Oakridge WI

WE HAVE had two very interesting meetings, in June we all enjoyed the Boots No 7 demonstration, our president was the willing model and was pampered and made up beautifully whilst we all had dabs of all the lovely potions etc on the backs of our hands to try, and afterwards we were given little samples of the ones we were most interested in and also a goody bag for everyone to take home.

The No 7 range of products started 80 years ago, with only seven beauty items in the range, hence the apt choice of name.

Orders were taken for calendars and diaries.

Anne gave a glowing report on her day at The Royal Garden Party held in the wonderful grounds of Buckingham Palace.

We are all reminded to make jams, pickles, chutneys, marmalades etc, for our usual WI stall at the Village Fete on

September 5.

On July 9, Bob Browning spoke to us on Collecting and Recollecting, I am indebted to our secretary Anne, for the following report as I was unable to attend.

Bob Browning took us through the background to the eclectic range of items that he has collected and his recollection

of how and where his interest in collecting began as a young boy.

From a well used suitcase, an item bought in an antique shop with a history from India, he produced hats of his own and a long line of sick bags (unused!) from airlines (mainly collected by his daughter).

His main collection involved clothes hangers, ranging from old ones used by dry cleaners, some with a halfpenny return on them, to those with company names, to children's padded in animal shapes and some with a history from sailing ships.

He was an amusing speaker with many anecdotes and a keen memory of many years as a collector.

The next meeting, on September 10, will be Paddy Harrington on Suffragettes & Votes for Women.

We shall help Celia at the Crack Cancer Coffee Morning 10.30pm to 12 noon in the village hall there will be the usual stalls, ranging from books, cakes, plants etc.

Please come and support this important cause.