OUR April meeting was topsy turvy as we started with the speakers – Debbie and Kerry who are cheese and deli specialists from Waitrose in Stroud.

Debbie explained that she had been with Waitrose for 21½ years and Debbie had been there for almost 21 years.

All employees of John Lewis and Waitrose are partners and have a share of the profits.

There are 43 John Lewis stores and 348 Waitrose.

Waitrose in Stroud had a refit a year ago as alterations were needed due to changes in trading and shopping habits.

Stroud branch was the first in the country to have a coffee shop but it only had a very small kitchen area and this has now been made larger.

Changes have included internet shopping and the “Garden Shed” selling plants.

Debbie and Kerry had brought three British cheeses for us to try along with some walnut bread, onion chutney and date and walnut slice.

The first one we tried was a Balscombe peppered goat’s cheese from Tiverton in Devon, followed by Godminster organic cheddar and then a Beauville blue cheese with the walnut bread.

They explained that it was good to taste the cheeses at the counter but that how it tasted at 11 o’clock in the morning would be different to how it tasted after an evening meal.

They also make cheese cakes which can be an alternative to traditional wedding cakes and are very popular now.

102 cheeses are stocked on the counter and there are 700 named British cheeses.

Debbie and Kerry were thanked for their very interesting talk by Jean.

We then went on with our normal monthly meeting with Karen welcoming everyone.

She congratulated Dot on winning the draw to go to the garden party at Buckingham Palace and said we looked forward to hearing all about it afterwards.

The Annual Council Meeting at Cheltenham had been interesting with good speakers – Diana Burch from National and Kate Bliss talking about antiques.

The centenary baton had been brought into the hall by Celia Hargreaves before being passed round all the members.

Bisley Group held a tea party at Brimscombe and Thrupp Social Club to receive the baton before passing it on to Avening via the Ecotricity car.

The treasurer reported that we now have 52 members.

The Food Club had had a very interesting visit to the Gloucester Services where they were told about the origins of the company and how local produce was used and sold.

It is hoped to arrange the next visit to Shipton Mill.

Details were given of the Lunch Club at The Butchers Arms Oakridge on April 30, and names taken for skittles and a visit to Westonbirt House and Gardens on June 24.

The evening came to an end with the draw for the two bursaries to Denman College when Jill Ward and Margaret Goss were the lucky recipients.