MORE than £40 was raised for a charity speaker at the January meeting, the 13th anniversary of the Institute.

Members and guests enjoyed a birthday buffet lunch provided by president Brenda Dainty and her committee.

Speaker Mark Reynolds gave a highly amusing talk, making good use of his talent for comic voices, with the Goons a speciality, but his serious intent was calling attention to his work as fundraising co-ordinator for the Oesophageal Patients Association.

This is a small charity based in Solihull and founded 20 years ago with the aim of supporting patients with cancer and other major illnesses of the oesophagus.

At the next meeting on February 23 at 2pm, Martin Le Page will talk about the island of Herm, where his family lived during the occupation years. Visitors welcome.