PRESIDENT Sylvia Cartwright welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the year.

Letters of thanks and congratulations which had been received from visitors to the 80th birthday party were read out.

The secretary reported Hagley Evening WI were happy to 'twin' with Hopwood and the first shared meeting will be at the skittles match.

Guest for the evening, Ronald Mason, spoke about Welsh love spoons.

A visit to Wales started Mr Mason's interest. He discovered that originally these spoons were made by young men to show their feelings for a lady. Her answer was given by either accepting or rejecting the spoon.

So interested was Mr Mason that he decided to try his hand at carving.

Each spoon, however intricate, has to be carved from one piece of wood.

Today spoons are still carved and given to mark special occasions.

The next meeting at Hopwood Village Hall on February 1 should prove topical after recent events as the speaker will be John Mottram from Severn Trent Water.