THE October meeting began with the gentle sound of tinkling glass, because president Val Davies had arrived without the gavel, and had to use her water glass as a substitute.

Our speakers for the evening were two young members of the fund-raising team at St Richard’s Hospice.

St Richards was founded in 1984. Its first purpose-built unit was opened in 1992 by Diana, Princess of Wales, and had 40 rooms. In 2004 a major capital appeal was launched which led to the opening of the current splendid building at Wildwood Drive, with its 160 rooms and 16 inpatient beds.

In addition to its most well known function of nursing the terminally ill, St Richard’s has developed other equally valuable services, such as a home care team, nurses who care for cancer patients in their own homes, and a day hospice for those requiring long-term physical and psychological support.

They also offer accommodation to patients whose carers require respite.

The hospice costs £4.2 million per year to run, only 30 per cent of which is provided by the state. This year they aim to raise a total of £6.7 million to provide for future development. This task would be impossible without their 1,052 volunteers whose work saves £1 million a year in wages.

The WI would urge anyone reading this article to continue to support this wonderful facility for the population of Worcestershire.

The competition ‘A Halloween Item’ was won by Janet Partridge, with Barbara Hopkins second and Eileen Meads third. The judging was by pennies for ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) which raised £10.29.

The next meeting is the AGM, followed by a members’ evening, at 7.30pm on November 12 at Littletons Village Hall.