Stroud Shambles WI: Roger Turner gives a talk on designing a garden for The Chelsea Flower Show

THE speaker this month was Roger Turner who is a British Garden Designer who gave a talk on designing a garden for The Chelsea Flower Show.

He won a competition to design a garden in 1983 and won a silver award.

He explained to us the complexities and the advanced planning that was needed, especially if specific plants were required, as they have to be ordered up to 12 months before the show.

He explained that large trees had to be dug up on a regular basis and the roots trimmed to help with transportation.

All plants and equipment had to be transported to the site and every plant had to be perfect.

He also explained the weathers unpredictability also added to their problems.

Roger finished his talk be telling us his prize from The Chelsea Flower Show was £750 which bought him a VW Campervan and after having many years of travelling and numerous years later, he sold the rusting hulk for £750.

Jenny Ray one of members gave a talk on the Committee Meeting at Cheltenham.

Peter Bryant the WI Federation Secretary read the notices and they were welcomed by the County Chairman Anne Turner and then the Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Duncan Smith.

Jenny felt that the highlight of the meeting was the speaker Mandy Hickson who was the First Female Jet Pilot and she was the only female pilot on the front line Tornado Squadron.

Her call sign was 'Big Bird' due to her height which is 6ft.

She demonstrated the importance of remaining calm under pressure and she talked with frankness and humour

Our summer outing has been planned to go to The Elgar Birthplace Museum on Wednesday, August 10, 2016.

We played Skittles with the Berkeley WI on Tuesday, April 5, and we found them to be a very friendly group and had a jolly good evening in spite of loosing the game.

New members are always welcome to our meetings which are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 10.30 at the Congregational Church Hall. Stroud