FROM skittles to a quiz, visiting a Japanese exhibition to visiting an English country garden with a picnic, reporting on the Group Meeting and Intermediate General Meeting at Cardiff and voluntary work done by WI members, these were just a few of the items which came up at Staunton & District WI June meeting and which members have or will be taking an active part in.

Then the speaker took us to another world, the World of Gold and Silver, a fascinating subject put by an expert goldsmith Ken Vowles of Newent. What we probably had not realised was that jewellery covers such a wide range, not just precious gems. Shells, bones and all kinds of things are used but where costume jewellery soon deteriorates, gold does not tarnish or rot and gem stones are resistant to wear, made of two components metal and stone. The tools required are a file and a fine toothed saw to cut and shape them. Mr Vowles told us all stones are valued on their clarity and colour - yellow to white and we saw examples of this. Many questions were asked and Wendy Fowler thanked Mr Vowles for a fascinating talk. Diane Dent, our delegate to the IGM at Cardiff, gave an excellent report, which she has also sent to our Link WIs.

The quiz team go to Shurdington for the second round and our skittles team play their next round at the Severn Bore, Minsterworth. Good luck to both teams. Schedules for the Spring Show will be out later this next month so that everyone can begin on their exhibits, especially the photography section.

A countrywide census, the first ever by the GFWI on "Activity in the Community" is taking place this year and members completed their hours of voluntary work ready to be collated and sent to NFWI before the end of June.

Roses seemed to be the flower entrants chosen for the flower of the month and the winners were 1 Elizabeth Solesbury, 2 Frances Tasker, 3 Marie Houldey. The jewellery box competition winners were 1 Pat Jeffcutt, 2 Hilda Needle, 3 Kit Turner.

Coffee hostesses were Jennifer Clayton and Christine Stanbanks.