competition for a small jug of flowers was won by Bonnie Lunn.

The next meeting is on Thursday, April 17, when Councillor Dr David Tibbutt will be talking about his experiences in Rwanda. New members and visitors will be made very welcome. and the competition will be for a holiday photograph.

JO NORRIS