Gordon Taylor entranced Eardisley WI with the most wonderful slides of the entire county of Herefordshire accompanied by Elgar's music. What a combination. It really brought it home to members what an unspoilt part of Britain Herefordshire is.

After a very successful early Christmas party at the King's House in Pembridge it seemed a long time until the January meeting for Shobdon members. However it was well worth the wait was Mrs Wilding's talk about her service as a Housemaid/Dresser in the Royal Household.

Mrs Wendy Steadman, at very short notice gave Holmer an excellent start to the New Year with an enlivening account of learning to ride a motorbike at the age of 50.Together with her husband, she undertook journeys into 52 counties 3,276 miles in total - an adventurous and wearying project which was to benefit a local charity. Again members were buzzing with interest when Mr Alex Beaver regaled members with the many facets of the honey bee.

The speaker at Stoke Prior was Mr Honeybourne and his subject was antiques.

At Kingstone, Mrs Jackie Cleveland gave a demonstration of how to arrange flowers in a basket in one or two different ways. A coffee morning at Church House will be held on Saturday, March 6, at 11am.

Almeley held a post Christmas lunch at Berry's Restaurant, Staunton-on-Wye.