APRIL 12 was Members' Evening - the meeting when the committee sits back and the other members of the WI organise the evening as a thank you for all they have done during the year. In addition, members of other WIs in the area were guests.

After the welcome and introduction, the evening's speaker, Kenneth Hughes, presented his talk - the history of the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. This was an enlightening and fascinating talk given by someone who not only knew his subject, but also spoke in an entertaining way.

He began by explaining that the Quarter was declared a conservation area about 15 years ago. At one stage, the area was in danger of being destroyed, because many apartment blocks were being built. However, English Heritage became involved with the Quarter six years ago and a survey of the area was carried out. As a result, the Jewellery Quarter is now considered to be a major conservation area and there is less demolition and new development.

Mr Hughes then talked about the history of the area, beginning with the Colmore family, haberdashers who came from France in the 14th century.

They built a house, New Hall, where New Hall Street is now. Moving on to the 18th century, and the development of industry, we heard how Ann Colmore, realising what potential the site had, began to develop the area. People began to convert rooms in their houses into workshops and eventually they built these in their gardens.

A variety of goods were manufactured, with jewellery being produced from the 1840s. By World War I, seventy thousand people either worked in the Jewellery Quarter or were outworkers. Birmingham's Assay office began in 1773 and today 48 per cent of the country's hallmarking is carried out there.

The members and their guests then enjoyed a superb supper and some lively entertainment performed by some of the ladies present. The committee was thanked formally for all its work during the year.