ANN Evans, our President, welcomed members and visitors to our meeting on November 12 and began with a few business items.

The first meeting of the bi-monthly Lunch Club at the Queen's Head, Salford Priors, had been very enjoyable and also good value for money. In January the venue will be The Star at Ashton under Hill. A clipboard was circulated during the meeting, asking for volunteers to bring raffle prizes, flowers, help with tea and give the vote of thanks to speakers. The members who had visited Tudor House in Worcester had enjoyed an interesting and informative tour led by the very enthusiastic curator. The Group skittles match on October 30 had been won by Ashton under Hill by a good margin, with Hampton narrowly beaten into third place by Pebworth. In February we will be going to Broadway Golf Club for our New Year's Lunch. Finally, members were reminded to bring unwanted birthday or anniversary cards, for recycling and sale in aid of the Breast Cancer Unit.

The President then introduced Vince Williams and Jon Goodson, who had come to talk to us about 'The WI at War' and some of the many ways in which the WI was able to contribute to the war effort, while maintaining its pacifist status. The first WI in the UK was formed in Llanfair PG on Anglesey in 1915. The aim was to teach women in rural communities to grow and preserve food to help provide essential nutrition for people during the war years and also between the wars, when there was rationing and food was short. To help, the Government relaxed sugar rationing for WI's. With the Germans attacking food convoys and fishing trawlers in an attempt to starve the population, the keeping of livestock became a 'backyard' job. Pig and rabbit clubs were formed and wild rabbits were hunted for food, and also for their pelts, which were then sold to the USA for use in fashion items.

By the time of the second World War, one in three villages had a WI and the membership had grown to 300,000. Throughout, the Government encouraged WI's to hold regular meetings to maintain high morale. WI paper records were donated to help with paper shortages during rationing, WI members were involved in transporting and housing evacuees and Lady Denman set up an Ambulance Fund. Food parcels were sent to the colonies and to our allies and, after the war, when the Germans were starving, the WI sent food and clothing to help. At the time of the Cold War the NFWI began a campaign to limit nuclear testing and during the Gulf War they collected books to send to the troops. It was an interesting and enlightening talk. Pam Wills gave the vote of thanks on behalf of members.

There was a good variety of entries in the competition for something beginning with 'N', which was won by Sally Aldous with a pen nib.

Our Christmas Social will be on December 10. We are always pleased to welcome new members and visitors. Meetings start at 7.30pm in the Hampton Guide and Scout Community Hall.

CHRISTINE ROBERTSON