LORNA Ruscoe, deputising for the president, welcomed 42 members and a visitor to the April meeting.

Maud Heckle, a member and treasurer for many years, was remembered during the singing of Jerusalem.

Barbara Carter was thanked for flowers on the president’s table and these were later taken to Val Preston.

Members were thanked for supporting the recent coffee morning which had been a great social and financial success.

The winner of the ticket in the ballot for the Buckingham Palace garden party was our treasurer, Chris McDermott, and we later learned that Jill Tickle had also won a ticket in the group co-ordinator’s ballot.

We are going to re-establish our New Zealand link and Jean Geering will be the correspondent.

Our Llandudno trip in June is fully booked.

The guest speaker, Paul Houghton, has taught Quigong for 45 years and organises local classes. He explained the significance of the breathing techniques and gentle exercises which have a beneficial effect on health and wellbeing.

The majority of ladies took part in these exercises and there as utter silence during the five minute meditation session – quite an achievement.

A short DVD was also shown.

A vote of thanks was given by Dorothy Platt.

The competition results for a Chinese item were 1, Chris McDermott; 2, Zoe Bell; 3, Marie Leatherbarrow.

The next meeting will be resolutions on May 21 and a take-and-taste session of cakes and biscuits.

The proceeds of an exhibition of teddy bears with members voting 5p for their favourite, will go to ACWW.

For further details of meetings call Anne Ongley on 264873.