MEMBERS who braved the wet and windy weather to attend the February meeting were rewarded with a lively and cheery talk by Mr Clews of the RSPB.

He was an interesting and humorous speaker who outlined the history and work of the RSPB with the use of some excellent slides.

Started in 1889 as the Plume and Feather Club as a protest against the use of feathers in ladies' hats, it is now the largest wildlife charity in Europe.

With the abolition of the plumage trade in the early 1920s, the society has since devoted itself to supporting native birdlife.

It currently has over 170 reserves around the country and campaigns and educates enthusiastically. Research into the declining bird numbers is ongoing but thankfully there are still many successes to celebrate.

Members were given advice on feeding, which should be year-long, and cat lovers were told such pets were responsible for killing over 55 million birds each year.

Everyone had been pleased to see the photograph of the institute's 80th anniversary cake in the Alcester Chronicle. Thanks were given to John Vining for making and installing a new notice board in the High Street and particularly for his gift of new drawing pins to go with it!