JUNE, our president, welcomed members and visitors to the meeting.

We were asked to remember Carole during the singing of Jerusalem.

For many years, Carole had inspired us with her beautiful flower arrangements and the attractive hand-crafted cards she helped us to create.

We will miss her.

The speaker for the evening was Charles Hardy, who had travelled from Tarporley in thick fog, to tell us how his chocolate business had been created.

We appreciated his devotion to duty and we were not disappointed when we were all able to enjoy one of his delicious hand-made chocolates.

Some members were lucky enough to win a box to take home.

He told us how he and his wife ran workshops for children aged from two to eighty-two!

They were mostly well behaved he said.

Some of our members have already visited the Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop, and many more will no doubt have it on their ‘to do’ list.

Charles was thanked by Claire McCann.

All our members receive a copy of Cheshire News.

There are many dates for our diaries, listing county events and we need to book early to avoid disappointment.

Treasurer Marilyn presented the budget for the coming year.

We were pleased to know that we are in a strong financial position, due to her good housekeeping.

Nina Grant spoke to us about the list of resolutions due to appear in the November issue of WI Life.

She will collect our completed papers at the Christmas party, so that they can all be posted together.

Several events have been arranged in the run up to Christmas: Tuesday coffee evenings will be held in the lounge at 7pm; there will be a beetle drive on November 10; on November 17, retired policeman Ian Carter will talk about his life and on 24th the flower group will create a Christmas arrangement.

A coach trip to Boundary Mill will leave Penketh at 9.30am on Wednesday, November 24; on Monday 30th a coach will take us to lunch at the Fir Grove, leaving Penketh at 12noon and on Monday, December 14, we will have Christmas lunch at Statham Lodge, leaving Penketh at 11.30am.

The book club and walking group will be visiting Dobbies on Tuesday, December 8.

The Christmas bingo evening will be held on Tuesday, December 15 and this year our Christmas party will take place at St Joseph’s on December 7, starting at 7pm.

We hope all our members will enjoy these events as our year draws to a close.

The lucky numbers’ winner was Phyllis Frazer and Jean MacDougall won the competition for a teacup and saucer.

Our next meeting will be held at the Meeting Lane Leisure and Community Centre on Monday, January 4, at 7.30pm.

The speaker will be Richard Baker whose topic will be ‘Ritchie the Ranger’.

Why not begin the New Year by coming to one of our meetings?

Visitors are always welcome.

For more information ring: 01925 725227.