IN July the group welcomed a German visitor staying with the president, Mary Wehner. She was a member of a party of Germans visiting the Worcestershire Federation for two weeks.

The visit to David Austin Roses had been well attended and the coach's luggage space was full of plants on the return journey. The following day, 25 members went by coach to Highgrove to see the Prince of Wales' garden.

A Punch and Pie Party will take place in the summer break for members to raise funds for the annual Denman Bursary.

Dr Bibby, the speaker, outlined his career as a teacher, school inspector, OFSTED inspector, and latterly author.

He spoke on the Black Country and the history of some of the places he visited on a 50-mile sponsored walk of the Black Country canals.

The meeting ended with the unveiling of a wall hanging created by Muriel Farrer, and framed and presented to the Village Hall by the WI.

The next meeting will be on Monday, September 12 at the Village Hall at 7.30pm, when hats will be worn to celebrate 90 years of the WI.