STONEHOUSE WI saw 2014 out in style with a superb Bring & Share Christmas party, with the exception of just a few members we had a full house and a very jolly evening was enjoyed by all.

Our two meetings prior to the Christmas party were both entertaining in their different ways.

Our October meeting was an impromptu one given by Jai, our then Secretary, because of a cancellation of the original speaker we needed to find a topic very quickly and Jai, ably assisted by her daughter, very kindly volunteered to show us her slides of a fabulous ‘Once in a Lifetime’ holiday taken in Canada in 2010.

The slides were absolutely stunning and the commentary to go with them was both very informative and amusing at times.

We were transported through the Rockies by train and cruised to Alaska.

The final leg of the journey took us to Toronto and a visit by boat, “Maid of the Mist” to see up close and personal the spectacular Niagara Falls.

Although very short notice a wonderful evening was enjoyed by all of us and it was recommended that Jai present more shows in the future.

Our November meeting took the form of some our members being issued with fictitious names, personalities, jobs and various tools all associated with ‘The Land Girls’ presented by Fiona Warin.

After initial interviews the girls were then told what their respective jobs would entail, where they would be likely to be working, their accommodation (which would have been pretty basic).

They would have been expected to be very strong and able as the work would be very varied and physical.

Without the Land Girls, Britain would not have survived through the war.

A monument to these wonderful ladies has now been erected at the National Memorial Arboretum in October 2014 and at long last official recognition has been given to them.

Thanks were given to Fiona for a wonderful talk and insight in to the lives of these very special ladies.

Our first meeting of 2015 is a talk on ‘400 Years of Stroudwater Textiles’ given by Ian Mackintosh to which we welcome any new visitors who may like to see what Stonehouse Women’s Institute might have to offer them.

Our meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month (except August) at 7.30pm at Stonehouse Community Centre.

For any further information contact us on email stonehousewi@gmail.com, website stonehousewi.weebly.com or Telephone 01453 752264.