Leonard Stanley WI with speaker Dr Lamb on Stroud Hospital and the work of the League of Friends

DUE to some refurbishment in the village hall, we held our February meeting in the Social Club and had a very good turn out of members.

Maureen welcomed everyone and apologised for lack of space and also welcomed four visitors, two of which are now members – namely Jan, Diane, Mick and Rosemary.

Pretty birthday flowers were presented to Margaret Wheeler.

There was too much business to mention all, but Mary reported that we had raised £60.30 so far for Denman appeal and would be holding a coffee morning to make it up to £100.

To date we have 28 paid up members and two dual members.

Ann had booked tickets for the King & I at the Cotswold Playhouse for June 17.

Our trip to Rococo Gardens to see the snowdrops is on February 22, leaving village hall at 1pm.

Group Quiz night, where we are entering two teams is on April 11, at 7.30pm in the village hall and The Group Rally is on April 6 at St Lawrence Church Hall, tickets £3, when the competition is a photograph of a single flower 7” x 5” mounted.

February lunch is at the Lalpiccola Italania at Stonehouse on February 21, and the annual Lent Lunch in the village hall will be on March 8 at 12.30pm.

There will also be a Bring and Buy stall.

Tickets cost £4 with the money raised going to the Willow Trust.

Various items of interest in the newsletter were read out with the president giving out details of a Nearly New Clothes sale on March 18, and Diabetic Quiz on April 7.

There is always plenty going on in our village!

Our speaker today was Dr Lamb who gave an interesting talk about how Stroud Hospital came about and the work of the League of Friends.

It came as a surprise to some of us how it all started, right back in 1747 with the setting up of a dispensary in a cottage and with a lot of hard work, donations from mill and factory owners, local people etc to it becoming Stroud General Hospital.

In 1874 the Foundation stone was laid and it was opened in December 1875.

We had a shudder when we learnt at that time amputated limbs were buried in the town churchyard and things such as fingers in the hospital gardens!

We saw photographs of the old operating theatre, nurses and a stern looking matron in their uniforms and wards who when busy had cots in the middle.

How times have changed.

The Friends of Stroud Hospital have raised millions of pounds over the years and have recently replaced the old Ultrasound with a new model.

Dr Lamb expressed his thanks to Stroud people who had been very supportive.

We are all proud of our hospital and the excellent service it gives to local people.

The competition was for a multi-coloured object which ranged from beautiful to laughable.

Our March meeting will be Val Winder talking about the Channel Islands in World War II, and there will be a Book and Magazine stall.

Why not come and join us – WI is open to all ages and we would love to see some younger members.