OUTINGS seemed to occupy a large part of the business at the April meeting.

Names were taken for forthcoming trips to Hartlebury, Jodrell Bank and Oxford.

There were also details of numbers taking part or attending Perdiswell craft show.

Due to the foot and mouth outbreak, the time and venue of the annual council meeting has had to be changed. Jeanne Bovett will be the institute's representative.

Guest speaker was Margaret Cooper, whose talk was entitled Remarkable Women of Worcestershire's past.

At first glance, it seemed Worcestershire had not produced too many such women in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Research by Margaret had discovered some very notorious ladies of their time, among them a prodigious poet and writer of hymns, Frances Ridley Havergal.

Another character was Hannah Shell, who disguised herself as a male in order to join the army. Some very dubious incidents arose through this deception.

Members heard about some moralistic, gruesome tales written for children by Mrs Henry Wood that were extremely popular in their time.

However, by far the most famous Worcestershire woman was Vesta Tilley.

She began performing on stage at an early age and was always supremely popular and successful until her retirement.

The May meeting will be to discuss the resolutions put forward by the national committee.