February's WI meeting was opened by our president, Lynne Reading, who greeted members and extended a very warm welcome to two guests.

She went on to introduce our speaker, Richard Betts accompanied by his wife Leslie, who together make up 'Ellanor Photography'. Richard explained that we were to have an audiovisual programme depicting autumn at Westonbirt followed by Witley Court, its gardens and cellars.

The Westonbirt programme used slides produced from photographs Richard had taken during an autumn evening. These observations of the trees and flowers were accompanied by poetry readings and music from Faure's Pavane. Witley Court, its gardens and cellars was presented as a journey through its various ages. Richard used two projectors throughout for his slide shows and they were so synchronised that as one slide faded from the screen, the next came into view almost giving the effect of a film show.

He had been fortunate to obtain images from the late 18th century showing the court and its magnificent gardens, which were designed by William Nesfield. We came to the present via the disastrous fire of 1937, which left the court a ruin. As it was under insured no meaningful restoration has ever taken place until English Heritage stepped in. The wonderful fountains are now in working order and there are plans afoot to carry out re-roofing in order to preserve what is left of the fabric. Music by various composers accompanied the commentary. Our meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7.45pm.