THE strapline on the latest copy of WI Life, the national magazine for the Women's Institute, is ‘adapt, survive and thrive’ and that's certainly what Lee Brockhurst WI members are doing.

The normal routine of gathering together for monthly meetings and usually with a speaker has, as with all similar entities, temporarily ceased, but one Sunday in April, members were due to celebrate its 70th anniversary with a church service at St Peter’s in the village.

However the day was somewhat saved by the use of technology and for Pam Clarke, press spokesman at the WI, it was an opportunity to all come together.

She said: "Intrepid members got to grips with what to most of us was the ‘new fangled’ Zoom technology and ‘met’ to share cakes and a glass of bubbly.

"There were one or two teething problems with one member upside down who then took over the whole meeting which added to the fun.

"Zoom has turned out to be a very useful tool. Our Craft Club has ‘met’ a couple of times: first we made salt dough wheat sheaves with our president, Sue Wilton-Morgan, instructing from her kitchen.

"Our craft club co-ordinator, Meg Bilson, then suggested that we make 70th birthday bunting with members who wished each sewing a flag. The idea has been enthusiastically taken up and when we can get together to celebrate it will be in style.

"Our book club is thriving. As we cannot at the moment use our normal Shropshire Libraries’ service, members decided to try an audio book. The first, John Buchan’s ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’, has been downloaded via the BBC Sounds app (more new technology for some) and members have found that listening to a good novel can really brighten up the chores.

"Our May meeting went ahead with Paul Radcliffe was a member of the CID in Manchester at the time of the 'Yorkshire Ripper' and was involved in the hunt for the killer.

"With great sensitivity, Paul gave us the background to the case including the names of the two victims and showing us their faces. He talked us through the painstaking work undertaken by the police – with today’s DNA evidence and computers their task would have been so much easier – and how the culprit was eventually caught."

If you would like know more about Lee Brockhurst WI please contact secretary Julie Woolfenden on 01939 200237 or woolfenden@btinternet.com